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Dr. Chris Dennettc.dennett@wlv.ac.uk

www.aidtech.wlv.ac.uk

www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/projectBluetooth

®projectBluetooth:projectBluetooth:Supporting the Supporting the

Mobile GenerationMobile Generation

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IntroductionIntroduction

• What is Bluetooth• …In Context• …Blueshoot• …In Practice• …Issues• …The next generation

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What is Bluetooth?What is Bluetooth?• License free radio communication

standard– Hardware and Software specifications

• Designed for short range Ad Hoc networking

• Allows for a wide variety of inter-device communications

• It’s free to use and basic hardware costs are minimal

• Safe to use! – ISM band

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projectBluetooth – In ContextprojectBluetooth – In Context

• Mobile– Opportunistic learning: Students have access

to learning materials whenever, wherever• Richer transmission technology than SMS

– Not just full colour. Sound, video, interactive, slides, programs…

• Cheap transmission technology– projectBluetooth can be implemented for a

tenner and costs nothing to run (except for electricity!)

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projectBluetooth - BlueshootprojectBluetooth - Blueshoot• Bluetooth ‘hub’

– Module leaders have control

– Constantly searches for registered student devices

• Transmits– Learning objects– Pastoral

information– Anything really!!!

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projectBluetooth - BlueshootprojectBluetooth - Blueshoot

• Can transmit to any detected device…• …or to pre-selected groups

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projectBluetooth - BlueshootprojectBluetooth - Blueshoot

• Allows live creation of messages for immediate transmission…

• … but can also upload previous messages or RLOs

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projectBluetooth - in PracticeprojectBluetooth - in Practice

• LINK project• CELT and Graduate School funded• Mobile Architectures module – Covers

mobile radio technologies– Distribution of student-reversioned materials– Idea is to provoke students to reflect and

research

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projectBluetooth - in PracticeprojectBluetooth - in Practice

• LINK Project cont’d– Distribution and development of revision

questions and material by student groups– Intention is to encourage collaborative

learning– Transmission of exam revision questions…– … and answers after a while– Allows revision-on-the-go

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projectBluetooth - in PracticeprojectBluetooth - in Practice

• HEA-ICS project : Blue-ICS– Pastoral information transmitted to students– Lecture cancellations, room changes, exam

timetables

• CELT Podcasting– Transmission of audio podcasts to newly

enrolled students who need an IT account to enrol on course modules

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projectBluetooth - in PracticeprojectBluetooth - in Practice

• Conference version– Trialled at e-Learning Africa– Led to interest in it’s use for other EDUCA

conferences. Berlin, Moscow…

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IssuesIssues

• Speed of transmission• Size of transmission

– Not just slow…– Can students save it on their devices

• Size of device screens– Small and varied

• Capabilities of devices– Can they handle PDFs? JPEGS? Text files?

• Coverage

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projectBluetooth – V2projectBluetooth – V2• New mobile phones have started to come

with Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR– 3 times as fast as 1.2– Uses half the power of 1.2– Video!!!

• Coverage– Multiple Blueshoot hubs using Efika

• AWM On the buses – with Prof. Andy Sloane– Birmingham Science City puts

projectBluetooth in public. Local adverts.