On-Going Projects

• An intuitive, tactile-based framework for learning programming

by Lau Wing Yiu, Winnie (MPhil student)

This project involves developing a tactile-based framework for children learning programming. By applying the theory of child cognitive development to state-of-the-art e-textile technology, our goal is to build a framework that can provide an intuitive and playful way for learning programming, and also arouse children's interests in technology.

• Multirobots Formation Control Project

by Peng Yun (PhD student)

This project aims to develop a multirobots system in which robots can maintain a particular geographical formation under movement. Techniques applied include optimal control theory and visual based localization.

• TeeBoard

The TeeBoard is a construction platform for e-textiles and wearable computing that is designed to be robust, reliable, easy to construct and to program. It has passed initial tests in one of our practical workshops for high school students and is also described in “The TeeBoard: an Education-Friendly Construction Platform for E-Textiles and Wearable Computing”(Ngai et.al., CHI2009)

• BrickLayer

http://etoy.comp.polyu.edu.hk/bricklayer/index.htm

The BrickLayer is a text-enhanced graphical programming environment which is innovative and interactive, and designed for junior high students with no programming experience. It has been field tested in one of our workshops for high school students, and is also described in “Filling the Gap in Programming Instruction: A Text-enhanced Graphical Programming Environment for Junior High Students”(Cheung et.al., SIGCSE2009)

• RAPI: multi-robot application programming interface

The goal of RAPI is to develop a library for the simultancous control of different types of robot. Currently supported robots include the Lego Mindstorms NXT, the iRobot Create and ActiveRobot's PeopleBot.

• Multi-touch interative surface

The multi-touch interactive surface is designed for educational and multimedia use. It combines infrared and input processing technologies for maximum flexibility and versatiliy.

Previous Projects

• Super Panda Ball

Super Panda Ball is a computer game that uses Ricons (Robotic Icons) as controls. Intelligent robots stand for virtual characters on a gameboard and players manipulate their pieces by manipulating the environemnt around the robot. The robots respond to the change in the environment by moving, and their movement is translated to that of the virtual screen characters.

• RFID Quick Deployment Kit

The RFID Quick Deployment Kit provide a cheap and easy way to develop one's own RFID applications. An In-house-developed RFID set with APIs in a variety of programming languages provide virtually plug-and-play capability.

Publications

• Grace Ngai, Stephen C.F. Chan, Joey C.Y. Cheung and Winnie W.Y. Lau. “The TeeBoard: an Education-Friendly Construction Platform for E-Textiles and Wearable Computing”. Conditionally accepted to 40th CHI Conference, Boston 2009.

• Grace Ngai, Stephen C.F. Chan, Joey C.Y. Cheung and Winnie W.Y. Lau. “An education-friendly construction platform for wearable computing”. Accepted to Interactivity, 40th CHI Conference, Boston 2009.

• Joey C.Y. Cheung, Grace Ngai, Stephen C.F. Chan and Winnie W.Y. Lau. “Filling the Gap in Programming Instruction: A Text-enhanced Graphical Programming Environment for Junior High Students”, Accepted to 40th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE), Chattanooga, Tennessee, March 2009

• Winnie W.Y. Lau, Grace Ngai, Stephen C.F. Chan and Joey C.Y. Cheung. “Learning Programming through Fashion and Design: A Pilot Summer Course in Wearable Computing for Middle School Students”, Accepted to 40th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE), Chattanooga, Tennessee, March 2009

• Vincent Ng, Stephen Chan, Grace Ngai, Alice Lam. “Designing a Collaborative Tool for Supporting Multi-module Student Projects”, Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education (GCCCE), Lansing, Michigan: May 2008.

• Grace Ngai, Mak Yin Chun, Stephen C.F. Chan and Vincent T.Y. Ng. “Toys in learning: Robots in a Large Introductory Programming Course at University Level”, 2nd International Conference of E-Learning and Games. Hong Kong: June 2007

• Grace Ngai, Stephen C.F. Chan and Vincent T.Y. Ng. “Becoming fluent in Java (or any computer language): Overlearning and Active Learning in Introductory Computer Science Learning”. Asia-Pacific Education Research Association Conference 2006. Hong Kong: November 2006

• Stephen C.F. Chan, Vincent T.Y. Ng and Grace Ngai. “A Framework for Service Learning in Professional Disciplines”. Asia-Pacific Education Research Association Conference 2006. Hong Kong: November 2006

Funding

Period	Project Title	Description	Amount
May 2008 – June 2010	RAPI: A Robotic eLearning Platform for Teaching Computing	E-Learning Development and Support Section (eLDSS) VP(AD)-Funded Project University Educational Development Committee Grant	HK$716,000
June 2006 – May 2007	PANDA: A Multi-User Platform for Teaching Computer Programming	1-year Small-scale Grant for a Learning & Teaching Development Project on Pilot Work on Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Learning University Learning and Teaching Committee Grant	HK$100,000