The fields of robotics and game consoles offer an interesting and broad range of lab platforms wi... more The fields of robotics and game consoles offer an interesting and broad range of lab platforms with appropriate characteristics for teaching Computer Architecture concepts. This work analyzes the impact of one approach based on game consoles and another one based on robotics from a triple dimension: student motivation, acquired knowledge, and perception of the employed platform. The study has been carried out on a sample of 96 students using the Arduino-based robot and 75 students using the Nintendo-DS console. A mixed methodology is employed encompassing quantitative and qualitative approaches. Five instruments are used to measure the three aforementioned dimensions. Results show that despite both platforms performing similarly in the three considered dimensions (student motivation, acquired knowledge, and perception of the employed platform), the robotics platform does it slightly better than game console, based on the obtained average scores for the considered instruments. Despite this outperforming, motivation and perception decrease for the students using the robotics platform as result of some identified constraint. This suggests that changes are required in the organization of the lab sessions to promote teamwork skills and to overcome the lack of simulators to remove the obstacles hinting motivation and performance. However, a clear correlation between motivation and perception and acquired knowledge has not been identified on computer architecture. Implications of affordances and constraints of both platforms, types of activities, and their impact on results have been discussed.
International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks
People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are normally prescribed with physical exercises. The r... more People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are normally prescribed with physical exercises. The realization of these exercise routines should be supervised to prevent wrongly adopted postures or bad movements that end up harming the affected articulations. The motivational component associated with a supervised session is also important. On the contrary, having access to qualified supervision is not always possible due to different reasons, such as tight schedules, limited mobility, or economic reasons. This article presents a system for at-home rehabilitation, based on Microsoft Kinect, that resembles the role played by the physiotherapist during the supervision of an exercise session. The system not only supervises the realization of exercises but it also collects and manages information about the exercise-session history. Additionally, and despite affecting young people, rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that mainly affects seniors. For this reason, the system provides a natural ...
International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks
People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are normally prescribed with physical exercises. The r... more People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are normally prescribed with physical exercises. The realization of these exercise routines should be supervised to prevent wrongly adopted postures or bad movements that end up harming the affected articulations. The motivational component associated with a supervised session is also important. On the contrary, having access to qualified supervision is not always possible due to different reasons, such as tight schedules, limited mobility, or economic reasons. This article presents a system for at-home rehabilitation, based on Microsoft Kinect, that resembles the role played by the physiotherapist during the supervision of an exercise session. The system not only supervises the realization of exercises but it also collects and manages information about the exercise-session history. Additionally, and despite affecting young people, rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that mainly affects seniors. For this reason, the system provides a natural ...
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Papers by Javier Dorado