m-learning
At Sharp Laboratories of Europe we believe that technology can enhance
learning.
Language Technology has been a research theme for over a decade and between 1995-2002, we developed a novel, context-sensitive bilingual dictionary that assists Japanese users in reading and learning English. It is included in Sharp's package of translation tools sold in Japan (Power E/J, Kore Ippon).
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In 2005, we developed an innovative Translation Memory component that allows learners to search for examples of correct English usage using a query in their own language (i.e., Japanese).
SLE spell-checking technology is used in the Sharp Electronic Dictionaries on sale in the European market.
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the future of education
The Internet has already started to revolutionise education. In the future intelligent educational systems will have matured and it is predicted that informal online learning communities will gain in status. They will run alongside formal educational institutions, thereby allowing people to learn at their own pace by exploring, discovering, creating and sharing ideas and resources. There is a vision that learners will use a personal electronic learning device, be it a tablet PC, television, mobile phone, or specialised device, that adapts to their progress and preferred style of learning.
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At Sharp Laboratories of Europe, we are researching the next generation of educational technology, including novel user interfaces in hardware and software, mobile learning systems, personalized and adaptive systems, and software platforms for content conversion and management.
mobile English language learning systems
We are developing mobile English language learning technology and applications. The idea is to provide educational functionality on our mobile phones, which have the leading market share in Japan, and growing share in China. Our current success is technology that automatically (i.e., with very little manual production) enhances digital books with extra learning content such as language quizzes and games and further tracks the performance and progress of a user in learning reading skills and vocabulary.
We are currently seeking business partners to help us commercialize the service side.
A user study of one of our systems, conducted by the University of Nottingham, concluded that “Adaptive software linked to e-books running on mobile devices could offer an engaging means for students to improve their knowledge of a foreign language through incidental learning.”*
All interaction was through touch or stylus. The system adds additional interactivity onto a standard e-book including highlighting words in the text that matched the user’s reading level, short vocabulary learning exercises accessible by a click, and learning progress charts. The initial level of reading ability is assessed by the user taking a short vocabulary test. Thereafter, the system employs an algorithm to adapt its response based on the user’s progress through the text, the words clicked, and exercises success rate.
* Fisher, T, Pemberton, R, Sharples, M, Ogata, H, Uosaki, N, Edmonds, P, Hull, A, Tschorn, P, 2009. Mobile learning of vocabulary from reading novels: a comparison of three modes. In: mLearn 2009, 26-28 October, Orlando, FL. (Extended version submitted to the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning).
the market
An estimated 2 billion people will be learning English worldwide in a decade. Our first target is English language learning, building on our history in developing language technology.
