nir-vana innovation network

The Greek ICT company offers R&D services mainly for educational institutes. Recently, the company has developed a prototype tool, a plug-in, derived from an academic research project. The aim of the project was to find a cost-effective way to author automated support for highly interactive, web-based user interfaces. This is typically a problem with educational software. Learning environments that offer highly interactive activities to students can achieve better engagement and completion rates if automated support and adaptability are available. Traditional ways to develop automated support for that type of support have been excessively expensive, especially if the user interfaces are not very structured and controllable. There are also cases where the learning platforms are open. This offers opportunities to the user for exploring the platform. In those interfaces, if the possible user trajectories are not predefined then it is even more expensive to develop automated support with traditional methods.
The plug-in tool from the Greek company implements a novel approach that extends previous research . The tool offers an authoring method for automated user support that is easy and cost-effective to operate. It reduces significantly cognitive load and therefore, the entry threshold for prospective users. The tool also offers easy integration with any user interface. Further, it offers testability without interferences with currently working systems and easy deployment. The tool is generic and can be utilized with any type of user interface and in any domain. There are no low-level technical skills required by authors or significant domain expertise. The tool can take the form of a pluggable component for MOOC platforms or similar courseware delivery platforms.

The Greek company is looking mainly for companies or organizations that developing educational software. The type of partnership considered could be either joint venture or research cooperation agreements.

Advantages & innovations

The method is the first attempt to develop support for open web user interfaces without restrictions and dependencies on specific technologies and domains. The prototype is a generic plug-in tool that can be used by people with no expertise to enhance user interfaces with intelligent support and adaptability. There are no low-level technical skills required by authors or significant domain expertise. The output can be easily tested, deployed and integrated with any environment. The tool can be used to enhance existing web components with support and thus increase the level of engagement and user experience. Additionally, the tool reduces significantly loading and entry threshold for the user whereas it offers easy integration with any user interface.

Stage of development

Prototype available for demonstration

Partner sought

Joint venture agreement: The Greek SME is looking for partners, either companies or organizations, using or developing educational software. The partners will be able to complement their technical expertise with marketing and distribution channels. The Greek SME is able to develop a fully-fledged end, market-ready product or service. The plug-in is ideal for MOOC platforms or similar courseware delivery platforms. Research cooperation agreement: Since this is the outcome of a EU funded research project the company is envisage to develop it further and explore enhancements and refinements in every possible aspect of it. Thus, they are looking for partners in academia or the industry with similar research interests to collaborate and generate innovation.