ExperInn (Experience Innovations) e-Learning system (Shetty, 2012) makes use of 2 modern technologies. They are augmented reality and image/object recognition and web as the communication path between ExperInn e-learning service provider and learner. Here in distance learning using ExperInn e-learning system using web uses the 3rd component that is Internet/World Wide Web. Here web is the major part since learner can only learn if he is having internet facility or if he is having facility to access World Wide Web.
Augmented reality refers to a system in which the physical surroundings of a person are mixed with real-time computer generated information creating an enhanced perception of surrounding environment. Being partly virtual and real, augmented reality applications have quite extreme requirements to be practical to use. It also has very much potential in numerous different application areas. These issues make augmented reality both an interesting and challenging subject from scientific and business perspectives.
Image recognition is designed for identification of current image in textbook page or objects. When the images in the textbook page or objects are identified, the related audio-visual contents are automatically played on the PC.
See Figure 1.
Requirements at the learner’s side for distance learning using ExperInn e-learning system through web
In this distance learning system learner has to scan the text book pages and has to upload these scanned copies to the web site of ExperInn e-learning service provider where an option to upload these scanned copies are provided in the ExperInn e-learning service provider’s web site itself (Figure 2).
Phases of distance learning using ExperInn e-learning system through web
In next phase effective augmented reality audio visual contents are created by the experts according to the requirement of the learner. These audio visual contents are updated in the database of the ExperInn e-learning service provider’s server. Here cloud implementation of the server will be more preferable since probability of accessing of the website by multiple learners will be more. So server may become busy if cloud computing implementation is not done. Cloud computing implementation is helpful for multiple learner distance learning at the same time. Next step is sending notifications to learner via e-mail or mobile message delivery so that learner will come to know whether the service is ready or not. If it is ready then he has to access ExperInn e-learning service provider’s website and should select the text book from the list and should click on “Start” option the program executes asks to “allow webcam” as soon as learner clicks on “allow” option webcam takes input from the textbook of the learner this says that learner has to open the textbook. Once he points out the particular image/object of the explanations of which he needs, webcam takes that image/object as input with the help of maker recognition and image recognition phases and it compares that image/object in the database and the output will be the augmentation of useful and conceptual audio visual contents (Figure 3).
User interface of ExperInn e-learning service provider’s website