12/2009-06/2010: Digital-based narrative activities in a formal educational setting, TEC-Lab, Università della Svizzera italiana, CH
Main Task: the definition of the methodology for the observation in class and the analysis of empirical data.
This project approaches the broader subject of developing narrative competences in children in a formal education setting. We address this issue through a comparison between canonical and digital-based narrative activities in a formal educational setting. The project is based upon a case study carried on in a primary school in Lugano (CH), where children develop educational narratives in both traditional and digital-assisted formats.
12/2008-12/2009: Swiss University Web communication, TEC-Lab, Università della Svizzera italiana, CH
Main Task: the assessment of the methodology for the Requirement analysis and definition.
The project adopts a wide approach in using Internet Web applications to enhance the efficiency of communication through ICT. The communication will be supported from different format including storytelling: one “narrative” about Swiss University, available via web, podcast and cellular phones will be developed. The purpose of the research is to study how to deliver communication messages through different channels and formats (website, mobile devices, podcast). Project Website: SUW
04/2008-04/2009: Enigma Helvetia, TEC-Lab, Università della Svizzera italiana, CH
Main Task: the development of multimedia and multi-chanel application and the evaluation of the cultural impact of technology.
The project had two complementary goals. Practical goal: develop a multimedia narrative for communicating the main themes and contents of a museum exhibition. Research goal: assess the methodology of requirements analysis, as well as evaluate the impact of communication technologies for the understanding and assimilation of interpretive contents. The theme of the narrative is the exhibition “Enigma Helvetia”, organized jointly by the two art museums in Lugano: Museo Cantonale D’Arte and Museo D’Arte di Lugano, in spring 2008. Project Website: Enigma Helvetia
01/2007-01/2011: Wi-roni, Communication Sciences Dpt, University of Siena, Italy. ARSNOVA-Multimedia Art Academy, Siena, Italy. Main Tasks: to investigate theoretical and practical issues of designing interaction modality based on gesture input for accessing Internet information in public spaces and stimulating collaborative activities.
The findings of the research have been assessed and used for the development of a real prototype namely Wi-roni a set of urban furniture installed in public garden of Monteroni d’Arbia (Italy), www.arsnovasiena.it/wironi
03/2008: Learning@SocialSport, Politecnico di Milano, HOC-LAB, Italy.
Main Tasks: to investigate Web 2.0 and social network for supporting learning in collaborative environments.
The aim of the project is to build virtual kiosks in Second Life that allow students of elementary school to acquire knowledge regarding sport during the gaming activities. The main learning objective is to provide contents that underline the ethic and social value of sports. One of the challenges of the project is to design motion patterns for an avatar that could enhance user involvement in the learning activity and the collaboration in solving problems activities performed in a 3D environment.
02/2008: Mechatronic project, TEC-Lab, Università della Svizzera italiana, CH
Main Tasks: to explore the design issues and defined the heuristics for development of a storytelling interactive application for technical communication. The project had the practical goal of developing a multichannel multimedia narrative to promote the identity and the products of the company Mechatronic. The research goal was to investigate how the use of integrated Web applications can support corporate communication and sales promotion.
The results of the research have been applied in a real case study for a Swiss company namely Mechatronic. Project Web Site: mechatronic
09/2007- 06/2008: ENEL project, Politecnico di Milano, HOC-LAB, Italy. Main Tasks: to investigate the problem of providing information visualization views for supporting users in the resolution of problems in critical situations.
The study has been conducted for a company namely ENEL (distributes and sells electricity and gas across Europe). Partners of the project are Siemens (IT) and Softeco (IT).
09/2007- 08/2008: UNISI.CH, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.
Main Tasks: Evaluated the University of Lugano web site (www.unisi.ch) with the aim of assess the evaluation methodology called MILE+ for technical inspection and end user evaluation.
03/2006-12/2006: University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, Fribourg, Switzerland. Main Tasks: to design Tangible User Interface (TUI) and multimodal interaction modalities for supporting people in memories recollection on mobile context.
The research has been applied on a real case study: Memodules, www.memodules.ch, (funded by Hasler Foundation, Switzerland).
01/2005-10/2006: Enoteca Italiana, (wine cellar in Siena), Siena, Italy. Main Tasks: to investigate issues for the design of an interactive environment enhancing user experience in visiting exhibition of goods, testing and buying articles.
Identified concepts applied in a real case study funded by the Enoteca Italiana (wine cellar in Siena) with the aim of creating a mobile interactive system for supporting the user in visiting the exhibition space, browsing and collecting information regarding the culture of wine.
06/2004: European Integrated Project called Intelcities (IST-2002-507860), Communication Sciences Dpt, University of Siena, Italy. Main Tasks: to elicit the requirements for designing services to support citizen inclusion through technology.
The project aims to develop an Internet platform that provide services for European citizens www.intelcitiesproject.com
04/2004: Learning platform for the Law Faculty, University of Siena, Italy. Main Tasks: to investigate theoretical and practical issues for the design of Internet platform to support learning and teaching activities and the Faculty staff workflow. To conduct the research study and managed the development team in the design of the platform.
10/2003: University of Siena museum and archive, University of Siena, Italy. Main Tasks: to conduct research on innovative interaction modalities to design a proactive environment for enhancing the visit of an exhibition space.
The results of the study have been exploited in the design of University of Siena museum and archive. The system is based on interactive kiosks and RF-ID tool technology. This was a first attempt to face with Tangible User Interfaces (TUI).
2002-2008: 3_is project, Communication Sciences Dpt, University of Siena, Italy. Main Tasks: to conduct a research on theoretical and practical issues regarding learning and teaching for the design of technology to support teachers and students.
The defined concepts (dialogical knowledge construction and situated editing of contents) have been applied in the construction of real prototypes tested on real context of use. As results of the experimentation a client applications namely 3_is has been developed. It allows the creation of SCORM, and the connection among learning object and the video and audio of the lecture/discussion.
2002-2003: M-toGuide European project (IST-2001-36004), Information Engineering Dpt, University of Siena, Italy. Main Tasks: to conduct a research on nomad user and mobility through the study of literature and carrying out user studies. Developed and evaluated the prototypes. The aim of research was to define interaction modalities for a mobile and distributed environment in order to allow single user and the community to communicate and share information with other people, objects and machines located in the environment.
Prototypes of the mobile device and system architecture have been tested in Siena, London and Madrid. Motorola coordinates the project and some of the partners are Thomas Cook, Antenna Audio, Telefonica Moviles Espana and Wind.
2002-2005: Sm-PaySoc is a European project (IST 1998-2002, IST-2001-32526), Communication Sciences Dpt and Information Engineering Dpt, University of Siena, Italy. Main Tasks: to deal a research on how to design graphic user interfaces for a multi-platform system (kiosk, mobile device, personal computer) in a distributed environment for providing information by the way of a personalized interface.
Marconi mobile coordinates the project and some of the partners of the consortium are Sony Ericsson, Regulus, Bantry technology, m-system and Robotiker.
2000-2002: SAUL, Information Engineering Dpt, University of Siena, Italy. Project funded by MURST (Ministero dell’Università per la Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica, Ministry of Education, University and research). Main Tasks: to investigate the issue of designing geographic representations for supporting orientation and wayfinding by merging the affordances of traditional maps and real environments for learning spatial relations. The project aims was to support mobility of people physically impaired in historical, cultural and tourist interests areas. The emerged views have been implemented for a National Park in Italy www.saul.unisi.it