SBIR Phase I: A mathematics communication and collaboration system

SBIR 第一阶段：数学交流与协作系统

• 批准号: 1721340
• 负责人: Andrew Randono
• 金额: $ 22.5万
• 依托单位: Alef Omega, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-06-15 至 2018-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1721340&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; mathematics; communication; collaboration

This project researches and develops a novel mathematics communication and collaboration system. Mathematics is the foundation of Science and Technology, and national competence in the STEM fields is essential to maintaining our competitive edge on a global scale. Math literacy hinges on effective communication of mathematical concepts and processes. However, despite significant advances in pedagogical methods, the way we communicate mathematics remains curiously behind the times. Preliminary customer and market research has revealed that the lack of adequate communication tools for mathematical and technical expressions is holding back the advance of mathematics in online environments such as online tutoring. Moreover, the scarcity of effective communication tools has reinforced the long-standing preconception that math is primarily a solitary activity, and it has created an unintended and harmful selection bias restricting the diversity of students entering STEM fields. This project fills the void of adequate math communications tools with an dynamic, interactive system for communicating mathematical derivations in real-time in an online environment. The system facilitates student-student and student-teacher remote communication of mathematics, and it is particularly suited for student-tutor communication on online tutoring platforms.The math communication and collaboration system this project develops leverages the company's proprietary equation manipulation technology. This system employs an integrated math engine and a touch-based interface allowing users to manipulate equations using simple drag-and-drop gestures. It is built on a game-engine allowing for multi-player support. This project integrates the equation manipulation technology into a networked multi-user interface to connect one or more users for real-time communication of mathematical derivations. The project researches the precise needs of students, teachers, and online tutors to tailor the user interface to the specific needs of online mathematics communication. Specific problems the project researches include multi-player networking and matchmaking functionality, optimal network architecture for the system, transfer of control between users for effective communication, integration of traditional communication tools within the system, and reduction of latency time to enhance real-time interactivity. Successful completion of the project will result in a first-of-its-kind math communication system that allows users in different places to connect online and communicate a mathematical derivation as it is happening, and as easily as if they were in the same room. The primary project deliverable is a minimum viable product to be piloted and vetted through the company?s existing math app.

本课题研究开发了一种新型的数学交流协作系统。数学是科学和技术的基础，国家在STEM领域的竞争力对于保持我们在全球范围内的竞争优势至关重要。数学素养取决于数学概念和数学过程的有效交流。然而，尽管教学方法取得了重大进步，但我们交流数学的方式仍然奇怪地落后于时代。初步的客户和市场调查显示，数学和技术表达缺乏足够的沟通工具，阻碍了数学在在线辅导等在线环境中的发展。此外，缺乏有效的交流工具强化了长期以来的先入为主的观念，即数学主要是一种孤立的活动，并造成了一种无意的、有害的选择偏见，限制了进入STEM领域的学生的多样性。这个项目用一个动态的、交互的系统填补了足够的数学通信工具的空白，用于在在线环境中实时交流数学推导。该系统方便了学生与学生、学生与教师之间的远程数学交流，特别适合在线辅导平台上的学生与导师交流。本项目开发的数学交流与协作系统利用了该公司专有的方程处理技术。该系统采用了集成的数学引擎和基于触摸的界面，允许用户使用简单的拖放手势来操作公式。它建立在一个允许多玩家支持的游戏引擎上。该项目将方程式处理技术集成到一个联网的多用户界面中，以连接一个或多个用户，进行数学推导的实时交流。该项目研究学生、教师和在线导师的精确需求，以根据在线数学交流的特定需求定制用户界面。该项目研究的具体问题包括多玩家联网和配对功能、系统的最佳网络架构、用户之间为有效沟通而转移的控制权、系统内传统通信工具的集成，以及减少延迟时间以增强实时交互。该项目的成功完成将带来首个此类数学交流系统，允许不同地方的用户在线连接，并在发生数学推导时进行交流，就像他们在同一个房间一样容易。首要的项目成果是通过S现有的数学应用程序进行试点和审查的最低可行产品。