Robo-eLC: enhancing learning hypermedia with robotics

This paper describes the Robo-eLC project that aims at enhancing learning via the use of hypermedia in the case of robotics as learning appliances. The Robo-eLC robot, a cross application between e-learning and e-commerce, is the result of a multidisciplinary approach aimed at integrating elements of cognitive science, education, robotics and computer science in a single multimodal that takes into account human behaviour and cognitive processes. The robot is essentially an adaptive learning environment that interacts with users via audio-visual communication and that acts accordingly by moving its head and upper limbs depending on the specific situation. Preliminary analysis on Robo-eLC indicates that the combined interface was reported, by a majority of users, to have influenced their decisions to donate and that it was successful in accomplishing its tasks.