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Content archived on 2023-03-09
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Technology continues to transform the world, bringing many changes to the industry. An example of this is the trucking industry. There will no longer be images of people driving for long periods of time with nothing but coffee and a CB radio (citizens band) for company. EU-funded researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (FIT) in Germany are offering logistics workers and truck drivers a new learning experience where teaching is not limited to traditional classrooms. The LogiAssist system is the result of the ROLE (‘Responsive Open Learning Environments’) project, which is funded under the ‘Information and Communication Technologies’ (ICT) theme of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) to the tune of €6.6 million. LogiAssist focuses on the needs of logistics companies and long-haul truck drivers. The result of this technology is that they can learn while on the road using audio lectures, text documents or videos. According to the FIT team, truck drivers have to do more than just drive. Once available to almost anyone, trucking has become a highly skilled profession that requires a number of qualifications. Today’s truck drivers not only need to know how to drive fuel-efficiently and adjust their routes to deal with loading and traffic situations, but they also have to monitor their load and comply with legal regulations. In addition, there is complex legislation introduced at the EU level, and regulations implemented in different countries. Truck drivers need to be aware of this legislation. So the best way to help drivers gain and maintain knowledge is to provide them with an advanced tool while they continue to truck. This is where LogiAssist comes in, giving target groups exactly what they need. “The aim of this system is to help drivers and trucking companies deal with their professional training needs,” says Dr. Martin Wolbers from FIT, who led the project. “The idea is for truck drivers to listen to an audio lecture after work, during breaks or even while driving, and receive tailor-made assistance while on the road. “The training content is delivered via smartphone, tablet or laptop – in other words, on devices that the driver already uses in his vehicle. It is designed to meet the learning needs of the sector and can be adapted to the relevant context, taking into account prior knowledge, the driver, the vehicle, the load or the route,” adds Dr. Wolbers. “We address the needs of many target groups. University students, suppliers of educational materials, knowledge workers and even people who don’t sit behind a desk all day can benefit from this modern tool. “Basically, anyone who wants to learn electronically,” says Dr. Wolbers. The team has simplified all the details regarding the standards and applications that allow learners to use extensive material on an individually configured learning platform. The content can be prepared with a range of ready-made tools powered by user-friendly software including popular search engines, email programs and chat sites, the researchers say. The learning environment can be tailored to suit each user. Some people may want to work with short sub-modules of a course, while others may prefer to use documents to do their coursework. Still others may opt for video sequences of audio files. The Fraunhofer Institute of Technology will be demonstrating the practical application of these unique learning environments at the CeBIT trade fair in Hanover, Germany, from March 1 to 5. The Roll initiative, which began in 2009 and is scheduled to end in 2013, has brought together education and technology experts from Austria, Belgium, China, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit: Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (FIT): http://www.fit.fraunhofer.de/index_en.html Roll Project: http://www.role-project.eu/FP7 Information and Communication Technologies: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/
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Germany
