|  We
propose a new devise called 'world-stethoscope', which translates
different phenomena into sounds. By using the device with supportive
morphs in SqueakToys, our real world can be connected to the computer
world. It would provide a new kind of laboratory for children. We
also integrate NetMorph with the new system to achieve the collaborative
works of the children all over the world.
In Squeak, there is an intuitive tile-scripting environment called
SqueakToys, where we can develop visible objects (morphs) by attaching
various attributes and behaviors from tile palettes. In the United
States, interesting workshops have been held in which the SqueakToys
simulation system and outdoor field works are applied together so
that children themselves can find natural laws.
Squeak has the ability to get sounds and graphics as sampling data
and represent them as morphs. However, these data are mainly extracted
from digital sources (from local files or via network). Currently
Squeak does not provide any handy way to get physical data such
as length, weight, temperature, and trends of them. We have to do
tedious key-typing to input these measured data to Squeak.
In the above-mentioned workshop, students themselves need to type
the various sampling data from video camera, stopwatch, tape measure,
etc.
Fieldworks and experiments are essentially interesting, but if we
cannot provide a seamless flow between them, those pleasures would
be lost.
We do not think that measurement is just extracting the numerical
values from natural phenomena. It has its own power, because it
can have various reciprocal effects on models
that are built in computer world.
Measurement is the inter-bridge of the real world and virtual, simulated
world. In order to make assumptions or build models freely, the
real-time feedback of the measurements
to computer models and the observation of them from different perspectives
are really important.
In the proposal, we propose an environment (including hardware device)
for that purpose so that children can probe both worlds smoothly.
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