Media Centre

Giunti Labs

Master List

20th February 2007

Giunti Labs extends its Mobile Learning suite with wearable training solutions

Giunti Labs, Europe's top LCMS producer, has succeeded in pushing back the frontiers of e-learning.

Giunti Labs, Europe's leading mobile and e-learning content management solution (LCMS) provider, has announced the delivery of a new wearable computer training application scenario for on-field maintenance support in the aeronautical industry.

This announcement is the preliminary result of Giunti Labs' work as part of the flagship research and development project 'WearIT @Work', a _24m project launched by the European Commission to design and develop wearable computer training scenarios and solutions for on-site aeronautical maintenance, advanced decision support systems in the automotive industry, healthcare and 'blue light' emergency mobile solutions.

The many partners in the project include Microsoft, Siemens, Skoda, Hewlett Packard, EADS, gespag and the Paris Fire Brigade. The project is coordinated by the University of Bremen.

Giancarlo Bo, head of Mobile Learning R&D projects at Giunti Labs, said: "WearIT@ Work is the world's leading project for wearable IT solutions addressing better working conditions for the workforce of those blue chip European industries which are included in the project."

In the WearIT@Work Project, Giunti Labs is in charge of the overall LCMS to deliver and track SCORM content on all of the mobile and wearable devices to be used in the working scenarios addressed by the project. This is based on Giunti Labs' learn eXact LCMS technology.

Fabrizio Cardinali, Giunti Labs' CEO, commented: "We are proud to have been selected as content management partners, extending our learn eXact LCMS platform to new use scenarios and requirements to help produce more effective and efficient learning and training for all."

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Notes for Editors

About WearIT@Work

The WearIT@Work project will develop a set of new solutions to support the workers of the future.

These solutions are based on wearable computing technology. Their effectiveness and applicability will be tested on four pilot studies in the fields of healthcare, emergency rescue, aircraft maintenance and production management and training.

WearIT@Work will prove the applicability of computer systems integrated to clothes, the so-called wearables, in various industrial environments.

These novel computer systems will support their users or groups of users in an unobtrusive way, for example, wearing them as a computer-belt. This will allow them to perform their primary task without distracting their attention enabling computer applications in novel fields.

Interaction with wearables by the user must be minimal to realise optimal system behaviour. For this reason a wearable computer recognises by integrated sensors the current work progress of a user.

Based on the work context detected, the system pushes useful information to its user - for example, how to proceed with the work. Apart from speech output, media could be optical systems presenting the information - for example, via semi-transparent glasses within the worker's visual field. Output devices for tactile feedback will be applicable, too.

The worldwide market for wearable computers generated over $70 million in supplier revenues in 2001. The market will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 51% through 2006, and grow to over $563 million.

Despite its massive growth, the market for wearables is still a niche market compared to the industrial use of desktop computers. Drivers of a stronger growth will be more standardised hardware and software platforms enabling the new work paradigms. WearIT@Work intends to be, with its partners, a key driver for this market.

More from http://www.wearitatwork.com/

About Giunti Labs

Giunti is unique in the international publishing industry.

In 1497, Giunti publishers and typographers in Florence, together with others in Venice, began modern book manufacturing. Over the years Giunti has built a 'historical catalogue' of huge dimensions, through a gradual process of 'fusion' of different publishers, but also through the creation of new brands, including Giunti Labs. Giunti Editore now includes 20 companies in the publishing sector.

Giunti Labs, which has its EMEA headquarters in Italy and an office in Milton Keynes (UK), provides a wide range of services, in response to any content, learning and knowledge management need, covering:

• Content production

• Research and development

• Technological solutions for content, learning & knowledge management

• Architectural and technological solutions for mobile & wireless

• Training and consulting