Hybrid Design Tools - Image Quality Assessment of a Digitally Augmented Blackboard Integrated System

TL;DR

This study evaluates a hybrid digital-analog blackboard system for teaching, analyzing image quality through objective and subjective methods, and finds it effectively supports complex drawing tasks in educational settings.

Contribution

It introduces and validates a hybrid blackboard system that combines digital and traditional elements, focusing on image quality for educational use.

Findings

Hybrid system provides good image quality for complex drawings.

Objective and subjective evaluations confirm system's effectiveness.

Supports teaching disciplines requiring detailed visual interaction.

Abstract

In the last two decades, Interactive White Boards (IWBs) have been widely available as a pedagogic tool. The usability of these boards for teaching disciplines where complex drawings are needed, we consider debatable in multiple regards. In a previous study, we proposed an alternative to the IWBs as a blackboard augmented with a minimum of necessary digital elements. The current study continues our previous research on hybrid design tools, analyzing the limitations of the developed hybrid system regarding the perceived quality of the images being repeatedly captured, annotated, and reprojected onto the board. We validated the hybrid system by evaluating the quality of the projected and reprojected images over a blackboard, using both objective measurements and subjective human perception in extensive and realistic case studies. Based on the results achieved in the current research, we conclude that the proposed hybrid system provides good quality support for teaching disciplines that require complex drawings and board interaction.