Completed
Projects
IPTV Technology Platform for a Production Company
pjb Associates has successfully assisted a London-based production company
identify an appropriate partner company to supply a technology platform for
the development of a global broadband Internet IPTV service. The requirement
was the delivery of new special
interest "TV" programmes probably through a subscription service.
Development of an IPTV-based Business TV
Channel
Assisting a web-based online Business TV Channel to also offer some of its
content and develop its services on a IPTV/Broadband TV environment. This
involves identifying suitable IPTV service providers and developing
appropriate sustainable business models. The channel delivers online
distilled, accelerated learning and development in the business sector
through a range of video, audio and text based content – that is added to on
an ongoing week-by-week basis. This includes the wisdom and experience of
global and UK business leaders condensed into short 3 to 10 minute filmed
lessons that offer inspiration, motivation and practical insight across the
whole range of business challenges and disciplines. The company is working
with over 100 global business guru’s and successful entrepreneurs to
document their key learning experiences, thus creating a digital library
containing over 200 interviews covering a wide range of business areas –
each delivering valuable lessons and practical learning points.
A Roadmap for the development of
Personalised TV-based Services
Recently completed is a study that offers a
roadmap for the development of Personalised
TV-based Services. As telecom companies and other companies providing broadband internet
services are increasingly looking towards developing new services to the
home, that utilise a broadband connection, other than just providing fast
access to the Internet. They are being driven by needs to maintain and
increase their revenues. IPTV or Broadband TV through video-on-demand and
other interactive services to the TV are now technically possible and many
services are emerging throughout the world. However, business models for
making such services sustainable and profitable are still being worked out.
The study describes the issues that need to be addressed by telecom and
broadband service providers when developing a business plan for such
services and draws a roadmap that could lead to the development of
sustainable and profitable personalised TV-based services in the home.
t-learning study
This was a major global study
into the potential of using interactive and broadband TV for increasing
learning opportunities in the home. (see
t-learning study).
MOBilearn Newsletter
pjb Associates assisted in dissemination
activities and edits the MOBilearn
Newsletter for the MOBilearn Project.
The MOBIlearn Project is a worldwide European-led research and development
project exploring context-sensitive approaches to informal, problem-based
and workplace learning by using key advances in mobile technologies.
Futures for Learning
The "Futures for Learning"
initiative started by pjb Associates is now incorporated with our current
focus around personalisation and personalised TV. We believe that there are
many new opportunities emerging, particularly, but not exclusively, using
various new technologies that will widen participation to learning and
increase access to immersive learning experiences, sometimes on demand, in a
wide variety of situations.
New Perspectives for Learning
pjb Associates has a three and a half year contract with the EC DG Research to produce for
policy and decision makers briefing
papers and newsletters reporting some of the key conclusions and recommendations
of research projects and thematic networks funded under the European Union’s
“Targeted Socio-Economic Research” (TSER) Programme of the Fourth EU
Framework Programme (1994-1998) and ongoing
research supported by the Key Action “Improving
the Socio-economic Knowledge Base” – of the Fifth EU Framework Programme
(1999-2002). Further details.
Avatars for e-learning
pjb Associates has had a long standing contract with
Avatar-Me - a London-based company
to assist in the project management for five EU-supported projects one of which is
aiming to develop a synchronous learning environment using Avatars -
INVITE.
The other projects include
Avatar
Conference, Fashion-Me,
Magicster,
et-Cluster and
VIPAdvisor
The e-learning Research Centre
pjb Associates
has provided interim project management for the establishment of
The e-learning
Research Centre which was established in October 2003 as a joint venture
between UK eUniversities Worldwide Ltd (UKeU)
and the Universities of Manchester and Southampton. It is funded by the
Higher Education Funding Council for
England. The e-Learning Research Centre has the aim of becoming a
leading, international centre of excellence focussing on research into
eLearning within the Higher Education sector.
Interactive TV and Basic Skills
Also during 2003 the
Learning and Skills Development
Agency commissioned pjb Associates to assist them conduct a study for
the Learning and Skills Council on the
potential of using interactive TV for addressing basic skills needs.
t-learning Study
During 1999 pjb Associates completed a study for the European
Commission on Interactive TV learning
services to the European home - study As a follow-up to this study we
completed in 2003 a major global study called the t-learning study. This was
funded by the European Commission. The full
final report of this t-learning study is now available or you can read the
key highlights or the press release.
Market Towns Learning Network
pjb Associates has conducted evaluation of an online
community of learning for policy and decision makers aimed at sharing
experiences for the regeneration of market towns in England. This was a
Countryside Agency Initiative in 2002. Further
details.
Interactive TV and Lifelong Learning
During 2002 the
Learning and Skills Development Agency
commissioned pjb Associates to conduct a study on learning with Interactive TV.
This has resulted in a publication
Interactive TV: A learning platform with potential in 2003.
Evaluation and Review of Ten-Telecom Projects
Peter Bates of pjb Associates has been an evaluator and review of education
and training projects under the EC Ten-Telecom Programme (now known as the
eTEN Programme)
Learndirect Regional Hub
pjb Associates has provided interim management of the development stage of the
Kent and Medway Learndirect regional hub for
The Individual Learning Company Ltd.
Learning assistants for Lifelong Learning
pjb Associates has conducted some background research for a UK-based company
into the skills, competences and needs of learning assistants for all aspects of
lifelong learning.
Business Plan for the GENESIS Project
pjb Associates has contributed to the business plan of the GENESIS
Project under a contract with one of the partners,
Sheffield
Hallam University, UK. The services being developed by
the project consisted of multimedia learning resources delivered by high speed
(broadband) access to the Internet utilising direct to PC by satellite
technology.
e-tools for a future UK e-university
We worked with the Matic-Media, UK to carry out an up-to-date survey
of the range of e-tools (online managed learning environments) which could
be available for a future UK e-university. This work assisted the
development of what has now become UK
eUniversities Worldwide Ltd (UKeU). Backed by the UK Government with
£55m funding, has been established to deliver online and worldwide the best
degrees and degree-level learning that UK universities can provide.
Upgrade2000 Project - using interactive digital TV for basic skills
Peter Bates of pjb Associates has recently been involved in the
Upgrade2000 project
that has attempted to find ways of using interactive digital TV to meet the needs of the
8 million people in the UK with basic skills. He has completed a report that will contribute to the final report
of the Upgrade2000 Project on the new opportunities for learning via interactive digital TV
in the home. It describes the existing barriers for traditional education
and training providers who may wish to utilise broadcast digital TV. However, it
highlights new opportunities that are emerging in the form of personalised TV.
Costs of Teaching and Learning
with Technology
Peter Bates of pjb Associates has doing some work for
Sheffield Hallam
University, UK Virtual Campus Project on the costs of
Teaching and Learning with Technology by attending the first
Flashlight
Cost Analysis Handbook Workshop in the United States.
Learning Centre Models Study
Under a contract with an English training and
enterprise council with pjb Associates has carried out a study that
developed a number of learning centre models based in non-traditional
learning environments. A key feature of the study is to identify ways
in which the learning centres can develop business plans to
enable them to be sustainable once initial pump-prime funding
stops.
Evaluation of a Community Learning Utility
Pilot Project
pjb Associates has completed an evaluation of a pilot
project established by an English training and enterprise
council. The project involved establishing a number of
community learning utilities (CLU) consisting of up to four
multimedia computer systems with access to the Internet and
with video-conferencing facilities. These CLUs are based in
non-traditional learning environments like community centres
and housing association buildings.
Research activities for the European
Education Partnership
pjb Associates is carrying out a number of ongoing
research activities for the European Education Partnership
(E.E.P.) and also managed the content of their web site.
TeleLearn project - costing
telematics in vocational training and adult education
The TeleLearn project was an observatory for the
collection and collation of resources relating to costing
issues concerning the introduction of telematic-based
lifelong learning into vocational training and adult
education.
The project consists of a preparatory stage towards the
development of decision-making/costing analysis tools to
aid policy makers and managers introduce telematic-based
lifelong learning into vocational training and adult
education.
The Project is partially funded under the European
Commission Leonardo Programme and is being co-ordinated
by LearnTel. pjb Associates has a contract with LearnTel.
Ten-Telecom Synergy Study -
sustainability
pjb Associates is supplying consultancy services to
the Ten-Telecom Programme of the European Commission to
create synergy between the five education and training
orientated projects of the Ten-Telecom Programme in order
to sustain their future development. These projects are:
- VIRTUE
- co-ordinated by Europace 2000
- PLATO
- co-ordinated by Deutsche Telekom
- WIRE - co-ordinated by
EADTU
- SENECA - co-ordinated by SEMA Group
-
TARGET
- co-ordinated by North West Institute
(NWIFHE)
VOCTADE Project
For the
VOCTADE Project
(Development of knowledge in the field of vocational
training at a distance in the European Union), under a
contract with Distance Education International Ltd,
Dublin Ireland, pjb Associates collected
information on the numbers of students on distance
learning courses in all UK universities.
Multimedia in Education: The transition from
Primary School to Secondary School
Under a contract with the European
Parliament’s Scientific and Technological Options
Assessment Unit (STOA) pjb Associates carry out a study and wrote a
report into "Multimedia in Education: The transition
from Primary School to Secondary School" Published by STOA, European
Parliament 1997.
Telematics for Flexible and Distance
Learning (DELTA) - Final Report
Under a contract with the European
Commission pjb Associates wrote and produced the
"Telematics for
Flexible and Distance Learning (DELTA) - Final Report",
1995
Research & Project Management of ICT-related
learning
pjb Associates provided interim project
management support for research & development activities in the field of
information and communication technologies. This was for the Kent
Training and Enterprise Council.
Developing Telematics-based Learning
Services - the role of SMEs
Under a contract with
EuroNet Associates pjb Associates
conducted a study and produced a report
"Developing Telematics-based Learning
Services - the role of SMEs" for the European Commission DGXIII's -
Telematics for Education and Training Sector of the Telematics Application
Programme. This study has aimed to identify what are potentially the most
effective ways of stimulating the development of telematic-based learning
services amongst small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the process of
technology and innovation transfer along SME networks.
Information Society: Competitivity and
Employment
This report "Information
Society: Competitivity and Employment - Final Report 1996" was produced
under a contract with STOA Unit of the European Parliament.
