A Tangible System for Learning Relational Algebra

Keywords: Tangible user interfaces, Relational algebra

Abstract

Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) are those in which users interact with a digital system through the direct manipulation of physical objects (tokens). Tokens are directly linked to a certain data/functionality within the system, so manipulation of these objects affects the system behavior. This paper introduces TanQuery, a tangible system to support the process of learning Relational Algebra. TanQuery incorporates components to detect and track tokens, and to analyze and execute query trees. The system was tested by university students, and obtained results allowed to observe and analyze that students found this type of interface useful and pleasant.

Author Biographies

José Antonio Xohua-Chacón, Universidad Veracruzana

Graduated from the Computer Science undergraduate program at Universidad Veracruzana, he obtained a master’s degree in Interactive Systems with a focus on user from the Universidad Veracruzana. Professor at the Faculty of Statistics and Informatics of Universidad Veracruzana.

Edgard Iván Benítez-Guerrero, Universidad Veracruzana

Computer Systems engineer graduated from Universidad de las Américas Puebla and Master in Artificial Intelligence from Universidad Veracruzana. He holds a PhD program in Computer Science from Joseph Fourier University (University of Grenoble I, Grenoble, France). Full Time Professor (Titular "C") at the Faculty of Statistics and Informatics of Universidad Veracruzana. His areas of interest range from databases, artificial intelligence, and human computer interaction to mobile and ubiquitous computing, and context aware computing.

Carmen Mezura-Godoy, Universidad Veracruzana

She holds a degree in Computer Science from Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana-ITT. She also finished her Master program in Artificial Intelligence from Universidad Veracruzana and her PhD program in Computer Science that specialized in Groupware from University of Savoie in France. Full time Professor (Titular "C"). Her areas of interest include CSCW, IHC, context-aware computing, e-learning and multiagent systems.

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How to Cite
Xohua-Chacón, J. A., Benítez-Guerrero, E. I., & Mezura-Godoy, C. (2018). A Tangible System for Learning Relational Algebra. Revista Colombiana De Computación, 19(1), 39–55. https://doi.org/10.29375/25392115.3228

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Published
2018-06-01
Section
Article of scientific and technological research

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