Title: Satellite-enabled educational services specification and requirements analysis based on user feedback

Authors: Sofia Tsekeridou, Thanassis Tiropanis, Dimitris Rorris, Constantinos Makropoulos, Tacha Serif, Lampros Stergioulas

Addresses: Athens Information Technology (AIT), 0.8 km Markopoulou Ave., Building B7, Peania 19002, Athens, Greece. ' Athens Information Technology (AIT), 0.8 km Markopoulou Ave., Building B7, Peania 19002, Athens, Greece. ' National Center of Scientific Research 'Demokritos' (NCSR), Athens, Greece. ' National Center of Scientific Research 'Demokritos' (NCSR), Athens, Greece. ' Department of Information Systems and Computing, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK. ' Department of Information Systems and Computing, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK

Abstract: Advanced tele-education services provision in remote geographically dispersed user communities (such as agriculture and maritime), based on the specific needs and requirements of such communities, implies significant infrastructural and broadband connectivity requirements for rich media, timely and quality-assured content delivery and interactivity. The solution to broadband access anywhere is provided by satellite-enabled communication infrastructures. This paper aims to present such satellite-based infrastructures that are capable of addressing the core requirements of rich media educational services in remote areas. The paper proceeds to examine a set of services that will realise such satellite-based distance learning systems and to assess the targeted users| interest in such services. The presented work is undertaken within the framework of the EU-funded Broadband Access Satellite Enabled Education (BASE²) project. Furthermore, requirements analysis, based on the Volere template (Robertson) and on user feedback, is undertaken.

Keywords: satellite-enabled education; tele-education; broadband communication; service specification; requirements analysis; user feedback; communication infrastructures; satellite communications; remote areas; distance learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2008.020668

International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, 2008 Vol.4 No.2/3, pp.272 - 284

Published online: 08 Oct 2008 *

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