Cloud design for learning and mobility services

Two Business case studies in University Laboratories on learning and mobility present the opportunity to experiment new multimedia data management, data analysis, distributed collaboration. Software engineering practices based on cloud technology techniques acquire from the Web what is needed for rapid prototyping, capability of satisfying the needs of customers, market validation of pricing policies, marketing strategies. As an alternative to standard software engineering programming, this approach allows to specify the projects’ concepts by reaching stakeholders of needed ICT components to implement a prototype relying on SW components available elsewhere. Two sample cases clarify this cloud-engineering approach to the development innovation: 1) Program for Recovery Insufficient Grades in High-School (PRISC); 2) Social Mobility (SM) to reduce dependence on owned cars to satisfy mobility needs. The PRISC strategy is to focus on the learner and on how proficiency is assessed through grades. The action steps: 1) understanding is focused on the students’ study on schoolbooks; 2) assessment is delegated to exercises and tests managed in interactive Web environment on screens of mobile telephones or PCs; 3) students with excellent grades act as tutors by exploiting the social networks. The SM strategy focuses on exploiting the empty seats available in most cars in metropolitan cities with air pollution problems. Key features: 1) direct negotiation via mobile devices between car drivers and ride seekers; 2) short range contacts insuring prompt satisfaction; 3) GPS ride surveillance.