Erik Duval facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erik Duval
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| Born | 11 September 1965 Schoten Belgium
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| Died | 12 March 2016 (aged 50) Leuven, Belgium
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| Nationality | Belgian |
| Known for | IEEE LOM, ARIADNE |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Augmenting Human Intellect |
| Institutions | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven |
Erik Duval (born September 11, 1965 – died March 12, 2016) was a smart computer scientist from Belgium. He worked at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, a big university. There, he led the computer science department's informatics section. He also led a research group focused on how people use computers. His main goal was to find ways to make human thinking and abilities even better using technology. This is called "augmenting human intellect."
Contents
Erik Duval's Life and Work
Erik Duval was a very active person in the world of computer science. He was part of many important groups. These included the Society for Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR). He was also a fellow of the AACE. He was a member of the ACM and the IEEE Computer Society. These are all big organizations for computer experts.
He also helped guide important journals. These included the International Journal on E-Learning. He was also an editor for the IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies (TLT). He was even a member of the Academia Europaea. This is a group of top scientists in Europe.
Starting New Companies
Erik Duval helped start two companies. One was Aristo Music Technology in 2000. The other was Atmire in 2006. This shows he was not just a researcher but also an innovator.
Focus of His Research
Later in his career, Erik Duval and his team worked on exciting new ideas. They wanted to understand how people use computers.
- They used special sensors to track what users did. These sensors could measure brainwaves, heart activity (ECG), and even eye movements. They also used software to see what people clicked and typed. This helped them learn about the "user experience."
- They also worked on "personal information visualisation." This means making computer information easy to see and understand for each person. The goal was to help people notice things, think about them, make sense of data, and even change their habits for the better.
Areas of Study
His research helped in many different areas.
- Technology Enhanced Learning: This is about using technology to make learning better. It also includes "learning analytics." This means using data to understand how students learn and how to help them more.
- Science and Digital Humanities: This involves using computer tools to study science and human culture.
- Personal Health: His work helped people use technology to manage their own health.
- Data Journalism: This is about using data and computer tools to tell stories in the news.
Important Works
Erik Duval wrote over 100 research papers. Some of his most important ideas include:
- Learning Object Metadata (LOM): He helped create the IEEE Standard for Learning Object Metadata. This is like a special tag system for online learning materials. It helps people find and reuse educational content easily.
- ARIADNE: He was involved with the Ariadne knowledge pool system. This was a big collection of learning resources that could be shared.
- Attention Metadata: He developed ways to track how people actually use online content. This helped understand what parts of a website or learning material truly grabbed someone's "attention."
- Learning Analytics: He explored how to use data about learning to create better ways to show information and suggest new things to learn.
His Passing
In March 2014, Erik Duval found out he had a type of cancer called Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. He had treatments like chemotherapy. For a while, it seemed like the cancer was gone. But in the summer of 2015, he was diagnosed with a different type of cancer. Erik Duval passed away on March 12, 2016.
His Legacy
Erik Duval left a lasting impact.
- The Society for Learning Analytics Research created special scholarships in his name. These "Erik Duval Student Scholarships" help students attend important learning analytics events.
- The main auditorium in the Computer Science building at KU Leuven was named after him. This happened just a few months after he passed away. It's a way to remember his important contributions to the university and to computer science.
