Tablet PCs and robots: Technology as platform and motivator for explorations in collaboration

It is widely recognized that successful software developers and researchers need to be technically competent as well as effective team collaborators. This paper describes how technology (tablet PCs, and mobile robots) was used to focus and enhance opportunities to build collaboration and team skills. Tablet PCs were used to foster social skills within a software development course. The product produced, at the request of a robotics researcher, was an application to simulate robot navigation. The robot navigation application enables explorations in human robotic interaction. The introduction of these technologies has served as a focus to help teach and motivate collaboration skills.