A resident of the Garage student business incubator created the U. M. device that detects signals of micro-earphones widely used in exams. The device was tested at Novosibirsk State Medical University (NSMU).
"The U. M. technology, which picks up the induction loop signal of the micro-earphone and broadcasts it to the teacher, can solve the problem of using micro-earphones", said Denis Rublev, the developer of the device, a resident of the Garage student business incubator.
850 violations were reported at the Unified State Exam (USE) held last year, according to Anzor Muzaev, the acting head of Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science (Rosobrnadzor); the use of micro-earphones was the most common among these violations. At the same time, according to a survey conducted by developers at the Novosibirsk State Medical University, 84% of students have used micro-earphones at least once, and 56% use them in every exam.
According to Denis Rublev, the device can be used in exams, olympiads, tests or courses. In contrast to the widely used video surveillance today, the U.M. device works independently and does not require continuous monitoring. The developers are convinced that the metal detector frames are also less effective, since they react only to large metal objects, while the correct operation of the micro-earphone does not require close proximity of the mobile phones which are not allowed for the exam. And the use of bafflers, which unfortunately do not suppress all types of signal, must be coordinated with the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation. Additionally, the main advantage of the development is that it does not just mute the signal, but finds out exactly who is using the micro-earphones, and proves it.
The device propagates waves that determine the signal of the micro-earphones. Then the device uses the built-in neural networks to recognize the words spoken in the micro-earphones, and voices them using the speaker. Developers have solutions for both small offices and large audiences. If necessary, the device can be upgraded for a specific task.
The device has passed four stages of testing, during which it proved its effectiveness and confirmed the harm from the use of micro-earphones. The "U. M." device was fully used in the test mode based on Novosibirsk State Medical University (NSMU), where, according to the teachers and students participating in the testing, it proved its effectiveness.
The developers addressed the Ministry of Education of the Novosibirsk Oblast with a request to offer the technology for the federal use. The request was supported by the Regional Ministry. The corresponding letter was sent to the Ministry of Education and Enlightenment of the Russian Federation.
Furthermore, the developers are currently negotiating with the International Chess Federation (FIDE). "It turned out, in this sport, there is also a problem of using micro-earphones at tournaments. We plan to integrate our U. M. technology with their proctoring system. This way, we adjust and modernize the device for the tasks", said Denis Rublev.
However, the primary purpose for developers is to implement the system for the use in universities and during the Unified State Exam.
"None of us would like to be treated by a doctor who had passed the exams because of the micro-earphone. No one would want for our children a teacher who had not prepared for the exams. None of us would want to get on a plane designed by an engineer who had passed the exams thanks to a micro-earphone. Therefore, the employees of NSTU NETI and NSMU have joined together at the Garage interuniversity business incubator to help solve one of the main problems of the Russian education quality ", commented Evgenia Gorevaya, head of the Garage SBI.