Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio

Preferred name

Main Affiliation

Centro de investigación en Mecatrónica y Sistemas Interactivos

Quito

hugoarias@uti.edu.ec

ORCID

0000-0003-0106-6661

Scopus Author ID

57210802646

Now showing 1 - 10 of 66

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Learning Through Play: Implementing an Educational Escape Room for Teaching Traditions and Culture
(2025)
Valencia-Aragón, Kevin
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Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio
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Zapata, Mireya
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Luis Aguirre-Morales
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Sandra Sanchez-Gordon
This study explores the implementation of an educational Escape Room as a pedagogical strategy to teach tangible cultural heritage to students in Ecuador. This Escape Room was designed using the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation) and integrated into the basic education curriculum for Ecuadorian schools. The primary objective was to enhance students’ engagement and understanding of Ecuador’s cultural heritage through an interactive and gamified learning experience. The Escape Room was structured around five missions, each focusing on different aspects of the cultural heritage of five parishes in Ecuador. Students were required to solve puzzles, answer questions, and complete challenges to progress through the game. The results of the implementation, evaluated through observation and student feedback, indicated a high level of student engagement, improved problem-solving skills, and a deeper appreciation for Ecuador’s cultural heritage. The study concludes that Escape Rooms can be an effective tool for teaching cultural heritage, fostering teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking among students. This innovative approach not only makes learning more dynamic and enjoyable but also aligns with modern educational trends that emphasize active and experiential learning.
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Development of Websites as an Academic Integrative Project to Strengthen Businesses in the Popular and Solidarity Economy
(2026)
Borja Galeas, Carlos
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Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio
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Sánchez Montero, Ivanna Karina
This article explores the development of websites as an academic integrative project aimed at strengthening businesses within the popular and solidarity economy (EPS) in the province of Pichincha, Ecuador. Fifth-semester students from the Digital Marketing program at Universidad Indoamérica, as part of their integrative project, worked on creating customized websites for 12 local businesses that already had marketable products, including labels, packaging, and other presentation tools. Using the WordPress platform, the students developed websites tailored to the specific needs of each business, with the goal of improving their digital presence, facilitating access to broader markets, and increasing the competitiveness of their products and services. In addition to the technical development, graphic design elements such as professional product photography and promotional videos were integrated, along with digital marketing strategies that included search engine optimization and social media integration. The results indicate that the creation of these customized websites significantly increased the online visibility of the businesses and enhanced consumer perception of professionalism and trust. This study highlights the importance of applied academic projects as tools for community engagement and local economic development in vulnerable sectors. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.
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Artificial Intelligence and Tomorrow’s Education
(2021)
Cóndor-Herrera, Omar
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Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio
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Jadán Guerrero, Janio
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Ramos Galarza, Carlos
Nowadays, there is a rapid technological progress around the world that has enabled realities long ago unimaginable. We live in a technological era that represents new possibilities and challenges for society, and for the educational models in each country [1]. Research on smart education, which has forced the educational community to rethink on new ways of learning and teaching has been developed globally. Due to the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), the educational model for both, teachers and students will change. Nevertheless, to transform educational systems, it is necessary to update and train students, educators, and administrators effectively [2]. This research aims to describe the possible applications of AI in education from: 1) the automation of administrative tasks; 2) collection and analysis of information [3] to create smart content; 3) the implementation of virtual assistants in the teaching-learning process; 4) the potential delivery of lectures by humanoid robots with AI. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Scopus© Citations 3 38
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Q’inqu: Inclusive Board Game for the Integration of People with Disabilities
(2020)
Jadán Guerrero, Janio
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Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio
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Altamirano, I.
The educational inclusion of people with disabilities continues to be a great challenge for society. Due to the field’s diversity and complexity, people with disabilities have few opportunities to be integrated into educational activities or even entertainment. This article describes a novel educational resource developed within the field of applied technologies. Q’inqu is an inclusive board game that encourages the family and educational inclusion of people with disabilities. Q’inqu is a Quechua word meaning “Labyrinth”. This is a metaphor for the challenges faced by families living with a person with disabilities, and it also reflects its narrative structure based on the “Legend of the Incas’ treasure”. Q’inqu has the general theme of a traditional board game where turns are taken until the treasure is found. What makes it different is the integration of inclusive elements through the use of technology. There are cards with a braille code, a rectangular board with high relief, and a circular board with textures. An App reads QR codes and also patterns, which present additional information based on augmented reality. These features provide support to blind players and to those who are unable to read, making the game both entertaining and educational. Q’inqu was developed and tested by a multidisciplinary team of 80 people, which included students and professionals from design, education and pedagogy. The most relevant result was that out of 367 ideas that were presented, it was awarded first prize in the category Toys for children with disabilities in the CMA contest held in Ecuador. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Scopus© Citations 6 35
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Gamified Proposal to Stimulate Reading in Primary School Students
(2024)
Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio
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Montenegro B.
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Zapata M.
The lack of motivation and interest in reading in students is a fundamental problem since the minimum levels of reading competence for their age and educational level are not being reached. This research was developed with the aim of identifying motivation problems and using gamification as a pedagogical strategy to encourage reading in students. The study had a quantitative and descriptive approach that involved 30 students. Data were collected through the survey technique. The results of the research showed that reading demotivation is due to the lack of support at home, boredom and low reading comprehension that results from the use of traditional resources such as books that fail to capture and maintain the attention and interest of students. In addition, it was identified that the students present as main reading difficulties: problems of recognition of compound phonemes, lack of reading habit and motivation, as well as the deficit of reading comprehension, so it was necessary to implement a virtual strategy based on gamification through the digital tools Genially and Classflow. With the development of the research, it is concluded that the use of gamification as a pedagogical tool allows to motivate the reading of children, since its interactive elements and rewards create a stimulating and pleasant atmosphere that generates a positive impact on the performance of the student body. © 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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The Impact of Card Games on Enhancing Financial Education and Daily Life Skills for Older Adults
(2024)
Marcos Chacón-Castro
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Jenny Rengifo
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Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio
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Jadán Guerrero, Janio
Life expectancy is steadily increasing, and by the year 2030 it is estimated that one in six people in the world will be over 60 years of age. However, this aging population brings with it mental health challenges, with an alarming 20% of older adults facing mental disorders, with depression being the most prevalent. The purpose of this research article is to implement a gamified tool using pictograms to teach financial education to older adults. The methodology employed encompasses a literature review, the design of the gamified tool and the implementation of a pilot test with 11 older adults. According to the results obtained, they reveal that the game designed with pictograms is highly effective in the acquisition of financial knowledge and skills by older adults, thus concluding that gamification and the use of pictograms stand as valuable approaches for active and meaningful teaching, adapting effectively to different demographic groups.
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Editorial Design Based on User Experience Design
(2020)
Borja Galeas, Carlos
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Guevara Maldonado, César Byron
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Castillo Salazar, David Ricardo
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Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio
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Fierro-Saltos, W.
This research deals with editorial design based on user experience design. The traditional editorial design has had to adapt to the new digital media composition, where multimedia audiovisual elements unthinkable a few years ago need to be integrated. The participation of the reader, as an external observer who only receives information through texts and images, now has new scenarios in which he can actively participate and decide what will come to his hands. In this study, a work methodology based on UxD User Experience Design is presented, in which will generate the editorial design of an educational book on environmental issues, which includes augmented reality for children from 6 to 8 years of age. The aim of this study is to know if an editorial product with augmented reality and developed from the user experience design can improve meaningful learning in a playful and active way. For its development, a composition model based on the Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio will be used. Additionally, its graphic composition will be guided by the Massimo Vignelli canon and will be complemented by the reticular model of Beth Tondreau. The augmented reality markers position will also be based on the composition model previously mentioned, which will allow keeping the attention of the reader in the printed document and in the augmented reality animations. The user experience design will be applied with teachers, parents and students from 4 schools in Quito and Ambato. Once the production is completed, the impact on teaching-learning process will be evaluated with a control and a test group, and the methodology with which they will work in the classroom with the educational material developed will be defined. At the end of the study, copies of the book will be delivered to the participating schools of this research for its implementation. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.
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Advancements in Assistive Robotics: A Systematic Review of Inclusive Technologies for People With Disabilities
(2025)
Zapata, Mireya
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Diego Guevara
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Jennifer Obregón
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Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio
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Ramos Galarza, Carlos
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 16% of the global population lives with some form of disability, be it physical, sensory, intellectual, or psychosocial. Individuals with disabilities face numerous challenges related to mobility, communication, access to education, and other essential aspects of daily life. In this context, robotic technologies have emerged as innovative solutions aimed at improving autonomy, rehabilitation, and social inclusion. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and synthesize the scientific evidence on robotic technologies developed to support people with disabilities. More specifically, the review sought to analyze the temporal and geographical distribution of research, classify the types of robotic technologies and their applications, examine methodological characteristics and participant demographics, and highlight the key contributions and gaps reported in the included studies. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and IEEE Xplore. From an initial pool of 6,290 articles, 89 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The results were categorized into five main themes: publication trends, types of robotic technologies and applications, methodological characteristics, participant demographics, and key contributions. The findings reveal a strong concentration of research on articulated robots for physical disabilities, alongside limited exploration of intellectual, sensory, and psychosocial contexts. While robotic interventions demonstrate significant potential for rehabilitation and daily assistance, challenges remain regarding sample sizes, diversity of disabilities addressed, and long-term validation studies. This review contributes to a deeper understanding of the state of the art in assistive robotics and identifies future research directions to enhance inclusion, accessibility, and clinical integration
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Optimizing Agriculture with LoRaWAN and HCI: A Smart Approach to Sustainable Farming
(2025)
Valencia-Aragón, Kevin
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Zapata, Mireya
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Cristopher Toapanta
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Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio
Modern agriculture faces challenges including water scarcity, excessive fertilizer use, and limited connectivity in rural areas, all exacerbated by climate change. This paper presents a smart agriculture system leveraging LoRaWAN technology and human-computer interfaces (HCI) to address these issues. The proposed system integrates low-cost sensors, a LoRaWAN-based network, and a user-friendly dashboard for real-time monitoring of critical variables such as soil moisture, ambient humidity and temperature. A proof-of-concept implementation demonstrates the system’s effectiveness in optimizing water and fertilizer use while maintaining scalability for large agricultural operations. The system operates reliably within rural environments without relying on traditional internet infrastructure, offering an affordable and sustainable solution. Field tests validate the system’s performance, highlighting its potential to enhance decision-making and resource efficiency in floriculture and beyond. Future work aims to expand the system’s capabilities with additional sensors, artificial intelligence for predictive analytics, and automated control mechanisms, further supporting sustainable farming practices.
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Profiling of E-Learning Users with Accessibility Needs
(2021)
Calle-Jimenez T.
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Sanchez-Gordon S.
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Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio
Currently, there are millions of people who are studying professional training using e-Learning environments. A trend that has been exacerbated by the global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 virus pandemic. This circumstance has forced students around the world to switch to an emerging online modality in 2020. E-Learning environments has become an important option, maybe the only one, to keep studying, as long as these environments and the educational resources they host are accessible. In this context, it is relevant to have a mechanism to describe the accessibility preferences and need of students through the management of personal profiles. In this study, authors carried out a literature review regarding models designed to enable the creation of profiles in the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and presents an analysis of scientific research published by other researchers and shows the current state of the art of the research area of profiling of students with disabilities in MOOC platforms. This literature review will serve as input to propose a model that allows covering the lack of profiling of students with disabilities within e-Learning platforms to meet the needs of students who have disabilities. As far as we know, this is the first literature review of this kind. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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Arias Flores, Hugo Patricio

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