Tells - a facility for web-based, remote real time laboratory experiments University of Limerick Ireland

Classroom of the future2 The (Tells) system is a facility to enable lecturers and students to run and control real-time experiments. The main goals of (Tells) are: The provision of lectures augmented with real- time experiments and demonstrations to local and remote learners The provision of remote and local learner access to real-time experiments on-line for 24 hours a day 7 days a week Building on standard Internet and PC technology and LABVIEW

Classroom of the future3 Hands on experiments and laboratory work Tells Simulated experiments Learning from experiments

Classroom of the future4 Skills Development Reinforcing concepts On-Line Learning Support Real- Time Parameter Changing Remote Use Hands-On  Simulation  Tells 

Classroom of the future5 WEB LABVIEW Run Time Engine LECTURER PC LABVIEW Process Video Audio Real-time experiments demonstrated by lecturer to local learners in a lecture setting

Classroom of the future6 The lecturer may run real-time experiments, operating in a remote laboratory, in a local classroom setting Lecture to local learners mode

Classroom of the future7 PC LABVIEW WEB PC 1 LABVIEW Run Time Engine SOUND VIDEO LECTURER PC 2 LABVIEW Run Time Engine SOUND PC m LABVIEW Run Time Engine SOUND Statuses: MONITORING CONTROL Process Video Audio Real-time experiments demonstrated by lecturer to local and remote learners in a lecture setting

Classroom of the future8 The instructor may run realtime experiments, operating in a remote laboratory, to remote and local learners in a lecture format Lecture broadcast mode

Classroom of the future9 LABVIEW Implementation Process VIDEO AUDIO Web Page Lecturer Audio Video Access Control LABVIEW Run Time Engine

Classroom of the future10 PC LABVIEW WEB LABVIEW Run Time Engine LABVIEW Run Time Engine LABVIEW Run Time Engine PC 1 PC 2 PC m Process Video Audio Real-time experimentation by local and remote learners on-line 24 hours a day

Classroom of the future11 Local and remote learners may be scheduled to run a Labview controlled experiment developed by the lecturer and change experiment parameters Online real-time experimentation mode

Classroom of the future12 LABVIEW Implementation Process VIDEO AUDIO Web Page Access Control

Classroom of the future13 Issues to deal with Registration of the remote users Scheduling of the remote users Remote access watchdog Quality of the visual and audio feedback

Classroom of the future14 Notice BoardScheduleFinal Year Projects HomeworkCredit Lecture Main page Structure

Classroom of the future15 Hardware used Standard PC Video cameras Image Acquisition (IMAQ) Card Microphones and speakers used with the soundcard Process - any type of electronic or mechanical process being controlled in LABVIEW View experiments in real time View the lectures in real time Convert analog video to digital video Transmit and receive sound Used for the experiment Data Acquisition (DAQ) Card Compatible with NI LABVIEW Exchange the information between the PC and the experiment Projector Display video or text on a large screen

Classroom of the future16 Software used LABVIEW - graphical programming software for measurement and automation Microsoft Internet Explorer (or similar software) Microsoft FrontPage, Dreamweaver (or other similar software) HTML Code Data Acquisition Control Web-publishing Scheduling Access the LABVIEW generated web pages and other web pages Build and manage websites and Internet applications Embed programs into web pages Helix Producer (from RealNetworks) Provides encoding to convert audio and video into RealMedia format Helix Server (from RealNetworks) Delivery engine supporting the real time packetization and network transmission of any media type to any device RealONE Player (from RealNetworks) Used to decode and play information in RealMedia format

Classroom of the future17 Conclusion The (Tells) system is a facility that enables communication between lecturers, laboratory experiments and students. It is implemented using standard, available hardware and software. It is a resource that can be applied in any experimental discipline where interaction with real-time experiments is a useful learning resource.