Tells - a facility for web-based, remote real time laboratory

experiments

University of LimerickIreland

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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

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Hands on experiments and laboratory work

Tells

Simulated experiments

Learning from experiments

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Skills Development

Reinforcing concepts

On-Line Learning Support

Real-Time

Parameter Changing

Remote Use

Hands-On Simulation Tells

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WEB

LABVIEWRun Time Engine

LECTURERPC

LABVIEWProcess

Video

Audio

Real-time experiments demonstrated by lecturer to local learners in a lecture setting

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The lecturer may run real-time experiments, operating in a remote laboratory, in a local classroom setting

Lecture to local learners mode

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PC

LABVIEW

WEB

PC1

LABVIEWRun Time Engine SOUND

VIDEO LECTURER

PC2

LABVIEWRun Time Engine

SOUND

PCm

LABVIEWRun Time Engine

SOUND

Statuses:

• MONITORING

• CONTROL

Process

Video

Audio

.

.

.

Real-time experiments demonstrated by lecturer to local and remote learners in a

lecture setting

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The instructor may run realtime experiments, operating in a remote laboratory, to remote and local learners in a lecture format

Lecture broadcast mode

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LABVIEW

Implementation

Process

VIDEO

AUDIO

Web Page

Lecturer

Audio Video

Access Control

LABVIEW

Run Time Engine

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PC

LABVIEW

WEB

LABVIEWRun Time Engine

LABVIEWRun Time Engine

LABVIEWRun Time Engine

PC1

PC2

PCm

Process

Video

Audio

Real-time experimentation by local and remote learners on-line 24 hours

a day

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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

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LABVIEW

Implementation

Process

VIDEO

AUDIO

Web Page

Access Control

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Issues to deal with

• Registration of the remote users

• Scheduling of the remote users

• Remote access watchdog

• Quality of the visual and audio feedback

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Notice Board

Schedule

Final Year

Projects

Homework

Credit

Lecture

Main page

Structure

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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

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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

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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.