Advanced Internet Technology In Laboratory Modules For Distance Learning

We describe user-friendly and efficient technologies for interactive, on-line operation of laboratory experiments over the Internet. The objectives are to utilize the most recent advances in Internet and World Wide Web, to allow communication with minimum overhead, to provide a functional client interface, to establish a variety of experiments, and to allow flexibility in configuring experiments. Our remote lab is based on a client/server architecture where students can communicate with the lab server using regular Web browsers. To fully utilize the functionalities of modern browsers and servers, the server may respond in formats such as JavaScript, HTML or XML. This is achieved by creating Web-solutions based on Internet Server Application Programming Interface (ISAPI) extensions, whereby important issues related to queuing and security are addressed. We also discuss an alternative solution based on LabVIEW 6i where the client uses LabVIEW Player. Presently, our remote lab is dedicated to semiconductor device characterization. It has been tested in distance-education courses on device technology with good results.