CyberLab

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Summary

Democell camera 1 (guest/guest)

Democell videoserver (guest/guest)

Democell camera 2 (guest/guest)

Work content

CyberLab – Distance laboratory training by interactive ergonomics videoconferencing is the European project module of the interregional LEONARDO DA VINICI project. This European module is subdivided into six research work packages (this is illustrated below).

Work package 1: Project and quality management

The Work Package will ensure clear, smooth and consequent (but flexible, if needed) running of the project as well as highest quality of the outcomes.
The work package consists of the following tasks:

Task T1.1: Project set-up
Task T1.2: Communication, administration and reporting
Task T1.3: Quality testing and evaluation
Task T1.4: Progress monitoring and steering

Milestone M1: Excellent level of quality achieved for the method developed

Work package 2: Identification lab ergonomics and pedagogy

Work Package 2 will be essential for the project and its success due to its challenge of identifying the ergonomic and pedagogic key elements of laboratory training in practice, which are not at all obvious today. Discovery of these elements will determine the methods to be developed and in turn the whole project. As failing with Work Package 2 would put the whole project on risk, close involvement of the quality evaluation board is of importance. Work Package 2 consists of the following tasks:

Task T2.1: Identification of best ergonomics
Task T2.2: Identification of best pedagogy
Task T2.3: Project planning

Milestone M2: Overall concept for distance laboratory training methods based on best ergonomics and best pedagogy

Work package 3: Lab videoconferencing environment

Enabling interactive videoconferencing from a laboratory is not common and thus a challenge of the project. Although all the main partners at universities and institutes as well as the large companies provide partially excellent videoconferencing facilities, they are always separate videoconferencing rooms or theatres rather than being connected to the lab. In Work Package 3 such lab videoconferencing equipment shall be realised for each main partner, either by installing or hiring broadband lines and cameras or by applying wireless camera broadcasting. For each partner a multimedia expert will be nominated, responsible for the technical infrastructure. After having planned the detailed project methods, Task T2.3, to create the corresponding interactive lab videoconferencing environment at each partner site, the following tasks are needed:

Task T3.1: Mapping
Task T3.2: Planning
Task T3.3: HW infrastructure improvement
Task T3.4: SW infrastructure improvement
Task T3.5: Train the multimedia coordinators

The actual videoconferencing equipment will be screened for each partner and improved according to the needs. After testing the local multimedia experts will be trained of how to use the facilities and will demonstrate videoconferencing with their lab (rather than to a common videoconferencing studio) as a crucial milestone for the project.

Milestone 3: Interactive videoconferencing enabled with each participating laboratory

Work package 4: Development audiovisual method elements

After the distance lab training concepts were developed, WP2, and the required multimedia infrastructure was installed, WP3, the methods will be developed and realised. The overall distance lab-training concept is divided into four elements, each related to one main partner. To some extent each of the four elements can be used as a stand-alone solution. Moreover, each partner optimises his element to his subject within the curriculum. Beside the mainly camera based elements acoustic aspects will be dealt with. For each of the elements a test course will be conducted, followed by improvements. The coordinator will try to realise multiplexing of these four elements to apply them simultaneously in one lab in a complementary manner.

Task T4.1: Element 1 - manually guided zoom camera
Task T4.2: Element 2 - automated rotating zoom camera
Task T4.3: Element 3 - automated robot camera
Task T4.4: Element 4 - microscope camera
Task T4.5: Acoustic aspects
Task T4.6: Element test courses
Task T4.7: Element multiplexing

Milestone M4: Method of distance laboratory training via four multiplexed interactive videoconferencing elements

Work package 5: Pilot Course

During Task T4.6 the method elements were tested in individual complementary training courses and in Task T4.7 another test course was conducted for multiplexing all four methods in one laboratory cell. Objective of Work Package WP5 is to create and conduct a pilot course that offers a comprehensive curriculum and demonstrates the applicability of the method and its benefits. Besides combining the already developed test courses to a common course, the potential for applying the developed method elements for other applications than the chosen one will be investigated. E.g. exchanging the developed equipment (e.g. using the microscope with camera and remote manipulation for medical lab training) by mailing it to another partner where it can be used for another application will be investigated, or the other way round travelling of another partner with equipment to a partner with suitable audiovisual equipment, thus sharing the facilities. Making best use of the available resources in the partnership, both with respect to complementary laboratory facilities and the complementary audiovisual method elements shall lead to a very comprehensive training curriculum to be developed and finally offered in a large distributed distance laboratory training course on a European level. Running of this pilot course will be essential for final evaluation and dissemination. Moreover, it will be the base for implementation into existing curricula at the different partner sites and an invitation for extension to other partner sites, to other subjects and even to other disciplines in the future, perhaps accompanied by further ideas for new method elements emerging. The pilot course will require the following tasks:

Task T5.1: Planning
Task T5.2: Preparation and testing
Task T5.3: Running
Task T5.4: Evaluation
Task T5.5: Implementation and extension

Milestone M5: Complete distance training course in manufacturing based on interactive lab videoconferencing

Work package 6: Dissemination

The distance laboratory training method as a highly complex and unusual method will require a lively, animated demonstration and testing platform for dissemination such that potential users can quickly realise the new way of training. It can be distinguished between three levels of dissemination.

Task T6.1: Informal level
Task T6.2: Audiovisual level
Task T6.3: Interactive level
Task T6.4: Commercialisation

The informal level aims at spreading information on the method developed via a Website, printed material and events. The audiovisual level uses recorded video clips and animation movies for visualizing application of the method in practice. Finally the interactive level shall enable potential users to test the method on a simplified interactive Web level via Web Cam and telephone line or via videoconferencing facilities or by participating in a test course. Commercialisation is not an ambition the developed method can be transferred free of charge without patent protection. Instead the partners will offer direct support for transferring the method to other lab-training providers, which needs to be performed at a commercialised level to achieve a cost recovery base for the future.

Milestone M6: Audiovisual and interactive dissemination tools