CyberLab

Summary

Laboratory training experiments are of importance in many disciplines, as in manufacturing in the present project. As laboratory equipment is highly expensive, university and other training facilities can only offer a limited variation in equipment, thus the training content is restricted and highly dependent on the regionally available facilities. The equipment at each training site differs to some extent and therefore it can be complementary. Today access to other laboratories with complementary equipment requires travelling which is expensive and time-consuming, consequently usually not possible.

Aim of the CyberLab project is to provide easy virtual access to any laboratory equipment by developing a method for distance laboratory training. The challenge is to realise distance laboratory training via videoconferencing in a manner that the learning effect gained during traditional laboratory training is maintained. This is difficult to realize as laboratory training is highly complex and interactive in nature, composed of a variety of ergonomic key elements to be identified, as teamwork discussions, visual observation of laboratory details, changing of the experimental set-up and parameters, observing the experiments, handling of probes, microscopes and measuring devices, etc. It is essential to identify the important ergonomic and pedagogic aspects of laboratory training and to try optimally realizing them on an interactive videoconferencing level.

Different complementary methods will be developed and evaluated in parallel, e.g. manipulating a microscope by distance, rotating and zooming remote cameras, best communication code between trainees and trainer or operator, etc. A pilot course shall demonstrate the applicability of the developed methods in an integrated, sophisticated manner.

Vision is that finally the partners and any further training organisations can share their complementary laboratory equipment by offering common distance courses for trainees from all over Europe, who can be trained in an easy manner with a large variety of outstanding lab equipment, extending the traditional local training, thus improving the quality of practical skills.

The partnership, involving five countries, is composed of six universities and research institutes, five of complementary laboratory facilities in the subject manufacturing and one medical laboratory, all with different videoconferencing expertise. In addition, four relevant industrial partners, both SMEs and large industry, will critically evaluate the applicability of the developed methods throughout the project.