Presently numbers are very limited because it is only possible to get a few students around the EM s screen at one time. Modern electron microscopes are already controlled by an external computer through a serial port, making them a good candidate for a remote lab. An EM costs upwards of 100,000 so there is much potential for sharing one teaching machine. Remote labs can be used for teaching control engineering with robotics. Virtual reality is a good interface to a remote lab.
Remote students can make use of remote labs via modems.
Video feedback will be restricted to the fairly small pictures that can be shipped over a modem link, so some additional form of feedback is required. Labs with virtual reality models, such as MuMaTE, should work well. Remote input devices, such as electron microscopes and cameras, are the most feasible at this time. Remote output devices for teaching will become feasible over the next few years, notably when the MuMaTE project matures. Development strategy Remote teaching laboratories are very much in their infancy although there is enough initial evidence to suggest that developing remote teaching labs is worthwhile.