Virtual laboratory instruments and simulations remotely controlled via the Internet

One of the problems of long distance education in engineering is performing laboratory experiments without actually being in the lab. That is perhaps the biggest limitation on the quality of any engineering program that wants to go the long-distance way. Most programs depend on simulations. Although this is possible, the student does not get the opportunity to get a very practical experience during the process. We demonstrate how a student, from anywhere in the world, can operate laboratory equipment, such as a network or spectrum analyzer, residing in a remote laboratory via a regular Internet browser. This new approach allows several students, from different parts of the world, to run an experiment together, simultaneously. It can also allow the sharing of equipment and resources among universities and other laboratories without the physical movement of equipment or researchers.