Enabling an understanding of ATM networks using virtual reality

The historical development of transmission networks, from frame based information transfer (Frame Relay) to cell based information transfer (packet switching), which led to the emergence of ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), often groves to be difficult for undergraduate students (and even postgraduate students) to readily comprehend. Furthermore the rationale behind the transmission standards for such networks, in order to meet the demands of an ever-expanding multimedia society, also presents some of the students with additional problems. We have found that a virtual reality (VR) representation of an ATM network can prove to be an enabling vehicle from which students can readily learn about transmission networks and the concepts of ATM. The students´ learning process is readily enforced by their enjoyment of learning-this includes the exploration of the many nooks and crannies, in the various layers present in the VR representation of the ATM network. VR has also proved to be equally successful at enabling a further understanding of the concepts, and various topologies, of local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs). Increased learning re-enforcement has been achieved by the students´ further immersion in VR during the creation of their own ATM, LAN and WAN worlds