Design of Interactive Remote Class Environment by "Infrastructure-Based Low-Cost Computing"

Abstract

A technique called "Low-Cost Computing" has been attracting public attention in recent years. "Low-Cost Computing" is a method aimed at achieving the same level of performance of expensive commercial equipment or dedicated equipment by combining common, inexpensive equipment, software and services. One example of "Low-Cost Computing" is "virtual currency". Virtual currency often uses "distributed network" as an underlying technology. In a distributed network, data is stored using users' computers rather than a server for centralized data management. In short, virtual currency is realized by using the network to combine the users' computers. We think of this as "Network-Based Low-Cost Computing". There are many services using "Network-Based Low-Cost Computing", and they are becoming the mainstream of modern computers. As opposed to this, we propose "Infrastructure-Based Low-Cost Computing" in this research. "Infrastructure-Based Low-Cost Computing" proposed in this research means "combining commonly available devices and software to propose an environment for teleconference or remote class, and building an infrastructure with equivalent functionality to expensive systems or services". In this research, as the first step of this method, we aim to construct, with "Low-Cost Computing", a low-cost remote class environment which anyone can use. In this paper, we constructed a remote class environment with "Low-Cost Computing", and held classes at Toyo University. At the end of the remote class session, we conducted a survey on the remote class constructed in this research. Based on the survey results, we will summarize and consider the evaluation of remote class environment made available through "Low-Cost Computing".