Remote software laboratories: Facilitating access to engineering softwares online

Abstract

With the advent of various Online courses and the continuing demand for additional qualifications for working individuals, effective Engineering courses for Online programs is turning out to be the need of the hour. The need for continuously updating oneselfis driving the organizations to resort to trainings and additional degrees for their employees. Several times, these trainings are specific short term introductory sessions with very limited access to the resources needed to accomplish their tasks. A physical online laboratory would immensely help in addressing these challenges. In addition to this, it helps Undergraduate, Post Graduate and Research students gain round the clock all through the year access to complex physical system which has only limited access otherwise. It is to be noted that Majority of the existing physical Laboratory infrastructure is mostly underutilized with a utilization factor being a mere 1.37% [1]! With this being the bigger objective, the current paper is focused on getting the Software infrastructure online with each of the user being able to access at their convenience remotely in accordance to the licensing terms and conditions of the software provider.