Virtual instrumentation and virtual laboratories: The key for the continues personnel education and training

In universities and high educational institutions the laboratory courses pose often serious problems relating to the relevant resources required in terms of equipment and personnel. Similarly, industries need skilled staff and must afford the cost of continuous training of employees but often, especially in the case of small and medium enterprises; they cannot duplicate or share their production laboratories for educational purposes. In this scenario a huge effort has been addressed to simulation in order to support technical disciplines education. Nevertheless simulation cannot exhaustively represent reality. This lack suggests a new approach oriented to provide remote access to real laboratories where instruments are available and experiences can be easily carried out. The present project, give a low cost and high performance alternative solution for continues personnel training (engineers, technical staff and maintenances) using the latest virtual knowledge technology.