Web-based educational experiments

Web-based educational experiments allow remote users to conduct laboratory explorations using physical experimental apparatuses in real time over the World Wide Web. Web-based experimentation is evolving rapidly and offers students convenient and repeated access to limited laboratory resources. The immediacy and accessibility of web-based experiments can also assist new student outreach and faculty teaching effectiveness. Many web-based experiments can be realized with commercial off the shelf hardware and software, linked through a dedicated laboratory PC with a suitable network connection. Users can control the experimental apparatus, initiate data collection, transfer data across the web, and observe the progress of the experiment using a live video link. We report specifically on two web-based experiments operating since spring 1998: a Michelson interferometer that allows mirror movement and fringe counting, and a laser diode characterization experiment that allows current control and power measurements to observe P-I curves and the onset of laser action. Descriptions include benchtop optical and electronic experimental hardware, LabVIEW software tools for hardware interfacing, HTML web interfacing tools, and the video link setup. We also describe a typical user's experience across the web, discuss plans for extended web-based experiments and give suggestions for creating and maintaining a successful web-based experiment at another institution.