LAB MONITORING AND INTERACTION SYSTEM

ABSTRACT
Lab monitoring and interaction system is a computer laboratory monitoring system which would enable the laboratory administrator to interact with other user computers and the users as well. It enables the administrator to remotely control the user computer by transmitting keyboard and mouse events from his computer to that users computer, and relaying the graphical screen updates back in the other direction, over the network. Using this system administrator doesnt need to be physically present at the user computer to monitor them or to solve their problems. Administrator would be remotely monitoring all the user computers in the laboratory sitting at his desk, which would greatly increase the efficiency of the work being performed and would include remote technical support. Lab Monitoring and Interaction System is platform independent resulting in monitoring and interaction of all the systems in the laboratory where it is installed, independent of type of Operating System installed on it. The primary function of a Lab monitoring and interaction system is the ability to remotely operate one computer from another computer over a network. The network can be the Internet and/or a Local Area Network connection. This enables one person to easily manage and operate several computers from one screen, and do so from a remote location. This report is detailed with the study and implementation of this project, the report briefs about the networking technology TCP/IP protocol used in this project along with concepts of programming which basically required incorporating the networking technology for this project. The project works on client-server architecture and the planning, designing is also explained. The working of modules with screen shot illustrated makes explanatory description for the logic behind the working concept of the software in easy manner.

Project Overview
The idea of Lab monitoring and Interaction System was conceived when it was realized that Monitoring Lab using traditional way is an inefficient in ineffective form of doing so. Traditional way comprises of a teacher/admin moving around in lab and monitoring each pc. Visiting each PC individually and solving the student/User problems, which is time consuming as well. And while the teacher/Admin is busy solving problems at one PC some other student/User at some other PC would goof up and perform actions which he/she is not suppose to which may result indiscipline. And at end would escape due to inefficient way of lab monitoring. All these drawbacks will be eliminated using Lab Monitoring and Interaction System. It would provide with an automated and an efficient way of monitoring the lab and would enable a better way of interaction between the User and the Administrator.

Concept
Taking timely snapshots of user desktop. Live streaming of the user desktop. Acquiring control over the user system. Allowing chat sessions between users and administrator. Notifications to the users. Provide facility of File transfer. Shutting down user pc.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Lab monitoring and Interaction System is unique lab control and interaction software that was designed specifically with education in mind. Not only can administrator keep student on task, but interact with them and provide solution to their problems over network.

2.1 NEED OF PROJECT

Lab monitoring and interaction system is a project where we want to strive the inputs and enhance it with the objective of effective way of lab monitoring and interaction with the users with continuous synchronization. With more specific words Lab monitoring and Interaction system creates a focused learning environment. Running on existing TCP/IP network, it features an intuitive interface that helps you provide one-to-one instruction in a computer lab. This Lab monitoring and Interaction system is perfect for teachers, instructors or administrators. It provides teachers and administrators with control and facilitates a collaborative learning environment. There is no need to install extra cables or servers, as this software will work efficiently with your existing PC Lab network LAN. This software enables your class to be more organized, efficient, collaborative and controllable immediately.

2.2 DRAWBACKS OF EXISTING SYSTEM

Currently there two types of system available for work performed by Lab monitoring and Interaction system. Traditional way of lab monitoring and Interaction Other software available similar to Lab monitoring and Interaction System

 Drawbacks of traditional way of Lab monitoring and Interaction

In the traditional way of Lab monitoring and Interaction where approx 30-60 computers are present in a room arranged in row and column format or in a round/circular form, where at the one corner is placed administrators desk. In this form of arrangement where so many computers are placed in a single room to be monitored by one single administrator becomes a difficult job. For the purpose of proper monitoring administrator needs to move about in the lab, monitoring each PC for the tasks being performed by the users. Moreover he/she needs to visit each PC individually if the user wants to interact, or needs some guidance over the problems faced by them. From above explanation we can state that this way of lab monitoring and interaction with the users is inefficient, ineffective as well time consuming. Even after taking so much effort by the administrator proper lab management is not guaranteed. We can overcome these problems using Lab monitoring and Interaction system.

Drawbacks of the software similar to Lab monitoring and Interaction system

Colleges, small organization, schools and various such places look for a free inexpensive way to monitor their computer labs. And softwares like VNC, InterCLASS and LanSchool are too expensive and do more than small organizations or colleges and schools need. And in some softwares we even require additional hardware and software compatibilities. Whereas our software is a program that can be installed and run through existing networks which would allow the administrator to monitor the User computers activities in real time. And is suitable for colleges/schools and small organizations. InterCLASS is unique lab control and multimedia software. Instructors can keep students on task, can give quizzes with automatic grading, send files and folders, block applications and broadcast real time video and document camera data directly to their students monitors for multifaceted learning. InterCLASS PC Lab Controller is software to support teacher and student activities in a school PC lab or classroom. It provides a fully

functional lab control program that teachers can use easily in their lab classrooms as a teaching tool. It's design is dedicated for K-12 and higher education uses. With InterCLASS, teachers can monitor all student screens and watch their activities. If students start playing games or browsing inappropriate websites, teachers can take immediate action to stop this adverse behavior. Teachers can also blackout student screens (image right), lock and restrict the use of keyboards and mice as well as stop the internet with one click of a button! In the class room, InterCLASS provides communication support for all participants. It supports a variety of activities such as demos, presentations, group work, student questions, quiz taking and hands-on communications. We believe that communication, collaboration and interaction are the most important aspects of using a PC Lab as a teaching tool. Teachers can allow only specified application usage of students during class. Students cannot open any other application until the teacher allows them to. Thus, students can focus on their tasks at hand. Teachers can also restrict inappropriate applications during class time. InterCLASS will allow teachers to stop and start the Internet at will without having to run to a Network Administrator for help. With a simple click of a button, teachers can prohibit students from starting the Internet or from opening up a window and typing in a URL. Teachers can also allow / restrict specific websites if need be. Teachers can take control of a student computer's volume settings directly from the teacher computer. You can mute them if they are listening to music when it's not appropriate. Teachers can emphasize key points in a lesson by broadcasting the teacher's monitor to the student monitors in the lab or classroom. Teachers can also pick one student to make his/her presentation to the rest of the class via each Student PC's desktop. This is helpful for multimedia presentations using applications like PowerPoint and for other school projects or portfolios.

Another aspect of the InterCLASS system is the ability for teachers to distribute, collect and redistribute files to students. Teachers can distribute files from any application that is installed on both the teacher and Student PCs. Students can edit the files and the teacher can collect them back for grading. The files can also be redistributed back to the students. Internet access and web browsing, if facilitated with teacher controls, can be an important and engaging aspect of each student's learning experience. InterCLASS allows the teacher to send to students web page links either via their Favorites folders or to directly type in a web address. The student's browser will automatically start up with the typed-in web page. This feature benefits younger students by allowing them to view WebPages without having to type in long web addresses and with older students, teachers can control student page views. InterCLASS enables teachers to instantly gather feedback from all learners in the class for both formative and summative assessment. Teachers can create a quiz and send it to the entire class with ease. InterCLASS automatically grades the quiz and shows the results to both the teacher and students Features: View all student screens Screen snapshot Block applications Control a student PC from the teacher Lock and blackout student computers Restrict student Internet browsing Broadcast teacher screen to any student Broadcast video file playback to any student

Broadcast recorded teacher desktop movement Student presentation Turn On / Off and restart student PCs

LanSchool was the first product in the Classroom Management Software category. LanSchool allows teachers and trainers to remove distractions, demonstrate skills, monitor and assess student progress. LanSchool is used in computer labs, on laptop carts and schools where every student has a wireless net book or tablet. The product is available in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, Arabic and Bulgarian. Features: describes the overall processing of the system show one process for each major processing step or functional requirement data flows from the context appear on system diagram also (level balancing) can show a single data store to represent all data in aggregate at this level can draw duplicate sources, sinks and data stores to increase legibility LanSchool is compatible with PCs, Macs, Terminal Servers and wireless networks. LanSchool supports PCs, Macs and Thin Clients such as Terminal Services and Citrix. LanSchool can be accessed via the system tray icon to control core functionality or via the LanSchool console for the full menu. Thumbnail monitoring allows the teacher to quickly view each students screen. Blank student screens with customized messages. Limit and block internet sites.

With the details view teachers can quickly see each students computer, who's logged in, their current application, last visited website, last question, channel number and version of the software.

Limit and block applications. Block or allow USB drives for all or selected students. Print limiting tool allows you to stop or start student printing. Listen and provide feedback in foreign language labs. Efficiently distribute and play videos on student computers. Eliminate student access to thumb drives with the click of a button. Mute sound in the classroom. Draw on the screen to highlight important items. Display the teacher screen to the entire class or optionally select a student screen to display

A teacher can remotely control an individual or multiple student computers optionally disabling the keyboard and mouse during the remote control session.

LanSchool enables teachers to send a text message to all or selected students. Messages can be typed in or selected from the last 10 messages sent.

Students can click on the LanSchool icon and type in a question for the teacher therefore teachers can initiate a text-based chat session with the student.

Shutdown, logoff or restart student computers. Power on computers remotely using Wake-on-LAN. View all running applications on a students computer and add those applications to the allowed or blocked application lists.

View student Internet Explorer browsing history for the current day. Record a snapshot of the students current computer screen. LanSchool allows teachers to create tests with up to 100 questions.

LanSchool includes a voting feature with multiple choice or true and false questions.

Send and collect students files at the beginning or end of the class. VNC and TeamViewer are similar software with better capabilities and more

added features. But the biggest drawback of these software is, they dont provide complete control over the user desktop until and unless user allows them to do so. Each time you want to connect to the user PC and monitor or interact with the user or user system you need to ask User for permission. Whereas our software will never ask User for any kind of permission and would give complete control to the Administrator.