Virtual Laboratories

The term virtual laboratory consists of two words that might appear, for many readers, to have contradictory characteristics. Thus, we shall first explain why we use this term.

A laboratory is most commonly understood as a place equipped for scientific research, experiments, and testing. Until the proliferation of Internet, a laboratory was associated with a work site (from a dedicated room to a complex of buildings) at a single location. At universities, laboratory also can mean either a practical component accompanying a lecture, or a classroom where practical demonstrations and exercises take place. Scientific laboratories (particularly in engineering, physics, chemistry, and medicine) are characterised by a controlled uniformity of procedures and conditions (such as cleanliness, temperature, humidity) as well as by sophisticated instruments necessary for advanced studies. Because laboratories have been considered a basic element supporting scientific research, the word laboratory also has acquired a metaphorical organisational meaning: it might refer to an elementary division of a scientific organisation, or a part of a faculty or a school devoted to a specific field of research. This metaphorical meaning is frequently used, for example, in Japanese universities. In this chapter we discuss the meaning of a laboratory in its more traditional sense. However, in all these situations the word laboratory is commonly associated with being a real place as well as being thoroughly defined and organised.