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University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU
The department now has in addition to the 5 general teaching labs used for programming, database, and general applications 2 specialised graphic labs with web cam and VRML headsets, a dedicated MSc lab, a Linux Lab, a dedicated hardware/electronics lab, a test network lab, HCI research lab and a dedicated project lab for final year students requiring specialised resources.
The MSc lab has been laid out with the aim of encouraging self and group learning as opposed to more formal teaching methods used with undergraduate students.
A range of industry-standard and public domain software is demonstrated and used in the labs for various application areas. Licensed software can be very expensive in some cases, so the proliferation of copies is strictly controlled at the desktop within licence agreements.
Additionally the department keeps its software up to date by upgrading to latest versions in 2 to 3 year intervals. The department has entered into partnerships with some of the software suppliers to enable student versions to be either given to the departments or students or made available at a discount.
The department has a stated aim of replacing approximately a third of the computers within its labs each year, which results in a three-year life cycle for the computers used within the labs. This means the hardware keeps pace with the increasing demands of the application software used within the department facilities.
The department has 5 30-seat labs used for its general teaching requirements. These rooms are in the C000 corridor and are C002, C003, C012, C015 and C016.
There are used for programming, database, web-page design and other fields of computing at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
The Msc Lab (C106) is dedicated to the use of students on our post graduate courses.
The room has been specially designed to encourage self learning with workstations grouped into clusters the to facilitate discussion and group working.
The test Network lab, room C112, is a dedicated facility for the teaching of networking and system administration.
The room has its own internal network independent of the university network. This allows students to have full administrate rights of the machines for the configuration of servers etc.
It is also equipped with its own wireless working and has network simulation software for student use.
The Linux lab (Room C107) is dedicated to Linux use where we can give students experience of working with SUSE and Red Hat Distro's - the increasing popular alternative to Windows.
In addition to System Administration practical sessions the Linux lab is also used for web server architecture and comparative languages.
To support our Graphical and Games courses we have two (C009 & C010) dedicated Graphics labs where the workstations are fitted with higher end graphics cards and we have the facilities to digitise 3D objects and use cameras to capture images for inclusion in students' work.
Additionally C010 has 3D glasses to allow students to experience and program 3D Games and virtual reality environments.
For experiments in HCI we have room C001 where it is possible to set-up computers with a video camera to record testers' experience with existing and novel interfaces to operating systems and applications.
This room can be used for commercial activities as well as student projects and teaching.
Room C110 is a purpose designed facility for the teaching of electronics, computer hardware and robotics.
The room allows up to 30 students working in pairs at 15 workstations to run software simulations of electronic circuits, build, program and test robots using kits, for example Lego Mindstorm, and to dismantle and rebuild PC hardware.
In order to help our students with their dissertations, the department is setting up a facility where students who require space and or equipment for their artifacts can request resources.
It currently can cope with up to 20 student requests. However, numbers depend on the space requirements of individual students.
The room is independent of the University Network allowing students to set-up their own networks with full system privileges.
During teaching weeks the department labs are open from 9am to 9:30pm Mon to Thurs and 9am to 6pm on a Friday. In addition it is possible to open some of the labs according to demand on Saturdays between 10am and 2pm, subject to support levels.
During non-term time the department labs are open from 9am to 5pm Mon to Thurs and 9am to 4:30pm on Friday.
It is also the department’s policy to use final year undergraduate and postgraduate students in supporting the facilities by offering them a opportunity to enhance their CV’s with related job experience.
Apply» Faculties & Departments» Department of Computer Science and Technology» Facilities» Computer Labs
