Virtual learning environments are a solution to some of the problems of providing an authentic learning environment. We encountered problems such as lack of funding and physical space, and risks and threats to our network environment when we contemplated providing a real, physical specialist laboratory to teach computer networking. We solved most of our problems by developing Velnet, a virtual environment for learning networking. Velnet consists of one or more host machines and operating systems, commercial virtual machine software, virtual machines and their operating systems, a virtual network connecting the virtual machines, and remote desktop display software. Our first experiment with Velnet was in a standalone configuration, without remote desktop display. The initial pilot had students connecting to Velnet via our institution's network. Velnet performed well under this restricted access environment. We are developing a virtual reality overlay of Velnet to be able to present computernetworking concepts. We are also investigating the changes we can make to our instructional design and assessment strategies, and the consequent learning experiences of the students.

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The provision of Neonatal Intensive Care is impacted by the lack of centralised monitoring systems within infant ICUs and the inability for Neonatologists to view data from devices attached to premature babies born in regional and remote hospitals. While web services provide a platform and language independent environment to transport numeric data streams, they must be encoded in XML, increasing the numeric data stream size considerably and thereby impacting its transmission time and the web service performance. This research assesses compression performance on XML documents containing physiological data streams to investigate the conditions where web service performance can be improved through the compression of XML numeric data streams. The compressors are applied to several XML physiological data streams output by a neonatal monitoring device. A key benefit of this research is its specific focus on numeric data streams within web services.

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