Virtual Bus

Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) have changed our society in the way we learn, do business, communicate and generally have access to information leading towards a knowledge-based economy. As the knowledge-based economy advances, the exclusion from ICT raises the barrier towards economic, employment and scial development and growth.

Cyprus , in comparison with other EU countries is lagging behind in terms of ICT infrastructure expenditure, Internet and e-Commerce usage and ICT research and development. Recent research that we have been involved has also shown that the use of the Internet and ICT in general has had a much higher development in the urban areas than in the rural areas creating a knowledge gap between the rural and urban areas. In addition we have observed that levels of ICT competencies and comprehension of citizens varies between different rural areas.

Based on these findings Virtual IT, an Information Technology Solutions and Services company and Intercollege, an independent co-educational institution of higher education, have joined forces to build a mobile ICT research lab named the "Virtual Bus".

The Virtual Bus project is a research project with the overall objective of identifying and implementing long term methods and techniques to mitigate the digital gap, in particular between the rural and urban areas, eliminating barriers such as lack of ICT infrastructures, awareness, and training opportunities providing an Information Society for All. In addition, the project aims to provide our researchers with a platform to experiment with the use of new, wireless and mobile ICT technologies, methods of training, Internet accessibility, data and voice communication technologies.

The project is based on a mobile Internet research unit that will be equipped with the latest technology computer workstations, servers, security, 2-way broadband satellite, Wi-Fi, 3G, audiovisual, videoconference equipment and power generator. The bus will have a clear lab space of 6,80LX2,30WX2,10H meters fitted with eleven office desks and chairs and workstations. The bus will provide accessibility to disabled persons. Attached are preliminary designs and sample pictures of the Virtual Bus.

The bus will tour the island of Cyprus on a scheduled basis through the next 4-5 years, operate daily on a schedule basis, for a period of time at each location. In addition the Bus will be actively used in various business, technology and social events. Citizens and enterprises at every location will be invited to participate in research work, providing them at the same with free access to the Internet, training on ICT and use of new technologies. Research work will include the use and adoption of applications and information related to e-Government, e-Learning, e-Business, e-Health and Tele-working.

Researchers will be training and assisting citizens in accessing the available facilities, monitoring their use and capturing valuable information. During the research the Virtual Bus will be used to test new wireless and mobile technologies and Internet security tools developing strategies for the exploitation of these new technologies and tools in rural and urban areas.

The project is mainly funded by the Cyprus Research Foundation, Virtual IT and Intercollege and supported by the Cyprus Telecommunication Authority of Cyprus (CYTA).