Virtual Square (V~2) in Computer Science Education

摘要

It is common to name as virtual the imaginary space that can be created by software using computers and networks. This space is not only a set of processing and communications means and methods but it is also a space where humans can "meet," exchange ideas, leave messages etc. Students in computer science must learn how to design, implement, manage and debug the systems and networks that create this virtual space. Furthermore, CS students need an experimental environment -a playground- where they can develop their skills at creating and supporting these virtual environments. For this "playground" we propose a virtual world made up of emulated computer systems and emulated networks. This emulated world will be the students' testing environment, where they can run their own services, administer their own machines and set up security attacks without any danger to real networks and systems. It is a virtual space based on virtual machines and virtual networks but it is also a meeting place for computer science students, where they can test the effectiveness of their ideas. This "space" therefore is a twice virtual space, which we call virtual to the second power or virtual squared (V~2). It is a virtual environment that is a also virtual location (i.e. a town square) where different real computers, virtual systems and people can meet and communicate.