Virtual IT 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. In addition, the project aims to provide our researchers with a platform to experiment the use of new, wireless and mobile ICT technologies, methods of training, Internet accessibility and data and voice communication and exchange.

The project is based on a mobile Internet research unit that will be equipped with the latest technology notebooks, broadband satellite, Wi-Fi, audiovisual, videoconference equipment and power generator. The bus will have a clear lab space of 6,60LX2,30WX2,20H meters fitted with eight office desks and chairs and workstations arranged in rows of two.

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 time 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.

The project is mainly funded by the Cyprus Research Foundation, Virtual IT and Intercollege.