 Virtual Corporations Designing Products, Conducting Studies
In little more than a semester of full activity, Virginia Tech's two
student-run virtual corporations have
structured their organizations, completed some preliminary market and design
studies, and begun developing the first of their systems.
The virtual corporations are a new professional educational paradigm
involving student-run organizations that design real products, systems,
and technology, based on actual market conditions. The virtual corporations
go beyond the conventional student project experience, and simulate the
professional corporate workplace. Students gain valuable, hands-on, interdisciplinary
teamwork experience in which they can incorporate what is learned through
their course work.
Distributed Information
Distributed Information Systems Corporation
(DISC) is currently developing a prototype for a distributed information
storage and retrieval system for the Virginia-Maryland Regional College
of Veterinary Medicine that will integrate multimedia data ranging from
paper notes to real-time monitoring images with in-site hospital and remote
access for veterinarians. When complete, the system will give decision-makers
speedy and accurate information and help them with intelligent decision-support
systems. The system has wide application in human hospitals as well.
Transit Technology
The second organization, called Personal
Rapid Transit Systems (PERTS), is building a 20-foot model of a magnetic
levitation system using switched reluctance motors, and conducting market
and product research for dual-mode rapid transit systems in urban and national
park areas. PERTS is also developing a simulation of the cargo movement
within and around Norfolk seaport, in order to define business process difficulties
and to help improve efficiency as the seaport expands.
Students have been involved in every effort of starting up both virtual
corporations, including market and product research, recruiting, developing
an environment conducive to teamwork, and developing secure intranets for
intra-corporate communication, marketing, and financing.
According to student reports, in addition to gaining technical expertise,
they are enjoying the experience and challenges in teamwork, personal responsibility,
research - and working with others from different academic backgrounds.
"I have learned a lot from dealing with an engineer," stated
one marketing major. "There is definitely a difference between how
an engineer's mind works and a marketing student's works. We all started
with the same thing and we all came to different conclusions." | 
