Would you purchase something that had not been completely tested? I wouldn’t.With the buzz surrounding the new deal between Cincinnati Bell and UC, there are some here at RWC who believe that this campus should follow in the footsteps of main campus. For some reason the saying “Monkey see, monkey do” comes to mind. However, the only thing that one can honestly say that RWC shares with main campus would be “UC.”
RWC has a separate operating budget. The environment here is drastically different from UC main campus. There are more of the non-traditional students here than at main campus. The students here are local, rather than from out of state. We do not have a Pizza Hut on campus; we have Aramark Uniform Company for a deli.
And one of the best things is that we have a lower crime rate compared to main campus. However, we are considered to be 100 percent wired, whereas UC is 40 percent wireless and pushing for more.
But what does this have to with the monkey see, monkey do analogy?
Readers, think back. Most of us responded to a survey that went out sometime during Autumn Quarter. That survey had a purpose–to determine the technical considerations and to move the technology discussion toward the consideration of purposes rather than tools, as stated in the introduction of the Decanal Technology Committee’s Autumn Report.
The Committee’s report also noted that there were about a dozen requests for wireless access for students, with student convenience as the overwhelming rationale. In addition, the report also clarified that the vast majority of RWC students own their own computers, have Internet access, and have most of the software that they need at home. But when students were asked what technologies would or could enhance their learning experience most of them had no idea, according to the report.
The report indicated that there was significant discussion on the subject of laptops and the subsequent wireless networks. It was agreed upon that wireless networks provide convenient access to networked resources; but it was also agreed upon that certain needs must be managed to prevent irresponsible and unrestricted access to college and university resources. The report further stated that at this time, there is no such program designed to manage those needs.
When the conversation turns to wireless networks, the logical link is to think of a widespread use of laptop computers, despite the fact that they come with slower processors, less memory, and smaller hard drives than their desktop counterparts. Laptops are more fragile; they damage more easiely, and, therefore, need to be replaced more frequently. As a result, laptops are unable to withstand the five-year replacement cycle of a desktop, thus making them more costly.
The Committee’s report addresses yet another constraint on a universal wireless network and that is the limited lifetime of laptop batteries. Typically a good battery lasts only two to three hours without recharging, thus, covering a class, but not a full time schedule. In an effort to save the cell life, classrooms would require a power outlet on every desk. According to the report it is not reasonable to require students to have computers in the classrooms and not provide the required amount of power to keep them running for the duration of the class.
If the college is to provide the power necessary to prolong battery life for student laptops, then would it not mean re-wiring the campus? And if main campus is intent on un-wiring its campus, by all means let them go for it. Something else to consider: the Tech Fees that we students pay each quarter would have to increase to accommodate such a network.
The last time I checked, college students were not found on the Fortune 500 list. Let main campus make sure the bugs are out of the plan, since any new or upgraded technology will have flaws. Why should the students here have to deal the technical whims of main campus? Let main campus make sure that this is exactly what students want.
[Addendum]I am sure most of our readers have heard “wireless” or “Wi-Fi” r used in conversation. But how many of you really know what they mean? The term “Wi-Fi” r was developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to describe the wireless local area network (WLAN) products that are based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) 802.11 standards. Wi-Fi is used when discussing mobile computer technology.The definition for “wireless” can be seen as a bit hazy, especially when the word is being used in place of something else. Wireless is short for wireless network. This means the devices connected to a network using a centralized wireless access point, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance. Based on this definition “wireless” could be referring to cell phone or mobile computer technology.
Take a moment and look around you. What do you see? Students on cell phones, right? What are they doing? Are they talking? Are they playing games? I know, the answer. it’s text messaging!!