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Wireless Internet Appliances (or webPads) for Students

Wireless Internet Appliances (or webPads) for Students. Jeff McDonell Director Information Technology Services University of Southern Queensland. This talk is in Two Parts. An overview of USQ’s web Slate project

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Wireless Internet Appliances (or webPads) for Students

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  1. Wireless Internet Appliances(or webPads) for Students Jeff McDonell Director Information Technology Services University of Southern Queensland

  2. This talk is in Two Parts • An overview of USQ’s webSlate project • A short summary of a white paper ‘webPads’ – for the EDUCAUSE Evolving Technologies Committee - to be presented at a panel session at the Indianapolis EDUCAUSE 2001 Conference in October

  3. USQ’s webSlate Project • ‘Internet Everywhere’ is the buzz word • We believe our students need access to up-to-date information when, where and how they want it! • A strong driver of the e-economy is communication between people and with corporate information

  4. Four Key Development Areas • Mobile devices that allow ubiquitous access • A telecommunications environment to enable ‘Internet Everywhere’ access • Application servers that provide back-end functionality, data storage and backup/archiving • Customisable web-based databases which are self-serve by staff & students

  5. Why is it Important? • Traditionally universities have made students come to them and take the information provided • Times have changed! • A driver of the e-economy is shifting the cost of the transaction to the customer • Customerconvenience is providing self-service webaccess through the Internet to the campus, office, home or public Internet kiosk

  6. Why is it Important? • The organization will need powerful and flexible webfacilities • With students owning laptops or webSlates, then the demand on campus computer labs will be reduced • But more importantly - the students will have much more flexibility in their studies and their learning • Plus improved personal communications with both lecturers and fellow students

  7. USQ’s webSlate Project • USQ is proposing to develop a state-of-the-art campus, illustrating how we believe a university, or a large corporation, can enable learning in an ‘Internet Everywhere’ environment • Important in achieving this vision is to work with key strategic partners • Creating an‘Internet Everywhere’ environmentrequires development and specialisedskills in four key areas…

  8. Four Key Areas

  9. webSlate device • From a student-centricviewpoint, we startwith the ubiquitousweb device…

  10. 1. Internet Appliance/Mobility • A single-purpose, highlyportableweb browser • Equipped withwirelessLAN connection • Colourtouch-screen • Madeof light-weight, durablematerials

  11. 2. Wireless/Communications • Campus-wide high-speed wireless LANs • High-speed home and workplace access • Metropolitan Area Networks • International and mobile Internet access

  12. 3. Application Servers • Powerful, large capacity, robust application serversare required for location independence • Need to provide storage and applications software to run from the web browser on the webSlate

  13. 4. Web Portal/Software • To provide information in a form and content suitable for the customer, USQ is developing sophisticated web portals

  14. USQ’s BETTER Project

  15. Current Project Plans2001-2002 • 2001 – Stage 1 of installing wireless LAN networks over three campuses • 2001 – Develop strategic partnerships with a number of hardware, software and telecommunications companies • 2002 – Stage 2 of installing wireless LAN networks to cover  100% of USQ

  16. Current Project Plans2002-2004 • 2002 - Pilot project with 200 students operating webSlates and/or wireless laptops on campus • 2003 – Expect 2,000 students utilising webSlates, Internet Appliances or wireless laptops on campus • 2004 – All students accept Internet access any time/any place as a given!

  17. Questions? Jeff McDonell Director of Information Technology Services University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba, QLD, Australia Email: mcdonell@usq.edu.au

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