Wireless Internet AppliancesWireless Internet Appliances(or webPads) for Students(or webPads) for Students

Jeff McDonellJeff McDonell

DirectorDirector

Information Technology ServicesInformation Technology Services

University of Southern QueenslandUniversity of Southern Queensland

This talk is in Two PartsThis talk is in Two Parts

1.1. An overview of USQ’s webAn overview of USQ’s webSlateSlate project project

2.2. A short summary of a white paper A short summary of a white paper ‘webPads’ – for the EDUCAUSE ‘webPads’ – for the EDUCAUSE Evolving Technologies Committee - to Evolving Technologies Committee - to be presented at a panel session at the be presented at a panel session at the Indianapolis EDUCAUSE 2001 Indianapolis EDUCAUSE 2001 Conference in OctoberConference in October

USQ’s webUSQ’s webSlate Slate ProjectProject

‘‘Internet EverywhereInternet Everywhere’’ is the buzz word is the buzz word We believe our students need access to We believe our students need access to

up-to-date information when, where and up-to-date information when, where and how they want it!how they want it!

A strong driver of the e-economy is A strong driver of the e-economy is communication between people and with communication between people and with corporate informationcorporate information

Four Key Development AreasFour Key Development Areas

1.1. Mobile devices that allow ubiquitous Mobile devices that allow ubiquitous accessaccess

2.2. A A teletelecommunications environment to communications environment to enable enable ‘‘Internet EverywhereInternet Everywhere’’ access access

3.3. Application servers that provide back-Application servers that provide back-end functionality, data storage and end functionality, data storage and backup/archivingbackup/archiving

4.4. Customisable web-based databases Customisable web-based databases which are self-serve by staff & studentwhich are self-serve by staff & studentss

Why is it Important?Why is it Important?

Traditionally universities have made Traditionally universities have made studentsstudents come to them and take the come to them and take the information providedinformation provided

Times have changed!Times have changed! AA driver of the e-economy is shifting the driver of the e-economy is shifting the

cost of cost of the the transaction to the customertransaction to the customer CCustomerustomer convenienconvenience is pce is providrovidinging self- self-

service webservice web access through the Internet access through the Internet to the to the campus, campus, office, home or office, home or public public Internet Internet kioskkiosk

Why is it Important?Why is it Important?

The organization The organization will will need powerful and need powerful and flexible webflexible web facilitiesfacilities

WithWith students own students owning laptops oring laptops or webwebSlatesSlates, , then then the the demand ondemand on campus campus computer labs computer labs willwill be reduced be reduced

But more importantlyBut more importantly - - the students the students willwill have much more flexibility in their studieshave much more flexibility in their studies andand their learning their learning

Plus improvedPlus improved personal communications personal communications with both lecturers and fellow studentswith both lecturers and fellow students

USQ’s webUSQ’s webSlateSlate Project Project

USQ is proposing to develop a stateUSQ is proposing to develop a state--ofof--thethe--art campus, illustrating how we art campus, illustrating how we believe a university, or a large believe a university, or a large corporationcorporation,, can enable learning in an can enable learning in an ‘‘Internet EverywhereInternet Everywhere’’ environment environment

Important inImportant in achieving this vision is achieving this vision is to to work with keywork with key strategic partners strategic partners

Creating anCreating an ‘‘Internet EverywhereInternet Everywhere’’ environmentenvironment requirrequireses development and development and specialisedspecialised skills in skills in four key four key areaareas…s…

Four Key AreasFour Key Areas

webwebSlateSlate device device From a studentFrom a student--centriccentric viewpoint, we startviewpoint, we start

with the ubiquitouswith the ubiquitous web device…web device…

1. Internet Appliance/Mobility1. Internet Appliance/Mobility A A single-purposesingle-purpose, ,

highlyhighly portableportable web web browserbrowser

EEquipped withquipped with wirelesswireless LANLAN cconnectiononnection

CColourolour touchtouch--screenscreen MMadeade of lightof light--weight, weight,

durabledurable materialsmaterials

2. Wireless/Communications2. Wireless/Communications

CCampus-wide high-speed wireless LANsampus-wide high-speed wireless LANs HHigh-speed home and workplace accessigh-speed home and workplace access

MMetropolitan etropolitan AArea rea NNetworksetworks IInternational and mobile Internet accessnternational and mobile Internet access

3. Application Servers3. Application Servers

PPowerful, large owerful, large capacity, robust capacity, robust application serversapplication servers are are required for lrequired for location ocation independenceindependence

Need to Need to provide storage provide storage andand applications applications software to run from software to run from the the web browser on the web browser on the webwebSlateSlate

4. Web Portal/Software4. Web Portal/Software

TTo provide information in a form and content o provide information in a form and content suitable for the customersuitable for the customer,, USQ is developing USQ is developing sophisticated web sophisticated web portalportals s

USQ’s USQ’s BETTER BETTER ProjectProject

Current Project PlansCurrent Project Plans2001-20022001-2002

2001 – Stage 1 of installing wireless LAN2001 – Stage 1 of installing wireless LAN networks over three campuses networks over three campuses

2001 – Develop strategic partnerships with a2001 – Develop strategic partnerships with a number of hardware, software and number of hardware, software and telecommunications companies telecommunications companies

2002 – Stage 2 of installing wireless LAN2002 – Stage 2 of installing wireless LAN networks to cover networks to cover 100% of USQ 100% of USQ

Current Project PlansCurrent Project Plans2002-20042002-2004

2002 - Pilot project with 200 students2002 - Pilot project with 200 students operating web operating webSlates Slates and/or wirelessand/or wireless laptops on campus laptops on campus

2003 – Expect 2,000 students utilising2003 – Expect 2,000 students utilising web webSlatesSlates, Internet Appliances or, Internet Appliances or wireless laptops on campus wireless laptops on campus

2004 – All students accept Internet access2004 – All students accept Internet access any time/any place as a given! any time/any place as a given!

Questions?Questions?

Jeff McDonellJeff McDonellDirector of Information Technology ServicesDirector of Information Technology Services

University of Southern QueenslandUniversity of Southern QueenslandToowoomba, QLD, AustraliaToowoomba, QLD, Australia

Email:Email: mcdonell@usq.edu.au mcdonell@usq.edu.au