Compared to conventional cable and "hub" systems, wireless local area networks (LANs) allow organisations to reduce the restrictions and expense associated with the movement, relocation and addition of computer and peripheral equipment. The increased freedom and flexibility compared to a wired network is significant because wireless LAN technology can transmit and receive data through walls, ceilings and even cement structures.
In an educational environment, students and teachers can stay connected as they move throughout various buildings, accessing information in classrooms, common areas, school grounds or during lab projects.
Access to a wireless LAN using the IEEE 802.11b international standard, the most common wireless connectivity for a LAN, is typically at a speed of four to seven megabits per second (Mbps). Although this is not as fast as most wired LANs, which can offer speeds of up to 100 Mbps, a wireless LAN bandwidth is fast enough to allow the use of a wide range of standard applications and services. The downside is its limitations with multimedia and other demanding applications, but ongoing advancements with wireless standards continue to increase the achievable data rate.
In a typical wireless LAN configuration, a transmitter/receiver (transceiver) device, called an access point or base station, is usually connected to an existing wired network using standard cabling. The access point receives, buffers, and transmits data between the wireless LAN and the wired network infrastructure, using radio frequencies. A single access point can support a small group of users, normally within a range of up to 100 metres, depending on the local environment.
A technical site survey needs to be undertaken to determine the number of access points required to give the desired coverage for the wireless LAN. Larger spaces generally require more access points. The antennae attached to the access point in a classroom, for example, will usually be mounted high in a corner.
The other component of the system is a wireless network interface card (wireless NIC) that is either built into or added to handheld, laptop or desktop computers, or to a printer, fax machine or any other piece of equipment.
While the initial investment required for wireless LAN hardware can be higher than the cost of conventional systems, ongoing installation expenses can be significantly lower. Long-term cost benefits are greatest in dynamic environments requiring frequent moves and changes.
However, wireless LANs can only operate at a limited distance from an access point and, due to the ease of adding users, LAN performance can be quickly reduced. Also, security is more difficult to guarantee; currently no wireless LAN can offer the same level of security as a wired LAN.
D-Link Systems: www.dlink.com
Hawking Technology: www.hawkingtech.com
Linksys Group: www.linksys.com
Netgear: www.netgear.com
SOHOware: www.sohoware.com
Bits per capita is a relatively new measure of Internet use. The size of the Internet in a country indicates an element of its progress towards an information-based economy. International Internet bandwidth provides a measure of Internet activity because many people share accounts, or use corporate and academic networks along with cyber cafes and business centres. Outgoing bandwidth also takes better account of the wide range of possible use, from those who write a few e-mails each week, to users who spend many hours a day on the net browsing, transacting, streaming and downloading. Because of this, the often-used "Number of Internet Users" indicator may have less relevance in the developing world than in other places.
The Acacia Initiative, a programme supported by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC), has prepared an exact-scale map of the international bandwidth in bits per capita (BPC) available in mid-2002 from publicly accessible IP networks in Africa. The resource is available on the Acacia web site (http://web.idrc.ca/en/ev-6568-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html).
Bandwidth availability in Africa varies tremendously, but is generally very low compared to developed countries. Although there are few intra-African links, the marine fibre cables, shown on the map on the web site, are now all operational and should provide faster and cheaper routes within and out of Africa.
The Acacia initiative is an international programme to empower Sub-Saharan African communities with the ability to apply information and communications technologies (ICTs) to their own social and economic development. web.idrc.ca/en/ev-5895-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
Developments at Microsoft, Compaq, Toshiba and others are predicting mainstream "tablet" computers entering the market in 2003. Tablet computers (or "tablet PCs") fall between a PalmPilot and laptop computer in size and feature touch-screens, voice recognition software, and wireless communications technology.
According to Microsoft CEO, Bill Gates, tablets will overtake the laptop market by 2005. His company has spent seven years developing the software that will run these machines, which will employ touch-screen handwriting recognition technology and operate silently when needed. This silence will be a welcome change at meetings where the noise of tapping at keyboards can become distracting. Also welcome will be the elimination of the visual "barrier" that laptop computer screens can cause at meetings.
With these many advantages, it is expected that the use of computers at meetings will grow substantially with availability of tablets.
Good news for long-term Windows users is that Mr. Gates says that they want to ensure that the tablet's operating system is stable before going to market.
Aqcess Technologies: www.qbenet.com (web site no longer works, Oct/03)
WindowsXP Tablet PC Edition: www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/tabletpc
Does your institution's CIO (Chief Information Office) or CKO (Chief Knowledge Officer) have representation at the top decision-making level? The use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in education can improve of quality of delivery and help to reach more learners but does this mean that we have integrated these concepts into our management structures?
The person heading up ICT applications in an educational institution needs to understand the implications of technology from the overall systems that support the registration clerks through to the learner who only occasionally can get access to a computer at a shared resource. This person needs to have the personality to be able to guide professional colleagues who may feel less comfortable with high-tech equipment and with all the pressures of finding ways for learners to access even basic computing and the Internet. Decisions will frequently alienate a CIO or CKO from their colleagues and financial constraints will ensure that they never satisfy everyone in the organisation.
Investment in technology is highly unlikely to be reduced in future years. The rapid advancement of technology over the last 20 to 30 years is sure to continue. The decision is not whether or not to invest, but rather, to invest in what? Which technology will last the longest, be the most suitable and reliable and upgrade with the least organisational pain. This is where highly skilled ICT teams are needed to compliment other executive teams who bring their skills to the management of organisations.
The "dot bomb" failures and near-failures have not been limited to the e-commerce world. Consortiums of universities have also run into major setbacks and business models are still being developed and tried. A combination of "new skills" is needed to help educational institutions to continually re-align their business processes without losing what they have - a complex operation when finances are limited and technology slows for no one.
Presidents, principals and vice chancellors of institutions now have to ensure that they are far more technologically and business-aware than in any previous period. Traditional leadership strategies, where each person in the top team surrounds themselves with the most competent and knowledgeable people they can, now need to include ICT expertise.
Educational institutions, especially those involved in distance education and e-learning, need strong technological leadership and management at the top level.
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