Wireless computing debuts on campus

A student who uses a laptop on most American campuses is like a cowboy who can only ride his horse in a corral: To check e-mail, access library holdings or use the web, the student is confined to a space near a data jack.

But the university has just thrown open the corral gates so its students can ride the range of wireless computing. Beginning this fall, laptop users will have wireless access to the campus network from student union buildings, libraries and other major buildings, with more on the way.

“Few of our peer institutions are even attempting this,” says Annie Stunden, director of the Division of Information Technology. “We’re on the front edge of a wireless wave in higher education.”

Called Wireless WiscWorld, the program so far has installed access points in Memorial Union, Union South, Steenbock Library, Helen C. White Library, Grainger Hall and Bascom Hall. Memorial Library will be added later in the semester. All of the locations are places frequented by students.

“Our goal is to have wireless areas within five minutes from anywhere on campus,” says Stunden. “Our expansion will enable students and others to get fast, easy access to the information they need and want.”

You can even pull up a sunburst chair on the Memorial Union Terrace, pop open your laptop and plug in to the campus network – without a plug. No data-jack umbilical cord needed.

This wireless freedom will likely boost the already-growing number of laptop users at UW–Madison. About 80 percent of faculty, staff and students own a computer, and around one-fourth of them have a laptop.

Wireless WiscWorld is available to anyone with a campus e-mail account, laptop and wireless networking card. Cards range from about $90 for an Apple iBook or PowerBook to about $170 for a PC laptop.

Cards and laptops are available at the DoIT Tech Store. Some laptops come with an optional wireless card, which must meet the IEEE standard 802.11b. For more information about wireless networking and related products, contact the DoIT Tech Store showroom, (608) 265-7469; showroom@doit.wisc.edu.

Help in configuring and using Wireless WiscWorld is available from the DoIT Walk-in Help Desk, 1210 Dayton St., Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m.