Wireless computing environments have come into being, fostered by new and emerging technologies and an industry that wants to grow, The most recent growth spurt has been a result of the adoption of the 802.11 family of standards, also referred to as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi). The spread of wireless broadband connections to the Internet and other private information networks is being spearheaded by adoption of Wi-Fi. Thus, the notion of this method of a pervasive, almost ubiquitous ability to communicate and access information is destined to become a way of life in the near future.
Even as certain technological standards (such as Wi-Fi) are coming into being, most of the action was being driven by technology evangelists who set up wireless access points in public venues such as neighborhoods and parks. The resulting commercialization of Wi-Fi is in the nascent stage, where a few upstarts have set up wireless access points in hotels, airports, and coffee shops the largest metropolitan areas. A large percentage of the technology savvy people frequenting these places are starting to expect and demand faster and more transparent access to broadband networks. While the current model of setting up "hot spots" seems to have captured the public imagination, not unlike the early days of the Internet, their ad hoc and transient nature makes them pale in comparison to the worth of well-executed wireless computing networks in learning environments.
In that sense, one of the most natural places to pioneer this "pervasive communication" environment is within the geography of a college or university campus. When folded into the wired or existing computing framework of the campus, a complimentary wireless network can complete or even fulfill the technology mission of the institution as it relates to teacher and learner. And the population in this environment is enduring, and will turn it into a rugged testing laboratory, as they do with everything else.
While nearly two-thirds of the colleges and universities in the U.S. indicate they are either underway with or have a strategic plan to implement a wireless computing network, only 10% have installed one. And even more indicate they intend to move to this pervasive communication environment in the future. Clearly, college campuses can become the true "hot spots" of wireless computing and well serve the rest of us with their experience and refinement of this now and future technology.
What is lacking is a catalyst to bring this about. The wireless computing leap of technology has occurred with such speed that no organization or community of interest in higher education exists to champion its merit. And, while there appears to be no organizing force to bring wireless computing to campuses in an efficient manner, there also appears to be little or no resistance to this advance. Wireless networks would not replace wired networks on campus, they would add to them. There are few capital costs to expand, they can be reduced. There are fewer walls to invade, fewer cables to run, more students and faculty to reach and a whole host of other barriers that can be overcome with wireless computing. And the risks and concerns are both right out in the open, and already at issue with existing computing networks, namely, security, quality of service, etc.
The Higher Education Wireless Access Consortium (HEWAC) has been formed to coalesce the disparate energies in wireless computing on behalf of higher education. It will champion and share best practices, bridge gaps of knowledge, bring communities of interest together, provide a common ground for resolving issues, provide a unified voice to regulatory concerns, lessen the burden of risk and innovation and share the reward of working together.
