| " Magee Wireless Project Recognised by Another Two Prizes"
The Wireless Campus (educational) element itself is also composed of three strands: firstly, the provision of wireless networking services; secondly, the development of SMART classrooms, and, thirdly, the pilot Tablet PC Mandate. The objective of the educational aspect of the project was to provide an interactive computing environment which would enable much richer interaction between a lecturer and class participants and hence a more beneficial and productive learning experience. Wireless networking services have been provided through the creation of an educational precinct covering large areas of the University's Magee campus and the adjacent NWIHFE campus. This network provides wireless connectivity in classrooms, meeting rooms, library areas, student union areas, canteens and other places where people congregate. The objective is to allow enhanced, more flexible access to computing resources and the Internet in the designated areas. SMART classrooms, or technology-enhanced multimedia learning environments, have been created to allow the presentation of complex information to students and to encourage advanced levels of interaction in the lecture hall. The facilities on offer include wireless connectivity, interactive white boards, and a range of multimedia audio and video equipment and projection systems. The Tablet PC Mandate initiative was designed to take full advantage of the SMART classroom resources and the accompanying wireless infrastructure. The Tablet PC is the next generation of laptop computers which are lightweight and portable, offering wireless connectivity and including advanced features such as pen-based computing, digital ink and advanced collaboration facilities. All academic and teaching-related staff in the School of Computing and Intelligent Systems were provided with a Tablet PC to create and deliver teaching material, with a wireless-supported teaching working group set up to investigate, evaluate and disseminate effective pedagogical methods. All incoming first-year students undertaking at least two thirds of their degree within the School in the academic years 2005/6 and 2006/7 received, free of charge, a Tablet PC for the duration of their studies. This equates to a combined staff and student user base of approximately 300 over the 2 years of the project and an investment of approximately £300,000. A final element of the project was the provision of a Wireless Technology Demonstration Centre in the ISRC, which provides expert assistance to local companies regarding the potential of wireless technology and the possibilities of creating new products using a range of wireless techniques such as RFID, WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and wireless sensor networks. Ends |
The Intelligent Systems Research Centre, in the School of
Computing and Intelligent Systems at Magee, has once again
been successful in gaining awards for the DETI Broadband
Flagship project. At the recent BT GoldeneyeT awards in Belfast
the project was recognised in two categories, namely Education,
sponsored by Hewlett Packard and Mobile Technology (WiFi),
sponsored by BT. The project has previously been recognised
by gaining the Communications in Business Best Wireless Project
prize in London and an Inspired iT award in Dublin.
