Blitzmail on the Green

by Seth Goldberg

Seeking to maintain its position among the most wired schools in the nation, Dartmouth is moving forward with plans to have a wireless computing network in place by the end of April. The new system will allow Dartmouth students, faculty, and staff to access both Internet and network services from any location on campus. No physical connection to the network will be required.

Though schools such as Princeton and Carnegie Mellon University have employed limited wireless programs, Dartmouth will be the first Ivy League institution to offer campus-wide untethered access to the Internet. When asked why Dartmouth was first to employ such a network, William Brawley of Computing Services replied, "We thought the time was right, and the equipment technology was ready."

According to Dartmouth Director of Computing Larry Levine, "We've worked hard to make our wired network user-friendly and pertinent to education. We expect the wireless Net will be just as friendly as our wired network, will extend current educational uses of our wired network, and will provide unique wireless applications as well."

Laptop computers equipped with a wireless network card will have seamless access to the network and to a variety of location-based services that are currently being developed. The benefits of this new technology are not yet fully understood, as ideas and applications that utilize it are still being developed. Possible uses for the wireless network include a way of monitoring the length of the lines at dining halls, Blitz mail for handheld computers, a program which would display the location of other students on campus, and voice conversations between users.

Academic applications might include smart classrooms in which professors broadcast information to students during class and respond to questions electronically. Researchers may be able to monitor experiments from remote locations, and students may have the opportunity to work on laboratory or class projects from anywhere on campus, obtaining instrument readings through the network.

Though some have voiced concerns about security on the wireless network, Brawley denies any added risk. "The security issues aren't any different from those that we deal with in the campus Ethernet network. We expect that the wireless network will actually be more secure in some respects, because of the authentication/encryption technology that's part of the Cisco product we selected."

The wireless network will be comprised of more than 400 access points distributed across campus. Utilizing the latest generation of Cisco Systems Aironet networking equipment, the network will allow Internet access to outdoor users as well as those in campus buildings. Wireless access has already been made available in some areas of campus, including parts of Collis, Baker tower, the Green, and the reserve corridor. According to Levine, the success of these experimental areas has sped the implementation of the project.

"One of the biggest benefits we see is people sitting and working together where they can easily get network access. This means there will be fewer students competing for the handful of hardwired computers that sit along the outside of study areas and common spaces," said Edmond Cooley, Director of Information at the Thayer School of Engineering.

The project will cost Dartmouth only $300,000. Alumni donations, made in large part by Dartmouth graduates currently working for Cisco Systems, will provide the funds for much of the equipment. "Dartmouth alumni graduate with a working knowledge of the power of computing. Many of those graduates, especially those now working in the computing industry, have a particular interest in advancing the computing environment at their alma mater," said Levine.

Before accessing the network, laptops must be equipped with wireless PC cards. Such cards sell for less than $100, fit in a slot on the side of the computer, and are easily installed. Many late-model laptops come with wireless technology pre-installed.

Wireless add-ons for PalmOS and PocketPC are expected to reach stores early this year. Dartmouth has been working with Cisco, Dell, and Apple to ensure compatibility between components.