Students, get your laptops ready: campus Wi-Fi on the way

As the technology age moves along swiftly, Austin Community College seems to be on a close pace behind it. One of the hot, new technology waves to hit the scene has been wireless Internet, or "Wi-Fi." Almost everywhere in cities across the nation wireless "hotspots" can be found. In fact some cities have been almost entirely covered with wireless Internet networks.

ACC has now caught up and should soon be equipped with wireless networks. A plan is underway to have each ACC campus wired by February, 2007. The wireless networks will not cover entire campuses in the beginning. Students will first be able to access the Web in libraries and in student common areas. As funds become more available, the wireless umbrella will cover entire campuses. The network will work similarly to the University of Texas network. Students will use a password to log onto the network and access the Web. It is still uncertain whether students will be given their own ACC e-mail address.

To keep pace with the increase of wireless Internet availability, more students with laptops are getting them equipped with wireless Internet cards. In some cases, these laptops have the cards as a standard feature. These cards allow the laptop to pick up wireless signals sent over the airwaves.

Until the completion of the wireless networks, the only "hotspot" at most ACC campuses is located in the library. However, students can access these networks only by checking out a laptop from the library for an allotted time. Since the networks are not public, this means students with their own wireless-ready computers cannot connect.

In the fall of 2006, the libraries at ACC received a grant to purchase laptops and install a wireless Internet network. The Cypress Creek campus library was the only library not to receive laptops or wireless network because of it small size. The recent expansion of the campus has changed its luck and should be wired with laptops once construction is finished.

Freshman Ilan Cane uses his computer in the student lounge and enjoys the idea of being able to get online in between classes. Like many students, Cane made sure his laptop was equipped with a wireless card when he purchased it. He said easier access to the Web will help to access Blackboard and other ACC web site resources. Although having student e-mail accounts is in question, Cane supports the idea.

"It would be much safer…and not as much spam helps teachers and students keep in contact," Cane said.

A national survey put out by the Campus Computing Project reveals information on the growing use of wireless networks on 2-year and 4-year college campuses. Their latest survey released this year indicates more than half (51.2 percent) of the 200 colleges surveyed have wireless network capabilities. This number is up from each of the previous years with only 42.7 percent in 2005 and 31.1 percent in 2004. In addition, 68.8 percent of the schools surveyed said they are planning to install on campus wireless networks in the near future