2008 Woodie Awards
Editor's Comment
Andrew Polgreen
Issue date: 9/14/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 3 next >
This summer seems to have been technology season for Embry-Riddle. Three different major upgrades occurred, some good and some arguably bad.
I will start with my favorite, the expanded wireless coverage. Over the last several years this campus has been pushing towards complete coverage. In fact, freshman year I could acquire a signal in Hall 1, though it was very weak. This allowed me to chat on aim from my lounge, which was about as cool as one could be way back in 2003.
However, now it's 2006 and people expect more from their technology. Thankfully, our campus' Information Technology department has done an admirable job keeping up with the wireless bandwagon. For example, in my Hall 9 dorm room I now get perfect signal strength in every room. This is an improvement over last year when, in order to get wireless access in the Village, I had to prop my laptop sideways in my window facing AC-1 -- not a perfect setup for surfing the net. The only other course of action was to borrow someone else's connection, specifically someone who was running a wireless router in their dorm room, which is expressly forbidden by IT.
Aside from the Village, there are numerous other places on campus where full signal strength now can be found. A connection is even available in the Eagle Gym and the locker rooms at building 90 according to IT's website. I am not quite certain what the point of that is, but it is certainly good to know.
Interestingly, Halls 1, 2, 3 and 5 have not had wireless connections installed in them yet. This is set to change sometime this year, but is a bizarre oversight considering the locker room access point.
The most amazing thing about this system is that configuring your computer to access it is easy. There are no passwords to remember and no logins required. Although this makes the network less secure, it makes everything simple and blazing fast. You should be careful, however, using an unsecured connection for certain things. Sensitive data can be stolen when your computer is connected, so buying the new Paris Hilton album with your credit card is probably not a good idea. Take the time to connect your computer directly to the wall if you are going to be ordering things online.
I will start with my favorite, the expanded wireless coverage. Over the last several years this campus has been pushing towards complete coverage. In fact, freshman year I could acquire a signal in Hall 1, though it was very weak. This allowed me to chat on aim from my lounge, which was about as cool as one could be way back in 2003.
However, now it's 2006 and people expect more from their technology. Thankfully, our campus' Information Technology department has done an admirable job keeping up with the wireless bandwagon. For example, in my Hall 9 dorm room I now get perfect signal strength in every room. This is an improvement over last year when, in order to get wireless access in the Village, I had to prop my laptop sideways in my window facing AC-1 -- not a perfect setup for surfing the net. The only other course of action was to borrow someone else's connection, specifically someone who was running a wireless router in their dorm room, which is expressly forbidden by IT.
Aside from the Village, there are numerous other places on campus where full signal strength now can be found. A connection is even available in the Eagle Gym and the locker rooms at building 90 according to IT's website. I am not quite certain what the point of that is, but it is certainly good to know.
Interestingly, Halls 1, 2, 3 and 5 have not had wireless connections installed in them yet. This is set to change sometime this year, but is a bizarre oversight considering the locker room access point.
The most amazing thing about this system is that configuring your computer to access it is easy. There are no passwords to remember and no logins required. Although this makes the network less secure, it makes everything simple and blazing fast. You should be careful, however, using an unsecured connection for certain things. Sensitive data can be stolen when your computer is connected, so buying the new Paris Hilton album with your credit card is probably not a good idea. Take the time to connect your computer directly to the wall if you are going to be ordering things online.
Be the first to comment on this story