Wireless is not "new" in education - has been around about 6 years

At some point wireless connects to wires, but may be the appropriate solution if adding more wiring is problem (e.g., old buildings or classrooms that need to used flexibly)

Several things affect the degree to which wireless is cost effective:

	stations are spread out with minimum overlap
	students can supply their own portable computers
	portables supplied on carts (Dell provides only commercial cart at this time)

Protocols are evolving.  Wireless is moving in the direction of being available on PDAs (e.g., providing better multimedia) and cell phones (more bandwidth).

America is lagging behind Europe because America does not have a single protocol.  

	WAP (Wireless Access Protocol) - present format does have some security problems
	IMODE is a new protocol that should be available this summer

Watch CICS web site for news on wireless

CICS has set up a wireless system using CISCO Aironet 340:

	802.11b has 11 mbps rate (802.11a will have 54 mbps).  This is slower than campus wire system (100 mbps) and would not be appropriate for large groups doing intensive multimedia, but can handle most uses
	CISCO connects to computer (serial port) for programming
	Range is approximately 100 feet although the nature of walls does affect

Frequency of wireless overlaps with microwaves, blue tooth, and other technologies.  The long run implication of this is not yet clear

Standardization issues make it difficult to develop a campus wide wireless system.  However, there is discussion about how to use an authentication system and provide wireless in all buildings.  Presently there are some wireless ports in: Kitselman, Cooper, Bracken Lib (1st floor), RB, TC 4th floor, and Physical Plant.