SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 1 Rensselaer’s Mobile Computing Program: A Whale of an Idea! Myra Williams Ed Seeger Nancy Kutner Patrick Valiquette

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 2 Rensselaer Overview Educates the leaders of tomorrow for technologically-based careers Educates the leaders of tomorrow for technologically-based careers Private institution founded in 1824 Private institution founded in students – 5000 undergraduates, 2000 grad students 7000 students – 5000 undergraduates, 2000 grad students 520 faculty, 1430 staff 520 faculty, 1430 staff Schools – Architecture, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management and Technology, Science Schools – Architecture, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Management and Technology, Science

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 3 Why have a Mobile Computing Program? Academic need - technology used extensively in the curriculum Academic need - technology used extensively in the curriculum Standardization offers best support Standardization offers best support Allows students to work anywhere/anytime Allows students to work anywhere/anytime Facilitates student collaboration Facilitates student collaboration

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 4 Mobile Computing Program Laptops required for undergraduate students Laptops required for undergraduate students Standard high-end laptop including software at an excellent price Standard high-end laptop including software at an excellent price Students acquire through purchase, lease to own, or financial aid Students acquire through purchase, lease to own, or financial aid Approximately 95% participation Approximately 95% participation Laptops used inside and outside of class Laptops used inside and outside of class Over 6,000 laptops on campus Over 6,000 laptops on campus

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 5 Mobile Computing Package High-end laptop High-end laptop Backpack Backpack Ethernet cable Ethernet cable Security cable Security cable Pre-loaded software suite Pre-loaded software suite

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 6 Pre-installed Software Microsoft Windows XP Professional Microsoft Windows XP Professional Microsoft Office Professional 2003 Microsoft Office Professional 2003 Microsoft Visual Studio.NET 2003 Academic Professional Microsoft Visual Studio.NET 2003 Academic Professional Maplesoft Maple (symbolic algebra program) Maplesoft Maple (symbolic algebra program) Mathworks Matlab Mathworks Matlab SolidWorks (a CAD package) SolidWorks (a CAD package) National Instruments LabView National Instruments LabView Bentley Systems MicroStation Bentley Systems MicroStation SecureCRT SecureCRT Microsoft Internet Explorer Microsoft Internet Explorer Anti-virus software suite Anti-virus software suite IBM Rapid Restore and more IBM Rapid Restore and more

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 7 Support Help Desk Help Desk Computer Repair Computer Repair Campus Computer Store Campus Computer Store All located in one building – the Voorhees Computing Center (VCC) the Voorhees Computing Center (VCC)

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 8 On-Campus Distribution Coordinated with Residence Life Coordinated with Residence Life Volunteers from across campus are involved Volunteers from across campus are involved Just before classes begin in the fall Just before classes begin in the fall per hour per hour Pickup laptop Pickup laptop Attend start-up session Attend start-up session Every student leaves with a working laptop!

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 9 Why a standard model? Advantages to Rensselaer Equal access for all students Equal access for all students Consistent support Consistent support Easier for classwork Easier for classwork Volume discounts Volume discounts Lower support costs Lower support costs

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 10 Why a standard model? Advantages to Rensselaer (continued) Student recruitment students consider available technology when selecting a school mobile computing has a strong influence on potential students parents like having a standard model

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 11 Why a standard model? Advantages to students Value Value Appropriateness Appropriateness Easier for classwork Easier for classwork Commonality Commonality Service and support Service and support

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 12 The standard model YrModelCPU / Speed Memory (MB) HD (GB) Screen Resolution CD and DVD 99600E366 MHz x768CD Pentium III 00T20700 MHz x768CD/DVD Pentium III 01T22900 MHz x1050CD/DVD Pentium III 02T301.8 GHz x768CDRW/ Pentium 4DVD 03T401.6 GHz x1050CDRW/ Pentium MDVD 04T421.8 GHz x1050CDRW/ Pentium MDVD 05T432.0 GHz1GB801400x1050CDRW/ Pentium MDVDRW

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 13 Program Evolution Added administrative database Included security cable Increased deductible for theft and loss Began self-insured process Academic program - no sales tax (continued)

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 14 Program Evolution – continued Added ThinkPad Protection for accidental damage coverage RFP process - renewed contract with IBM Created trade-up program Lease changed to lease-to-own President’s Award

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 15 How do you get a program off the ground? Need support and involvement of the entire campus Need strong corporate partners

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 16 Campus Support Division of the Chief Information Officer “Mobile Team” Banner – Student Information System Networking Campus Computer Store Rensselaer Computer Repair Help Desk Media Operations

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 17 Campus Support – continued President Students and Parents Provost/Dean of Undergraduate Education Academic Departments/Faculty Enrollment Management (Admissions) Residence Life First Year Experience Financial Aid Volunteers from across campus Campus Planning and Design Environmental and Site Services Physical Plant

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 18 Some of Our Corporate Partners

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 19 Laptop Image Software is included in the image Large image – 18 gigabytes Faculty can plan knowing the software is installed and properly configured Class time not used installing/configuring software Easier to remove software than install it Self-service re-image process available

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 20 Academic Integration Course Software Maple – Mathematics, Engineering SolidWorks – Engineering MATLAB – Engineering MS Visual Studio – Computer Science Microstation – Architecture LabVIEW – Engineering, Computer Science Cygwin – Computer Science, Engineering

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 21 Laptop-Integrated Courses Calculus Physics Freshmen Studies Next Generation Studio Biology Advanced Manufacturing Lab (AML) Introduction to Engineering Analysis Engineering Graphics and Computer Aided Design Laboratory Introduction to Embedded Control (LITEC)

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 22 What’s Missing? Licensing costs and issues affect included software Refresh program Faculty Mobile Computing Program Discipline-specific models

SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA 23 Questions? Discussion presentation2005.ppt