T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d webPads Jeff McDonell Director Information Technology Services University of Southern Queensland Australia

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d What are webPads  Typically single-function interface devices that display a web page or similar  Usually with minimal I/O capability, such as a touch screen, infrared keyboard, etc  Generally considered midway between laptops and PDAs  Usually battery powered and connected to a wireless network

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d What are webPads  Often without a local hard disk, but may have memory card storage  Often come with a cradle or base-station  Usually require extensive backend application servers  Strongly marketed for home ‘roaming’  Examples are the QUBIT, Intel tablet (coming), Sony AirBoard (Japan only)

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d What are Internet Appliances  Internet Appliances are devices connected by power and network cables  Typically low-cost ‘PC’ equivalents – for example the NIC or IAN devices  Can also depend on back-end application servers, but often run stand-alone operating systems with local hard disk storage

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d Why will webPads be important to Higher Education?  webPads have the potential to provide low- cost simple interface devices for all students on campus  They come without the high IT support requirements of laptops  But have more power and performance than PDAs or WAP-enabled cell phones

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d  Despite requiring extensive tele- communications infrastructure and robust application servers, webPads will substitute for desktop computers, particularly for student casual IT use on campus  The demand for large classrooms of desktop computers will diminish, as the cost of desktop computers is effectively transferred to students Why will webPads be important to Higher Education?

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d  But more importantly - with appropriate investment by universities in wireless LAN infrastructure and application servers, webPads can provide an ‘Internet Everywhere’ environment  This can be the lynchpin for future student centered e-learning environments, for on- campus and off-campus education Why will webPads be important to Higher Education?

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d When will webPads become major technology tools on campuses?  Not this year!  A number of campuses have been using wireless LAN equipped laptop computers or PDAs for some time (check out )  No known trials are currently known of webPads on campuses  My own university (Southern Queensland) has an ambitious project called the USQ webSlate just beginning

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d How are webPads evolving  webPads are in their infancy with not many units on the market  Examples are…  SONY AirBoard device - released in Japan last December - due out in the US soon  Aimed at the home ‘edutainment’ market  Has the ability to show television channels, VCR movies, plus the Internet

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d How are webPads evolving (examples)  QUBIT have released a webPad device  Others - like Microsoft, Intel, etc - have released plans, but no schedule of availability  Some companies have already dropped out of the market, e.g. 3Com with the Ergo Audrey device

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d How are webPads evolving  Other devices are evolving for the mobile, ‘better-than-PDA’ market  An interesting new development is the potential for disparate wireless LAN networks to allowing roaming – see  Also new screen technologies could bring the breakthrough required to bring costs down to the desirable $500 or lower level

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d Issues to be addressed  Operating systems - Windows CE, BeOS, Linux, other  Wireless access speed - IEEE b or a - ie. 11 Mb versus 54 Mb  Widespread wireless LAN coverage – examples are…  Cisco are deploying wireless LANs in US airport lounges and shopping malls  SkyNet Global are doing similar in Australian airport lounges

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d Issues to be addressed  Weight, battery life, ruggedness, usability & portability  Cost/volume of production  Range of cover (wireless LAN, ADSL, Cable, Satellite, etc)  How to differentiate the webPad market from cell-phones, PDAs, laptops, Internet Appliances, etc

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d Conclusions  webPads are a quietly emerging market  The market is generally immature, but evolving very rapidly  They can be an alternative end-user device to reduce the cost of desktop computing  But they require almost 100% up-time for ‘Internet Everywhere’ usability

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d Conclusions (2)  Widespread use of these devices will rely on a rollout of the wireless network/access and an application server infrastructure first  They require a robust always-on telecommunications infrastructure  Access to application servers is very important, which also needs to be fault tolerant and always available

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d A few Reference Sites  Ciscohttp://  Intelhttp://  QUBITwww.qubit.net  LG  Microsoft  SONY

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d Some more Product and Vendor URLs  AirSpeakhttp://  Fujitsuhttp://  Philipshttp://  Siemenshttp://  SonicBluehttp://  GE  Honeywell  National Semiconductor

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d PDA-based Devices  Handspring Visorhttp://  HP Jornadahttp://  Palm Pilothttp://  Casio Cassiopeia  Compaq iPAQ Blackberry  Microsoft Pocket PC software

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d Further Reading     ggp01.htm&fromtm=e ggp01.htm&fromtm=e ggp01.htm&fromtm=e106-3   

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d Acronyms ADSLAsynchronous Direct Subscriber Line IAInternet Appliance IANInternet Appliance Network LANLocal Area Network NICNew Internet Computer PDAPersonal Digital Assistant ROIReturn On Investment WANWide Area Network WAPWireless Application Protocol

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n Q u e e n s l a n d Questions?