1. 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 www.usq.edu.au webPads Jeff McDonell Director Information Technology Services University of Southern Queensland Australia

2. 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

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 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. 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 http://www.pc-ephone.com/ ) http://www.pc-ephone.com/  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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2001/0528wispr.html http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2001/0528wispr.html  Also new screen technologies could bring the breakthrough required to bring costs down to the desirable $500 or lower level

12. 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 802.11b or 802.11a - 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/consumer/ http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/consumer/  Intelhttp://www.intel.com/home/webtablet/ http://www.intel.com/home/webtablet/  QUBITwww.qubit.net www.qubit.net  LG http://www.lge.com/aboutus/news/pressroom/2001/2001_0108.shtml http://www.lge.com/aboutus/news/pressroom/2001/2001_0108.shtml  Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2000/nov00/11-13tabletpc.asp http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2000/nov00/11-13tabletpc.asp http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2000/nov00/11-13tabletpc.asp  SONY http://www.sony.co.jp/en/SonyInfo/News/Press/200009/00-044/index.html http://www.sony.co.jp/en/SonyInfo/News/Press/200009/00-044/index.html http://www.sony.co.jp/en/SonyInfo/News/Press/200009/00-044/index.html

17. 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://www.airspeak.com/home.html http://www.airspeak.com/home.html  Fujitsuhttp://www.fujitsu.com.au/products/pc/stylisticx.htm http://www.fujitsu.com.au/products/pc/stylisticx.htm  Philipshttp://www.philips.com/netdisplay/ http://www.philips.com/netdisplay/  Siemenshttp://www.ad.siemens.de/mobic/index_76.htm http://www.ad.siemens.de/mobic/index_76.htm  SonicBluehttp://www.frontpath.com/ship_progear.html http://www.frontpath.com/ship_progear.html  GE http://www.geappliances.com/pressroom/usnews/othrnws/geadon.htm http://www.geappliances.com/pressroom/usnews/othrnws/geadon.htm  Honeywell http://content.honeywell.com/Home/webpad/WEBPad_pr.htm http://content.honeywell.com/Home/webpad/WEBPad_pr.htmhttp://content.honeywell.com/Home/webpad/WEBPad_pr.htm  National Semiconductor http://www.national.com/appinfo/solutions/0,2062,386,00.html http://www.national.com/appinfo/solutions/0,2062,386,00.html

18. 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://www.handspring.com/ http://www.handspring.com/  HP Jornadahttp://www.hp.com/jornada/ http://www.hp.com/jornada/  Palm Pilothttp://www.palm.com/wireless/email/ http://www.palm.com/wireless/email/  Casio Cassiopeia http://www.casio-usa.com/corporate/pressroom.cfm?act=2&pr=4870 http://www.casio-usa.com/corporate/pressroom.cfm?act=2&pr=4870http://www.casio-usa.com/corporate/pressroom.cfm?act=2&pr=4870  Compaq iPAQ Blackberry http://www5.compaq.com/products/handhelds/ http://www5.compaq.com/products/handhelds/  Microsoft Pocket PC software http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/wireless/ http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/wireless/ http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/wireless/

19. 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  http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/sj/384/eustice.html http://www.research.ibm.com/journal/sj/384/eustice.html  http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/17/technology/17TABL.html?searchpv=site09 http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/17/technology/17TABL.html?searchpv=site09  http://ifets.gmd.de/periodical/vol_4_99/dan_lim.html http://ifets.gmd.de/periodical/vol_4_99/dan_lim.html  http://www.techrepublic.com/article.jhtml?id=r00620010521 ggp01.htm&fromtm=e106-3 http://www.techrepublic.com/article.jhtml?id=r00620010521 ggp01.htm&fromtm=e106-3 http://www.techrepublic.com/article.jhtml?id=r00620010521 ggp01.htm&fromtm=e106-3  http://research.microsoft.com/srg/mipad.asp http://research.microsoft.com/srg/mipad.asp  http://chronicle.com/free/2001/05/2001050301t.htm http://chronicle.com/free/2001/05/2001050301t.htm  http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2001/0528wispr.html http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2001/0528wispr.html

20. 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

21. 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 www.usq.edu.au Questions? Email: mcdonell@usq.edu.au mcdonell@usq.edu.au