Tufts to maintain incremental approach to wireless Internet capabilities

As wireless internet grows in popularity, Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS) will continue to update Tufts' network as it sees fit.

Tufts currently boasts wireless connection in all libraries on the Medford, Boston and Grafton campuses as well as in the Mayer Campus Center and select portions of buildings including Dowling Hall, the Olin Center, and Cabot Auditorium. With the exception of a few classrooms, wireless internet is also available in all of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

"We started deploying wireless access to the Tufts Data Network for heavily-used public facilities based on student needs and interests," said Vice President of Info Technology Bruce Metz.

Although Metz added that Tufts "is committed to maintaining the wireless network currently installed and to expanding the network as appropriate," financial matters represent a major hindrance to the further development of wireless areas.

Currently, wireless installations are funded by Tufts' individual departments and schools as they see fit. Metz believes that the majority of schools comparable to Tufts are following the same incremental approach when it comes installing wireless capabilities.

This strategy of gradual implementation allows the University to make decisions which are up-to-date with the rapidly evolving nature of wireless technology. According to the Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS) website, "the hallmark of [Tufts IT's] success has been not to jump into these [technological] areas too soon...but we must continue to watch the trends."

"While wireless technology will eventually benefit our teaching and research programs, the clear benefits are just beginning to emerge as the technology matures, so we will continue to monitor the situation very closely," Metz said.

Dartmouth University's wireless network is an impressive example for the Tufts campus to follow. Dartmouth's 500 cellular base stations provide wireless coverage to approximately 200 acres, enabling high-speed connection on all its grounds.

Campus-wide wireless coverage has brought about other benefits. Taking advantage of the ability to locate objects relative to the numerous base stations, Dartmouth student Ben Kasdon has created a personal safety device for students to wear that is activated at a push of a button. By tracking the signal from the device, authorities and medics can arrive at the scene far more quickly than before.

In addition, Dartmouth has developed an anti-theft program to track down stolen electronics such as laptops and PDAs using the same approach.

Despite the possibilities that a campus-wide wireless network can open up in the classroom, not all people at Tufts are impatient to see widespread implementation of such a system. Fletcher Professor Joel Trachtman believes that wireless internet in the classroom can be more a distraction than an aid in the learning process.

"I'd be much more comfortable with the idea if I could just flip a switch and turn off the internet when we didn't need it in class," he said.

Trachtman added that "while wireless internet is invaluable for student research, the internet is simply not an important teaching tool for me."

Metz and Executive Administrative Dean Wayne Bouchard have noted that students at Tufts are not disappointed with the wireless technology now available.

Freshman Christopher Duerrmeier said that "wireless internet is everywhere I find it essential to have--when I'm working on a research paper in Tisch, for example."

The TCCS website noted that "other universities continue to pursue wireless ubiquitous access (PDA, Blackberry, etc.) very aggressively; we haven't put that back on the table due to the expense, but students are increasingly expecting wireless service, and its relevance to teaching is increasing."

"For now, we remain committed to our incremental approach, expanding the current wireless network at Tufts as resources, interests, and needs allow," Metz said.