Wires? I don’t need no stinkin’ wires
IBM has announced a new wireless broadband networking technology designed specifically for school districts. It’s being rolled out in the Syracuse School District, and the system allows for all data, videoconferencing and phone service (Internet-based phones, or “voice over IP”/VOIP) to be handled wirelessly. The article referenced above is a press release, so it’s long on hyperbole and short on detail, but it’s still intriguing. The cost of installing and maintaining the miles of wires necessary to run a network is enormous, so there’s a lot of economic promise here. It also could make a huge difference in little things like classroom flexibility - how many teachers have you met who can’t use their computer in the front of the room because the architect put the network jacks in the back?
The big bugaboo is, of course, security. How do they make sure that only authorized users get into this wireless network? I guess that’s what early adopters are for. We’ll see what interesting experiences the Syracues School District has over the next couple of years.