Rensselaer’s
Mobile Computing Program:
A Whale of an Idea!
Myra Williams
Ed Seeger
Nancy Kutner
Patrick Valiquette
SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA
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Rensselaer Overview
• Educates the leaders of tomorrow for
technologically-based careers
• Private institution founded in 1824
• 7000 students – 5000 undergraduates,
2000 grad students
• 520 faculty, 1430 staff
• Schools – Architecture, Engineering,
Humanities and Social Sciences,
Management and Technology, Science
SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA
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Why have a
Mobile Computing Program?
•Academic need - technology used
extensively in the curriculum
•Standardization offers best support
•Allows students to work
anywhere/anytime
•Facilitates student collaboration
SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA
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Mobile Computing
Program
• Laptops required for undergraduate students
• Standard high-end laptop including software at an
excellent price
• Students acquire through purchase, lease to own,
or financial aid
• Approximately 95% participation
• Laptops used inside and outside of class
• Over 6,000 laptops on campus
• http://www.rpi.edu/laptops
SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA
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Mobile Computing Package
•High-end laptop
•Backpack
•Ethernet cable
•Security cable
•Pre-loaded software suite
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Pre-installed
Software
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Office Professional 2003
Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 Academic Professional
Maplesoft Maple (symbolic algebra program)
Mathworks Matlab
SolidWorks (a CAD package)
National Instruments LabView
Bentley Systems MicroStation
SecureCRT
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Anti-virus software suite
IBM Rapid Restore
and more
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Support
•Help Desk
•Computer Repair
•Campus Computer Store
All located in one building –
the Voorhees Computing Center (VCC)
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On-Campus
Distribution
•Coordinated with Residence Life
•Volunteers from across campus are involved
•Just before classes begin in the fall
•250-300 per hour
•Pickup laptop
•Attend start-up session
Every student leaves with a working laptop!
SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA
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Why a standard model?
Advantages to Rensselaer
•Equal access for all students
•Consistent support
•Easier for classwork
•Volume discounts
•Lower support costs
SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA
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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
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Why a standard model?
Advantages to students
•Value
•Appropriateness
•Easier for classwork
•Commonality
•Service and support
SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA
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Yr
99
The
standard
model
Model
CPU /
Memory HD
Screen
600E
Speed
(MB)
(GB)
Resolution
CD and
DVD
366 MHz
128
6.4
1024x768
CD
128
12
1024x768
CD/DVD
256
32
1400x1050
CD/DVD
256
40
1024x768
CDRW/
Pentium III
00
T20
700 MHz
Pentium III
01
T22
900 MHz
Pentium III
02
T30
1.8 GHz
Pentium 4
03
T40
1.6 GHz
DVD
512
80
1400x1050
Pentium M
04
T42
1.8 GHz
DVD
512
80
1400x1050
Pentium M
05
T43
2.0 GHz
CDRW/
CDRW/
DVD
1GB
80
Pentium M
SIGUCCS 2005 – Monterey, CA
1400x1050
CDRW/
DVDRW
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Some of Our
Corporate Partners
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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
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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
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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)
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What’s Missing?
•Licensing costs and issues affect included
software
•Refresh program
•Faculty Mobile Computing Program
•Discipline-specific models
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Questions?
Discussion
http://www.rpi.edu/dept/arc/siguccs/
presentation2005.ppt
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