MoPo - Mobile Pools

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Some primary advantages as a result of the concept of “Mobile Pools”:

* A very essential element is the active inclusion of the students by solving problems in computer science and the self-responsibility of the students from day one. The students feel responsible for their own computers and are confronted with questions about the use of computers in teaching and education right from the start. The costs of taking care of the classical computerpools drop while the competence of students in working with computers and in managing them increases.
* Information systems which are located inside the network are usually independent from the location of the students and employees (for example mobile access to teaching and learning systems). Flexible teamwork and “ad hoc” communication without a fixed infrastructure are possible. This makes it possible for groups of students to exchange data from different locations and work together on projects.
* Seminar rooms, lecture halls and other common rooms can be used as additional working rooms outside of normal operating hours.
* Notebooks are verx flexible to work with during lectures, seminars and practical training. Multimedia teaching and learning forms are supported and complemented:

For example the material can be downloaded from the server directly to ones own notebook. Practical assignments can be prepared on the notebook (with suitable tools) and the solutions can be checked, exchanged and completed online during the lecture. Diagnosis and servicing of complicated technical systems can already be trained with the help of modern technology during education.
* Short-term or transitional communication equipment that is needed, e.g. for carrying out conferences, workshops or other meetings can be provided without any difficulties.


Besides the already named primary objectives, the concept of “Mobile Pools” has many other possible applications, which reach much further than just the use in the university sector. For example: Examination of scenarios of mobile access to (multimedia) information systems, e.g. at train stations, airports, fairs or in museums, for the analysis and integration of handhelds and PDAs, experiments for testing of safety concepts, management of industrial systems with using mobile equipment.

Wireless and mobile communication technologies allow for so-called “ad hoc” communication. This allows for a spontaneous, flexible and content independent form of communication.

Since this communications network is integrated into the surroundings of an appropriate environment, various new concepts and ideas to increase the quality of studying and research at the university have emerged.

The faculty intends to explore new paths in the education of students and to realize the potential of the mentioned environment with so-called “Mobile Pools” (instead of the so far usual fixed computer pools for the training of students).

The idea of mobile pools is to make a notebook available for each student of the faculty in the beginning of the first term as cheap as possible. These notebooks will be connected to the university-network using PCMCIA wireless LAN cards. Software exercises carried out during the term will utilize this network and student’s notebooks. In addition, efficient servers will provide the needed tools and the means.

The following steps are necessary for the realization of a mobile pool:

1.Realization of WLANs
The existing computer network has to be extended by a faculty wide wireless component based on current WLAN-technologies (Wireless Local Area Networks).

Current wireless communication network components have a network bandwidth of 11 Mbit/s and a range of up to several hundred meters. This network uses the open or free 2,4 GHz ISM-Frequency band. WLAN-system consists of two main components:
a. Access Points: These provide a connection point for wireless network cards while connecting the WLAN to an existing, fixed wired network.
b. WLAN-PC-Cards: These are wireless network cards, which contain a wireless module and are inserted into the PCMCIA-slot of a notebook or an appropriate PCI slot of a PC.

In arrangement with the computing center of the university the Department of Applied Sciences is gradually being made WLAN capable. At the moment, working rooms for students and the foyer of lecture halls are being equiped with the necessary infrastructure.


2. Installation of a high-performance SW-Server
An high-performant server provides the notebooks with the required software. Besides operating system software, it also includes and other teaching and learning aids, which are necessary in connection with the varying lectures.

3. Supply of Mobile Computer Systems
Notebooks (and other mobile computer systems such as Handhelds and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants)) can use services and access information, which are supplied by the internet, independent of their location with help of the WLAN.

The equipment such as notebooks required by the students for teaching and learning aids is an integral part of the concept. The Institute of Computer Science has provided the financing to realize and evaluate these concepts within the restrictions of a one year pilot project. During the course of the pilot project, a frame work and concepts capable of maintaining and implementing the project in the future are to be developed based on the practical experiences gained in the daily operation of a mobile pool.

[MoPo website]