Computing and Communications has successfully piloted portable IP based video conferencing units from Polycom. High-end units (capable of 4 way conferences, web streaming, and 1.5 Mbs total bandwidth) were recently presented to the Chancellor. The Dean of Biomedical Sciences plans to purchase multiple units to facilitate a teaching partnership with the City of Hope in Los Angeles.

Computing and Communications is seeking funding for a 40 seat Virtual Learning Emporium. In this Learning Emporium, students will be able to take advantage of diagnostic quizzes, electronic textbooks, interactive self-paced tutorials, and on-line Learning Management Systems. Graduate students and staff will be available to give students personalized help during these self-paced tutorials and quizzes. Traditional lectures by faculty would also be available within the Emporium via streaming digital video. Importantly, the Learning Emporium is NOT discipline specific. While undergraduate mathematics students are logical potential users of the Learning Emporium, self-paced electronic systems exist that support Economics, Statistics, Computer Science, etc.

During the past two academic years, C&C has been piloting Multi-Media Classroom on a Cart technology, primarily with CHASS. These carts include all the computer hardware, audio, digital projection systems, and software to enable multi-media presentations in any classroom on campus. The use of these carts by faculty is expanding, with Math planning on utilizing three carts and eight personal computers (the Math carts will be equipped with docking stations).

UCR's wireless pilot project is complete. It has been a very positive effort with encouraging feedback from College of Engineering faculty and students. In the very short term, coverage will be expanded to include the Science Library, Rivera Library, and the majority of the Anderson Graduate School of Management. CNAS and CHASS will be contacted shortly for direction on west and east campus coverage expansion. A large roll-out to students is planned for the Fall 2001 quarter.

Security continues to be a primary concern relating to UCR's wireless deployment. Two options for improving security are under consideration: VPNs over the wireless network (for both encryption and authentication) as well as 802.1x (using a somewhat proprietary Cisco solution). Currently, it is envisioned that the College of Engineering will take a leadership position evaluating a VPN solution while C&C will evaluate the 802.1x solution. C&C hopes to bring a resolution to the campus by the Spring of 2002.

C&C is completing efforts on its telephone switch acquisition. C&C is evaluating "IP enabled" switches (hardware capable of supporting analog line cards, digital line cards, and IP "line carts" on a common switching back-plane).

UCR is currently developing communications standards for new building construction and major renovations. These campus standards will be based on the proposed Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Division 17 addition to the Division 1 - 16 MasterFormat (Division 17 is a model that will allow organizations to effectively design, plan, and estimate inside and outside copper and fiber cable plants, as well as data and voice systems). Development of this standards document is underway, but final completion of the project will take at least 9 to 12 months. Therefore, in order to meet current campus needs relating to communications planning, an Interim Communications Infrastructure Planning Standards document has been created. The document (in PDF format) can be downloaded here.

C&C is piloting a wireless PDA (primarily for calendaring) that syncs with the campus Corporate Time Calendaring system over the campus 802.11b wireless network. The model being considered is the COMPAQ iPAQ H3635 Pocket PC, as shown to the left. For more information, see the Compaq website.