College Aps

Have you ever checked the Universitie's library collection, accessed the faculty directory, or found yourself on the campus map…using smart phone aps? You will... If you check Apple’s iPod App Store you’ll find a suite of eight software applications developed for Northwestern University. The aps where developed by Terribly Clever, a software development firm started by four Stanford undergraduates, that had created similar software for Stanford University. Terribly Clever was acquired by Blackboard while developing the Northwestern aps, and is now known as Blackboard Mobile. The applications let users check the library collection, find staff or students in a directory, or find their self on a campus map using their smartphone’s gps.
Incoming freshmen at Abilene Christian University receive their choice of an iPhone or iPod courtesy of the university. Student’s take their devices to class, where they plug into an iPhone/ iPod interface to access a course file-sharing program. Professors use their iPhones to take attendance and send e-mails to absent students to which the students can reply. Students can also use a polling function to submit answers to questions in class.
Blackboard Mobile now has completed software deployments for more than twenty universities and has more in development. It is only a matter of time before college aps are as much a part of student life as laptops.
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Femtocell?

Another emerging technology with practical applications is the femtocell. Have you ever used your broadband connection to improve your cell phone coverage, received a text message when family members arrived or left home? You will….thanks to the femtocell. The femtocell acts like a personal base station allowing a few authorized cell phone users to connect; the femtocell retransmits the signal over the owner’s broadband network saving minutes and money on the cell network. This might not sound like a big deal, but 26% of the population of the US have coverage issues at home or work. The ability of the femotocell to recognize devices entering and leaving the femto zone opens up numerous possibilities. The Femto Forum is currently trying SMS alerts, which can be activated by events in the femto zone. Family members arriving or departing a zone could activate a trigger which could send an SMS message, turn the thermostat up or down, switch lights lights, or notify primary care givers. Developers envision the femtocell as a major catalyst for allowing the cell phone to become a primary home network controller.


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Network Locks

In our February 20 post we looked at some technologies from the early 90s that evolved into practical applications that we use every day. In the February 24 post we mentioned how sometimes technology developers focus on the latest and greatest and miss the practical; they don’t develop what is truly useful to the consumer. I don’t think the Apple wheel is on anyone’s wish list, but in these next few post we’ll look at some technologies that are practical and will find their way into our everyday.
Has your house ever sent you a text to let you know someone is trying to get in? Have you ever sent your house an im to let someone in? You will.... You can now buy a wireless door lock for $200 at home improvement stores. The lock links to a wireless bridge in the house, which connects to a monitoring center over a broadband connection. The service, which cost about $13 a month, can be expanded to include home monitoring equipment, remote light switches, and thermostat control, all monitored and controlled over the network.

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