Wireless laptops info -- thanks!

[Jenny Levine]

	Thanks to all who sent information about wireless laptops!  A
summary of responses is listed below, although many responses also went
to the list.

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Jenny Levine				125 Tower Drive
Internet Development Specialist		Burr Ridge, IL 60521
Suburban Library System			+1 (630) 734 5141
http://www.sls.lib.il.us/		levinej at sls.lib.il.us
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> Our local joint vocational school has put together a mobile technology lab in
> a customized bus.  You can find out more (including contact info) at:
> 
> http://www.wayne-jvs.k12.oh.us/MTL.htm
>
> Mark Gooch
---------

> You might want to contact the Gates Foundation about this.  They put
> together a rolling computer lab called the "Techmobile" which, among other
> features, provided roaming Internet access for several laptops equipped with
> wireless NICs. Details can be found here:
> 
> http://www.gatesfoundation.org/learning/publicinfoaccess/bgclub.htm
>
> Mark Ellis
> Network Support Analyst
> Richmond Public Library  
> Richmond, B.C.                      
> (604) 231-6410
> www.rpl.richmond.bc.ca
---------

> Actually, there was a presentation about just this topic at PLA earlier
> this year.  Someone had a mobile lab that they took to branches and set up
> to train patrons.
>
> The presentation was "How to Create a Successful Portable Computer
> Training Center for your Adult Patrons"
> 
> Presenters:
> Betsy Morris, Pioneer Library System, bmorris at pls-net.org
>
> Patricia Husband
> Librarian, Computer Division
> East Baton Rouge Parish Library 
> Baton Rouge, Louisiana
---------

> Currently here at Dallas Public Library, I have set up a 4 laptop "traveling
> roadshow" for my tech. trainers.  We are using Compaq Aramadas, which are
> about a year and half old, using Cabletron's wireless setup to connect into
> a remote site's local area network.  We installed mouse, rather than have
> the staff or public spend time figuring out the touchpad.  I has  worked
> extremely well, as the wireless technology seems to cover a large area.
> 
> Email me if you want the really dirty details.
> 
> Steven Smiley
> Dallas Public Library
> ssmiley at lib.ci.dallas.tx.us
---------

[snip]
> I'd set up a local Web server in the van and do wireless between the demo
> client laptops and the Web server.  If the board insists on live Internet
> links (from van to greater Internet) make it a caching server that does
> wireless when it works but still lets you do a demo locally.
> 
> AT&T Cable has a van that's going around the midwest and in particular the
> Chicago area to demonstrate broadband cable modem speeds.  I suspect
> everything is canned inside the van.  I bet it's pretty slick. You might
> catch up with the van and see how they do it.  If you don't get ads in the
> mail for this, send me a private note and I'll find out the schedule.
> 
> /rich wiggins
---------

> The US West Foundation (now Qwest Foundation?) along with the University
> of Wyoming, and the University of Northern Colorado, and many other
> regional universities, put together WOW (Widening Our World).  Many of
> the public libraries in Wyoming that cannot afford this type of training
> set up have used WOW to give their patrons this Internet training.
> 
> Their website is : http://www.uswestwow.org/nindex.shtml
> 
> Erin Kinney