I was at my alma mater, the University of
Guelph, earlier this week and checked out the Wi-Fi network in McLaughlin
Library, the campus' main library. Shelves of books on that library's first
floor have given way to lots of comfy chairs and a coffee shop. Library
users now access indexes, abstracts, and journal articles from their
wi-fi-enabled laptop. Don't have a laptop? No problem, the library will loan
you one at no charge.
If you're at Guelph, by the way, here's a tip: The network leaks well beyond
the library's walls, even as far as the Brass Traps in the University Centre
and up to Johnston Hall.
The University of British Columbia is the
other big Wi-Fi campus that I know of in Canada. In fact, UBC is the largest
geographic 802.11 hotspot in the world, I'm told.
Now comes news today that Brock
University in St. Catharines, Ont. is about to light up its campus-wide
wi-fi network.
“The network currently covers 60 per cent of the main campus, with plans to
reach 100 per cent coverage late next year. Current coverage includes many
of the large classrooms, small seminar/teaching rooms not previously hard
wired, corridors and large student gathering areas,” Brock says in a press
release. “The $100,000 investment in computing and telecommunications
infrastructure includes $30,000 in donations from graduates and parents of
students through the University's TeleGrad fundraising program. The balance
of the cost was covered by the University.”
There are 50 hotspots on Brock's campus right now. Brock is running 802.11b
at this point.
Mail me or fill out the comment below if your campus has some hotspot activity. Love to hear about it.