Noce looks to create 'wireless walks'
The walks would call attention to dead zones on campus.
Published Feb. 26, 2010
The Missouri Students Association is talking about holding a "wireless walk" through campus in the spring to identify dead zones in the MizzouWireless network.
"I had the cell phone number of a guy through IT that said if you ever had a dead spot on campus call me and we will get it fixed," MSA President Tim Noce said. "Since I'm not on campus all the time, I thought why not make the most of this?"
The idea is to have a group of people with wireless devices that have access to MizzouWireless walk around campus and identify dead zones, Noce said.
There is one potential problem at this point, MSA Director of Student Services Kaitlin Oxenreider said.
"The only problem I have with it personally is if someone doesn't have a cell phone with wireless on it, it would be pretty obnoxious to carry around a laptop, but with the day and age most people have a phone like a Droid or an iPhone," Oxenreider said.
Student Services, which holds two safety walks a year, would most likely also host the proposed wireless walks.
Noce said he and Dave Roberts, senior coordinator for the Center for Leadership Development, had the idea of combining the safety walks and wireless walks.
"I don't think it would be possible to combine them, but I think it would be possible to hold a wireless walk on its own," Oxenreider said. "It would be pretty easy to set up."
Roberts said Noce's wireless walks would be aimed at keeping MU up-to-date with technology.
"He hopes that this program will test the wireless connectivity at different areas inside and outside of campus buildings," Roberts said. "I don't believe that he feels it is insufficient but is just continuing to look at ways to keep Mizzou on the forefront of this technological revolution that continues to evolve and change every day."
Oxenreider said the walks were more likely to identify problems than they were to solve them.
"I foresee this gathering information first and foremost, especially since one of Tim's main goals is to make MizzouWireless one of the best wireless networks in the Big 12," Oxenreider said. "I think this would gather more information than solve problems at the moment."
Despite what their purpose might be, the wireless walks are still just an idea right now, Roberts said.
"I don't believe there is a plan at this point, I am not part of the plan," Roberts said. "From what Tim and I talked about, I believe this is just more of an opportunity to test the scope of the wireless connectivity within and outside of campus buildings to see if it even needs to be improved or expanded."
Although students aren't necessarily complaining, holes are still evident in MizzouWireless, Noce said.
"I know when I was a freshman and into my sophomore year and there were three wireless networks on campus then it all got consolidated into MizzouWireless, which was good, but it didn't cover as much safe space where people walk," Noce said. "I know it has improved a real lot but its still not where I think a lot of students would like it to be."