091

rc08 1/15/2010 10:04:05

General Session - Conference Presentation Only (no formal paper)


 * New Directions in General-Access Computing**

Cara Lane, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA, cgiacomi@uw.edu Janice Fournier, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA, fournier@u.washington.edu// Henry Lyle, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA, lyle3@u.washington.edu

The University of Washington (UW) has historically met students’ general-access computing needs through a combination of large computing centers and distributed workstations. At the end of this academic year, however, two large computing centers will close. In their place, a combination of new spaces and services will support students’ use of their own hardware (laptop or netbooks) on campus.

During autumn 2009, data was gathered through a survey and via focus groups regarding students’ use of laptops and other devices, their use of existing computing centers, and the changes they desired. This session will describe the results ( i.e. although 93% of students owned laptops or netbooks, only 35% brought them to campus frequently)​.

This session will also identify the obstacles students encountered while using laptops on campus and the types of services that would alleviate some of these obstacles. Presenters will also share details about Online Software Access, a new service which will provide remote access to high end software.

All Audiences, general-access computing, software virtualization, terminal services, laptop use, student computing, space planning, learning spaces