L. Wilson Pearson
Wireless Communication Discussed During Erskine
Forum
The future of wireless communication was at the forefront of Thursday’s InnoVision Technology Forum hosted by Erskine College at the Daniel Moultrie Science Center.
About 25 organization representatives attended the two-hour session, part of the seven-session series sponsored by the 2003 InnoVision Technology Awards program.
The forum featured presentations by four panelists and a discussion about the impact of wireless applications.
Panelists were Erskine College Dean for Learning and Technology Dr. Bill Junkin, Alvarion Corp. Southeast Regional Sales Manager Scott Ledgerwood, Gorilla Networks Owner and General Manager Joe Milam, and Clemson University Center for Research of Wireless Applications Director L. Wilson Pearson. The forum was moderated by ASCinc.NET Owner and Chief Operating Officer Ron Younts.
Junkin, whose development of a new Web-based technology called “BQ” won Erskine College an Innovation in Education Award in 2002, said the forum was well-received.
Junkin’s technology allows instructors to poll students on course content and receive real-time responses on computers, mobile phones and PDAs. It has been used by the Air Force Academy and Harvard University, providing a technology advantage for learning environments.
A number of questions were raised during the forum, including the direction of wireless communication in the future, alternatives to unregulated radio frequencies as they become more crowded and cluttered, and the speed at which data can be transferred in the future as technology and standards continue to evolve, Junkin said.
He said the government allows people to use unregulated frequencies for wireless communication at no cost, but larger, regulated frequencies require users such as television and radio stations to buy a license.
Using unregulated frequencies is cost effective, Junkin said, but the standards by which the wireless communication industry operates are being developed by several organizations instead of one central group that would establish standards to no one’s particular advantage.
“It would be wonderful to have one organization setting the standards that would take the best interests of everybody into account,” he said.
The need for developing standards is to make it easier for people to communicate with each other on the same playing field.
“We don’t have all the standards worked out for all the frequencies,” Junkin said. “That’s why if you take your cell phone to Europe, it probably won’t work.”
Attendees at Thursday’s forum included past InnoVision award winners and finalists, board members, potential InnoVision Technology Award nominees, sponsors and interested community leaders.
The awards program and forum series focus on the advancement of technology and innovation in the Upstate through communication, education and recognition of innovation and technological progress.
The InnoVision Technology Awards program was founded in 1999 by Deloitte & Touche.
Past award winners include Michelin, BMW, Fluor Corp., St. Francis Hospital and Kemet.
