Ubiquitous Computing: The Universal Use of Computers on College Campuses (review)

In this intriguing book, David G. Brown argues that the principle of ubiquitous computing "means that all teaching and research proceed on the assumption that every student has appropriate access to the internet, nothing more and nothing less" (p. 2). While this statement might have been radical ten years ago, today it simply reflects the significance of the Internet as an information resource and communication tool. Few faculty (and even fewer administrators) would need to be convinced that Internet access is a necessary feature of the 21st century college campus.

For Brown, however, ubiquity requires not only universality of access, but also an element of personal convenience for the user that comes from standardized mobile equipment. In this book, he is not interested in the "port-per-pillow" movement of the 1980s and 1990s nor in the technologically enhanced smart-classrooms of today. Rather he wants us to consider lessons from "superubiquitous" campuses that have provided a laptop computer and software to every matriculated student and have made Internet access a true assumption of the curriculum.

Brown introduces the topic by responding to three questions: (a) Why should we insist that all students have computers? (b) Why should we insist that they all have similar computers with similar software packages? (c) Why should we insist that the computer be mobile? His answers are succinct arguments for ubiquitous computing, standardization, and portability. While he gives no specific references in this section, Brown suggests that the experiences of campuses that have moved to a ubiquitous computing environment support his perspective. Similarly, he culls 61 "lessons learned" from his institutional case studies which make up most of the book, thus providing a good overview of the ideas contained in his chapters.

Brown recruited representatives from 13 institutions to tell their story of achieving ubiquity and what lessons can be drawn from the experience. Profiled institutions include Dartmouth College, The University of Hong Kong, Renssaelaer Polytechnic Institute, The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, The University of Minnesota at Crookston, Wake Forest University, Acadia University (in Nova Scotia, Canada), Drexel University, The State University of New York at Morrisville, Drew University, L'École des Haute Études Commerciales de Montréal, Clayton College and State University, and Seton Hall University. These 13 chapters provide extensive documentation of the historical impetus for the campuses' move to ubiquitous computing, rationale for the decisions made regarding technical requirements, management details of the implementation process, and ways in which faculty and students have taken advantage of the ubiquitous computing environment. Each chapter concludes with a set of lessons learned, typically framed in terms of advice for other campus leaders who are considering ubiquitous computing. Contact information is provided for each author. A concluding chapter provides student learning assessment information from two institutions: Wake Forest and Seton Hall.

This is, at its core, a "how-to" book. For someone interested in initiating a ubiquitous computing program on his or her campus, the text provides arguments to convince doubters as well as advice on how to successfully develop a working model. The authors of each case study chapter were intimately involved in developing the program on their campuses and have shared with the reader the strengths and weaknesses of their plans. Nearly every author writes about mistakes that were made, false starts, and unforeseen circumstances. Brown is clear in his aim that "others might replicate our successes and be spared our blunders" (p. 9). It is in this area that the book makes its greatest contribution. While many are familiar with the ideas of ubiquitous computing discussed in this book, Brown has gathered in one place full and detailed descriptions of how such an environment can be created, financed, and utilized to improve student learning. The practical tips and hands-on experience contained in each...