CONTENTS

UPFRONT - Third in a Series on BLOGs, DAMs, WiFi, and IP
FOCUS - Designing the Space: Technology Enabled Learning Environments by
William J. Mitchell
UW/WI - DE Certificate Program Scholarships-Online Groups Now Forming
LINES - October News Highlights

ED - The Multitasking Myth, Internet2 Unveils Easy Multi-Site IP
Videoconferencing, Researchers to Investigate Universal Super-Fast Internet
BIZ/GOV/ED - Unified Platform for Technologies?, Improve Your Skills with
Online Learning, Online Consortium Releases Learner Assessment Tool
ACCESSIBILITY - Videoconferencing for Hearing Impaired in Rural Communities
TECH/TOOLS - Glasses Free 3-D Visualization Makes Strides, Find Your Way
PDA, The Death of Handheld Computers?, Mobile Information Tool Designed
for Surgeons, Tablet PCs Starting to Take Off
READ/RESOURCES - USDLA Publication

POSITIONS - UW-Superior-Coordinator of Teaching/Learning/Technology
Development, U of Connecticut-Instructional Designer
NEW ON THE LIST - Welcome to New Subscribers
FYI - News, Events, Conferences
ENDNOTE - More Data, Not Less Paper
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NOVEMBER FOCUS ARTICLE - Internet Protocol (IP) Video by Jamie Poindexter,
Instructional Communications Systems, University of Wisconsin-Extension Operations
Manager
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

UPFRONT In the past two DESIEN issues, FOCUS authors have explored the
use of BLOGs (Weblogs,) and DAMs (Digital Asset Management) systems. This
months FOCUS author looks at WiFi (Wireless Technology). He looks at it from
a very interesting perspective - the way in which it will impact our learning spaces.
With the permission of Syllabus magazine, this month's article links to "Designing the
Space: Technology Enabled Learning Environments," a conversation with William J.
Mitchell, Dean of MIT's School of Architecture and Planning and head of the Media
Arts and Sciences Program at the MIT Media Lab.

Next month Jamie Poindexter, Instructional Communications Systems Operations
Manager, completes this series with an article on Internet Protocol (IP) video.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOCUS

Designing the Space: Technology Enabled Learning Environments
by
William J. Mitchell, Dean of MIT's School of Architecture and Planning

There is a fundamental change going on right now. Over the last couple of decades
there have been educational spaces that have all sorts of technology built into them,
like computers, and video projectors - very complex, specialized facilities to support
education in various ways. With the emergence of portable wireless technology, that's
becoming less and less necessary. What we're starting to see is the emergence of
spaces that are designed around human rather than technological needs. For the rest
of the article go to: http://www.syllabus.com/article.asp?id=8105
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UW/WI

DE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS-ONLINE GROUP NOW
FORMING - A Winter 2004 online group is now forming to participate in the
Distance Education Certificate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison. The group
will start the program on January 14 (enrollment deadline is December 19), working
as a cohort in completing online core modules. Two half-tuition scholarships are
available. Scholarship applications are due December 1. The Certificate Program
features a professional development curriculum covering distance/online teaching,
learning, technology, instructional design, evaluation, learner support, and management.
No travel required. For information about the program and scholarships, see the
" DECP Online Catalog" at http://www.uwex.edu/disted/depd/ or contact Dr. Christine
Olgren at cholgren@facstaff.wisc.edu
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LINES - October News Highlights

- During the economic downturn, Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, has had to
postpone many purchases - but not of computer storage. To run the many web-based
applications, Mort Rahimi the vice-president for information systems and technology
says, the university has had to double its storage capacity over just the past 12 months.
He adds that it'll have to do so again within the year - (Business Week, 28 Oct 03)

- As of October 23, 2003 there were 8,150,000 "blogs" on the web. Most blogs are
about journaling the events of everyday life, including photos and videos. (See September
2003 DESIEN FOCUS article on blogs.) Academics are one group that is increasingly
getting involved with blogging. Some have started blogging in order to muse aloud about
their research. Others want to polish their opinion-writing for nonacademic audiences.
Still others have more urgent and personal reasons for using this new venue of expression.
But the foremost virtue, they claim, is "freedom of tone." For more information on
academic blogs see: http://chronicle.com/prm/weekly/v49/i39a01401.htm

- According to a California State University-Northridge survey, the biggest obstacles
to developing and teaching distance education courses are: 1) the time it takes to
construct the course, 2) the instability of technology and networks, 3) the time it
takes to teach the course, and 4) the expectations of an instructor's constant
availability. (Academic Leader, Oct 03)
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ED

THE MULTITASKING MYTH - In the past few years, the ability to multitask has
become a glorified skill. But a 2001 study conducted at the University of Michigan
shows that 20-40% of a worker's productivity is eaten up by "task-switching," the
time it takes to mentally re-engage when shifting from one task to another. Lyman
Steil, president of the St. Paul, MN-based The Masters Alliance, says he regularly
advises clients on the dangers of multitasking. "When you divide your attention, there
is a loss on both ends. Our research is crystal clear that multitasking does not mean
people are doing their work productively." Multitasking is such an ingrained part of
our culture, however, that most people don't know how to change, even if they
recognize the problem. The most common reason? "There's not enough time to deal
with it." (Presentations Magazine, Oct 03)

INTERNET2 UNVEILS EASY MULTI-SITE IP VIDEOCONFERENCING -
Internet2, the higher education research-network consortium, will offer its members
a videoconferencing service it says would make setting up video meetings as simple
as phone conferencing. The service, based on H.323 video and audio standards,
would allow subscribers to reserve ports for time-sensitive meetings, regularly
scheduled distance learning classes, as well as multi-party videoconferences on the
spur-of-the-moment. Tyler Johnson, a telecom systems analyst at the University
of North Carolina, called the service, "A vital stride in developing virtual
collaboration environments, (with) affordable cost and easily deployable
technology. Internet2 provides the equipment, staffing, and expertise to run this
new service, which has been in development for two years. Read more
at: http://info.101com.com/default.asp?id=3204 (Syllabus News Update, 17 Oct 03)

RESEARCHERS TO INVESTIGATE UNIVERSAL SUPER-FAST
INTERNET - Funded by a five-year, $7.5 million grant from the National Science
Foundation, a team of researchers led by Hui Zhang of Carnegie Mellon University
will investigate the costs and implications of building an infrastructure that would
bring extremely fast Internet connectivity to most homes and businesses in the
United States. According to Zhang, principal investigator of the so-called "100
Megabits for 100 Million Homes" project, the success of the Internet has raised,
rather than answered, questions about fundamental network architecture. Zhang
said the Internet must be made faster, more dependable, and more robust. The
project will include researchers from Rice University, Stanford University, the
University of California at Berkeley, Internet2, and other laboratories and research
centers. Researchers will study glass-fiber networks and develop prototypes that
could serve as models for a new nationwide network. The complete article is at:
http://chronicle.com/prm/daily/2003/10/2003100102t.htm (Chronicle of Higher
Education, 1 Oct 03 Edupage 1 Oct 03)
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BIZ/GOV/ED

UNIFIED PLATFORM FOR TECHNOLOGIES? - Will a unified conferencing platform
of some sort emerge to unite disparate communications devices for meeting and learning,
asks Stephen Regenold, associate editor of Presentations Magazine? Patty Azzarello of
Polycom answers, "Yes, the world is moving in this direction. In fact, Polycom has a
conferencing platform that combines audioconferencing and videoconferencing with
Web collaboration...a single system for all of the conferencing needs." Praful Shah of
WebEx adds that, "WebEx has something like that today. The WebEx MediaTone
Network brings together high-speed dataconferencing, IP, and teleconferencing, and
multipoint and full-screen videoconfereing into a single Web-based service." But Bernie
Rosen of Norlight responds, "For a completely unified platform to emerge, there is
still some work to be done. Norlight has a video bridging service that lets users on a
variety of connections (ISDN, DSL, cell phone, etc.) work together, but standards
still need to be developed that will support these disparate systems." (Presentations
Magazine, Oct 03)

IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS WITH ONLINE LEARNING - Ziff-Davis has
teamed up with a leading provider of online learning to present a wide range of
courses that will help advance any career. They've got everything from web design
and development to Linux, Java, project management and more, and are offering a
free course to get started. Find out more at: http://elearning.ziffdavis.com/

ONLINE CONSORTIUM RELEASES LEARNER ASSESSMENT TOOL -
A network of universities founded to help companies and employees secure a quality
online education, announced a Web-based assessment tool for prospective students
considering online degree programs. The Online Learner Assessment, unveiled by the
Online University Consortium, helps students determine their aptitude for online
education in order to choose the best source for their individual learning style. The
tool helps Online UC to match learners with qualified degree programs. It also helps
learners avoid costly mistakes by making the best education choice for their
individual needs, allowing for targeted development and the enhancement of ROI for
corporations funding employee training. Read more at:
http://info.101com.com/default.asp?id=31 (Syllabus News Update, 14 Oct 03)
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ACCESSIBILITY

VIDEOCONFERENCING FOR HEARING IMPAIRED IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES - The Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) and SkyFrames, Inc, a
broadband Internet service provider, will team up to build satellite and wireless
infrastructures that support rural communities while addressing the needs of deaf and
hard of hearing people throughout the Western Hemisphere. CHS will provide IP
videoconferencing and ISDN gateway services to North American communities
needing to connect with the world via a videoconferencing bridge. Marc Serre,
technology director of the Society, said the lack of connectivity not only has a
negative impact on the typical user, but especially on those users with disabilities
such as the deaf and hard of hearing people who benefit greatly from communicating
via videoconferencing. (Syllabus News Update, Oct, 03)
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TECH/TOOLS

GLASSES FREE 3-D VISUALIZATION MAKES STRIDES - The San Diego
Supercomputer Center at University of California San Diego (UCSD) is using a 3-D
monitor that does not require viewers to use special glasses to see complicated
scientific images. Traditionally, seeing images in 3-D required special stereographic
eyewear. The Supercomputer Center is using SynthaGram Glasses-Free 3D monitor
from StereoGraphics Inc as part of its Volume Visualizer product, which include
molecular models, medical diagrams, and aerial photographs.

The SynthaGram is a flat-screen plasma monitor with a special optical surface
creating the 3-D effect. Current sizes include 18-42 inches, but other display sizes
can be made into a SynthaGram monitor. Mike Bailey, PhD, Director of Visualization
for the SDSC, said the monitor was ideal for group viewing environments when you
don't want to - pass the glasses, adding that the effect, meets our needs for intricate
scientific visualization. (Syllabus News Update, 28 Nov 03)

FIND YOUR WAY PDA - According to Bruce Brown, a contributing editor of
PC Magazine, he's sworn off PDAs. Ever since HP's 200LX went out of circulation,
he's relied on the Web and scribbled post-it notes to stay organized. But he just
might jump back in with the latest from Garmin - it's a complete Palm-based PDA
with built in GPS! Not only does it keep you organized, it keeps you on-track!
Imagine knowing exactly where you are, and how to get from point A to point B
with a device that fits into your pocket. It's perfect for travelers, sales-people, and
the perennially befuddled! And while you're at it, he says, check out the special Go
Wireless report to help you connect to the Web from anywhere. It's at: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1277568,00.asp (PC Magazine, 14 Oct 03)

THE DEATH OF HANDHELD COMPUTERS? - Whatever happened to the
handheld computer market? A segment that seemed to have limitless potential just
a few years ago now seems to be flirting with irrelevance. Right now, there are too
many vendors in the space. Dell is driving the margins out of the segment; laptop
computer prices are dropping to within a few hundred dollars of high-priced
handhelds; and converged devices (cell phone/handheld computer) have generally
proven to be a joke to those who bought them.

Three major mistakes stunted handheld computing's growth. The first is standards
of marketing that focused on the segment itself, not the devices. Meanwhile, two
emerging types of hardware could render the current handheld wars moot. Desktop
blade computing could consolidate the market by linking premium handheld devices
solidly to blade manufacturers. Alternatively, a new generation of modular computers
that rival handheld sizes but offer full Windows XP capability could eliminate all but
the lowest-cost handheld models. The choice seems clear: Either the market for these
devices needs to expand, or some vendors will have to exit. Some (like Philips) have
left, and Handspring was recently acquired by PalmOne. The call to action for
handheld computer makers: Hang together, or hang separately. See:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1306408,00.asp (eWeek, 3 Oct 03)

MOBILE INFORMATION TOOL DESIGNED FOR SURGEONS - PocketChart
is a complete Electonic Medical Record system thats fits in your pocket. With it you
can create complete, legible patient documentation with a few taps of the pen on
customizable menus or pick-lists. Reduce transcription time and cost by completing
patient OPnotes, histories, exam notes, prescriptions, and coding at the point of care.
Designed by surgeons, for surgeons. CareTools, is now releasing the new version of
PocketChart. For complete information see: http://www.caretools.com

TABLET PCs STARTING TO TAKE OFF - After a slow start, tablet personal
computers are starting to take off. Since Microsoft's launch of the Tablet PC in
November, the devices have grown in popularity, benefiting from the more user-friendly
software and improved hand-writing recognition technology. And Microsoft's OneNote
application that allows Tablet PC users to write notes in digital ink - either with a
keyboard or a pen - goes on sale next month. Unlike price-pressured desktops, tablet
PCs are able to command premium pricing - ranging from about $1,000 to about $2,300
and are now sold by major PC manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard Co, Acer Inc,
Toshiba, NEC, Fujitsu, and Gateway Inc. The growing demand has been helped by
faster microprocessors, cheaper memory and the proliferation of wireless Internet
connectivity, WiFi. What really needs to happen for the Tablet PC to take off is the
development of new software applications for corporate customers. It's starting to
happen. (Sun Magazine, 28 Sept 03)
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READS/RESOURCES

USDLA PUBLICATION - The US Distance Learning Association has released Electronic
Learning Communities: Issues and Practices, a collection of best practices and
methods for distance teaching and learning environments. The book explores learning
management systems, instructional design, and faculty/staff training. Chapters are
written by a variety of researchers and practictioners and include: E-volution of Graded
Projects; Hybrid Courses as Learning Communities; Building E-Communities; Faculty-
Librarian Collaboration; Spanning the Digital Divide; Preparing Faculty Members to
Teach; Course Management; The Case of Economic Principles; Online Orientation
Courses; Exclusion in International Online Learning Communities; Who Owns Distance
Courses?, and Writing Winning Distance Ed Teaching & Learning Grants. Call:
USDLA at 800-275-5162 or email info@uwdla.org (UCEA Newsletter, Sept 03)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

POSITIONS

UW-SUPERIOR - University of Wisconsin-Superior is searching for a Coordinator
of Teaching, Learning, and Technology Development. This position plays a key role
in the improvement of instruction and learning with technology. For priority
consideration completed applications must be received by December 1, 2003;
however, screening may continue until the position is filled. Complete information is
available at: http://www2.uwsuper.edu/Humanres/emop.htm

U OF CONNECTICUT- The University of Connecticut's College of Continuing
Studies is seeking applicants for a full-time position of Instructional Designer in the
Distance Education Office. For more information, please visit the website at:
http://continuingstudies.uconn.edu/info/jobs-nonacadem.html#instructional
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NEW ON THE LIST - Welcome to new subscribers: Cindy Taiclet, K. Galvin,
Richard Stevenson, Marie Ortega de Ortiz, Helen Galatis, Verjean Tomaris, David
Douglas, Melissa Torgeson, Richard Martin, Eloise Darling, Gerald Orkin, and Ralph
G. Edwards.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FYI - News, Events, Conferences

* ONLINE EDUCA BERLIN 2003 - The 9th International Conference on
Technology Supported Learning and Training will be held at the Hotel InterContinental
Berlin, December 3-5 in Berlin, Germany. Conference information is at:
http://www.icwe.net

* UCEA 2004 - UCEA is holding its 2004 Workforce Development Forum January
15-16 in San Francisco, CA For full information go to:
http://www.ucea.edu/2004workforce.htm

* LEARNTEC 2004 - This conference is scheduled for February 10-13 in Karlsruhe,
Germany. Complete information can be found at: http://www.learntec.net/.

* EDEN RESEARCH WORKSHOP 2004 - This third annual EDEN workshop,
Supporting the Learner in Distance Education and eLearning, will be held at the Carl
von Ossietzky University in Oldenburg, Germany, March 4-6. Registration information
and program details are on the web at:
http://www.eden.bme.hu/contents/r-net/Oldenburg/oldenburg0.html

* SITE 2004 - The Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education
International Conference will be March 1-6 in Atlanta, GA at the Hyatt Regency
Atlanta on Peachtree St. See: http://www.aace.org/conf/site

* ED-MEDIA 2004 - The World Conference on Educational Multimedia,
Hypermedia and Telecommunications is scheduled for June 21-26, 2004 in Lugano,
Switzerland. For complete information and to register go to:
http://www.aace.org/conf/edmedia/call.htm

* SCI 2004 - On behalf of the SCI 2004 Organizing Committee, you are invited to
participate in the Eighth World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics, and
Informatics, which will be held in Orlando, FL July 18-21. Full information is at:
http://www.iiisci.org/Journal/SCI/Home.asp)

* CATE 2004 - This International Conference on Computers and Advanced
Technology in Education is set for August 16-18, Kauai, Hawaii. Submissions
deadline is Feb. 15, 2004. Registration Deadline is June 1, 2004 To submit a paper,
tutorial or special session or for registration information visit the website at: http://www.iasted.com/conferences/2004/hawaii/cate.htm
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NOVEMBER FOCUS ARTICLE - Internet Protocol (IP) Video by Jamie Poindexter,
Instructional Communications Systems, University of Wisconsin-Extension Operations
Manager
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ENDNOTE - MORE DATA, BUT NOT LESS PAPER - A study by the University
of California at Berkeley shows that during 2002, 5 billion gigabytes of data was
generated around the world. That amount, which is the equivalent of about 800
megabytes per person, is enough to fill 500,000 U.S. Libraries of Congress. The
university conducted a similar study in 1999, and the new results indicate a 30% rise
since the first study in the amount of stored information. The amount of data stored on
hard disk drives was up 114% from the earlier study. According to Peter Lyman, a
professor at UC Berkeley, those involved in the 1999 study expected that use of film
and paper would drop as users moved those media into electronic formats. Although
film-based photographs have dropped 9% since 1999, paper documents, including
books, journals, and others, have grown by as much as 43%. Lyman said that much
of the content is accessed on computers, but users print it out. Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=3713686 (Reuters, 29 Oct 03)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DESIEN ARCHIVE: An Archive has been created for past issues and interaction
comments. To access the archive go to: http://www.uwex.edu/disted/desien/
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development and collaboration, 3) technology, 4) policy, 5) funding, and 6) research.
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__________________________________________________
Creator/Editor: Rosemary Lehman, PhD
Instructional Communications Systems
University of Wisconsin-Extension
lehman@ics.uwex.edu
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University of Wisconsin System