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Mobile IT Education?
SickKiwi asks: "A
client, a local polytechnic, has recently asked me to come up with
plans for a mobile IT bus to bring technology to rural areas. I
would love to find out what other people in the field have come up
with in the way of workstation layout, OS choices and Internet
connectivity. There doesn't appear to be a huge amount of material
available but as the technology gets smaller, mobile classrooms
become more and more practical." What vehicles would work best
for this kind of application? A converted bus? A mobile home? An
18-wheeler with a heavily customized trailer? What kind of hardware
would you put in it?
We need a little more info on this. How big is their budget? How far does the vehicle need to go? What type of terrain? I ask the last one because I worked for the school system in Nashville for awhile, there are some really remote communities there. As far as OS goes, I would show just about all that you can, I would even include *shudder* MS products...if you can give some more info, I think I can add some to your conversation. ;-)
Sent from your iPad.
Do you like information? Do you like technology? Do you like things that are mobile? Do you enjoy buses? If so, then you will love the mobile IT bus.
I think what we also need to consider is whether or not this bus will be driven by DeVry graduates. They are serious about success, but are they serious about keeping their eyes on the road? I don't really fucking think so.
I'd want those in rural areas to come to urban areas for schooling. Mobile classes will necessarily need to become permanent classrooms in those areas that you want to teach. IT isn't something that is static, like your mom's computer. It is always changing, and unless the IT manager has a firm grasp of the fundamentals, they will be lost without further instruction.
Have the ambitious ones come to the city to learn and take their newfound knowledge back with them.
Unless this is simply a scam you are running.
OS Choices
:-P
Well, if that isn't a loaded question...
Of course 99% of the community will say Linux, but I'll be the guy modded down that says go with Win2K. Don't do anything too hairy with the Win2K boxes (to get it so you don't need to worry about crashes), but MS makes good GUI's. Its easier to understand point-and-click with people that don't know how to use a mouse, than command line execution in a shell window.
Sure, you can spend mucho time getting SuSE (or GNOME) to have nothing but point and click, but I ask one question:
What do you have more of (or, more freedom of)?:
Time to setup the systems, or
Money to buy the systems?
Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
Modified school bus with every other row removed, a server near the front running dumb linux terminals (for heat, space, costs issues) running star office (most places use msoffice but star is very close in interface) with gecko for browsing (keeping it lite). if available run packet radio or if not i would have to say cell for internet uplinks...
all said and done that would make an interesting project.... want help?
#include sig.h
I don't know if I'd try to trick out a bus or anything. Maybe just design a network, then put enough PCs in it (carefully placed with all the cords and peripherals attached and ready to go) so it can be removed, hooked up in a few minutes with help from the local citizenry. I'm sure most communities would allow you the use of a local building.
A pinto filled with laptops should do. :)
It's been a long time.
The mobile tech demos I've seen have all been in heavily modified 18-wheelers. But they've all been by big companies and I'm sure the cost is exteremely high. I certainly can't speak for how to equip it, but I would think a stripped bus would be the most economical way to go. It's easy to find a used charter or public transportation bus and rip out the passenger seats.
On the flip side, it's much easier to configure the power sources you'll need with an 18-wheeler, especially since many are already built for electric power.
Developers: We can use your help.
Sweeet!!!
The first thing that came to mind was the Knight Rider truck with the tricked out combo data center and auto maintenance bay.
Ummm, Jon, aren't you supposed to be dead...? - Otter(3800)
Works for them!
I see this as a good opportunity to put some i-Macs to good use. They take up so little space; perfect for a bus or whatever.
Also, OS X is perfect for little kids that haven't yet gotten into the bad habit of using MS Windows.
A school bus would be a huge mistake.
Put it in a trailer that can be pulled by a large rig. This will give you much more space and better heating/cooling options.
A school bus is made to commute students, not sit around w/them working in it. Your eqipment would kill most of your available space. (Not just computers- but power, a.c., all that good stuff)
Not to mention- what do you do when the bus breaks down? Let it sit until you can drop a new engine or tranny in it?
Much better to hitch the trailer to a new truck and keep rolling.
These are just a few of what to seem to be the more obvious reasons why a bus would be a poor choice.
.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
A Microbus is cheap ($1000). Easy to maintain. Has kitsch value. Tack on a generator for power and you're set. Low complexity == maintainability.
:)
Plus there are many available configurations to choose from in addition to the widespread user community which can advise you on any customizations.
Of course, you would need to keep it in a garage for security, but that would be true no matter what vehicle you put a signifigant amount of tech stuff into.
a mobile education unit, eh? how about a mobile teach with a laptop? what more do ya need? what real need is there for internet connectivity in a classroom environment? i know if my classrooms had more than a teacher's computer for sleep demanding powerpoint presentations i surely would have shaved a few grade points off my gpa. if every student has a laptop and it's connected .. during class ..
btw - the gateway folks or whoever came to one of the city festivals downtown with their bus last year to show off their kewl computers. i don't know how it went for them, but when i go out side, downtown, i really would like to NOT see a computer.
When I was in the Marine Corps, we gutted an old mainframe trailer (approx 40' semi trailer), and built areas for workstations. Primary use was for data processing related to scoring and timing the Marine Corps Marathon, but we also used it at Ft. AP Hill to teach Computer Merit Badge to the Boy Scouts. Forgeting the OS and workstation/server configurations, you need to make sure that you have AC (as well as heat). We used satellite for internet access at AP Hill, but we'd use ISDN or DSL at the race site in DC (more reliable then the satellite). Oh, and remember you'd also need a generator. If you want more specifics email me @ marshall dot lewis at starband dot net. I can also get you in touch with the guy that took it over after I got out of the corps, I know he did a lot or work with it.
I did something similar when I was at Washingtonpost.com. They wanted to simplify their show setups, so we came up with the idea for a "roaming cybercafe". It was very much a prototype, but I the tech was sound.
Our vehicle was a stretch Lincoln Navigator. It won't work for what you want, but it was good for us. It was a Navigator SUV, cut and stretched 10 feet. Each side had a 10 foot "gull wing" door at the top which swung up on actuators. Underneath each door was a actuator-mounted table with 3 systems on it. In the back of the thing was the generator, and there were 2 seats up front (driver and passenger) with the bulk of the backend gear mounted in a small rack between and just behind the seats. If I did it again with more money, I would have used flat panels because they are lighter and wouldn't have needed the motorized tables.
First, the internet connection. We used a 2-way satellite dish mounted on the top of the vehicle. The dish we purchased was specifically designed for ease-of-use mobile mounts. It had its own compass and GPS unit, and a motorized turntable. Inside the vehicle, we had the equipment for it mounted. All the driver had to do was select the deploy options from the menu on the device, and it would deploy the dish, track it to the correct rough position, then use the satellite signal to finetune the positioning. A unit like this was very important for making setup go smoothly.
Second, our "backend" servers. Since we were using satellite, we decided to set up a proxy server on the vehicle to try and make the satellite lags a little better. This worked very well for us, since all of the people surfing were supposed to be on the same website. But I think it would be a good idea regardless. You can also run a local website on this box (maybe a portal-type page for your homepage). And this is a good place for a DHCP server.
Third, the workstations themselves. We used NT Workstation installs, for at least marginal security. Used policies to lock down the systems a little bit and make sure that people couldn't cause too much damage. It helped us that we only had 6 computers, and usually 3 or 4 people on staff to watch them.
The miscellaneous is all fairly important as well. We used a 12kw gasoline generator which was mounted in the back of the vehicle and drew off the same tank as the engine (which was expanded). I think we had it set up so that we could get 8 hours of 75% load. We also had a connection so that we could connect to a power source at the setup site. This required a decent power management system, but it worked just fine. We did have problems with the exhaust from the generator (because it was so close to the workstations) and ended up having to do some custom work to vent it out the top of the vehicle. But surprisingly enough, the sound wasn't that bad when it was running.
We also had a sound system installed, so that we could do presentations/classes. Just microphone hookups in the front, a rack-mount DJ quality CD player, small amp, and a few speakers around the thing. I think it's not a bad idea for any application, because there's always going to be a use, even if it's just background noise.
All told, I designed the system so that it could be setup by any marketing droid that took it out. Flip a few switches to power gear up, deploy the satellite, power up the workstations, and that's it. And for the few times I saw it in operation before I moved out of the area, it worked nicely. There were a few bugs, but like I said, it was a prototype.
Things I would have done differently this time? First, flat panels. They take up less space. This may or may not work for you, depending on the vehicle you use and how many workstations you want to get in there (and your budget). Second, for your application I might also set up a wireless network. It wouldn't cost that much to add, and while your customers probably don't have laptops with wireless NICs, it would give you a little flexibility for use, as well as letting you roam around with a troubleshooting laptop, if need be.
Hope that helps a little. If you have any questions about what we did, post a followup to this.
-Todd
"The details of my life are quite inconsequential..."
I see you're also in NZ...
If your client isn't the Waikato Polytech, ring them and ask them. They had a bus a couple years back that had 10-20 computers in it from memory, arranged around the walls. I'm not sure about its power supply, but I think an extension cord from the roof of the bus (perhaps 3-phase)? did the job.
Have the ambitious ones come to the city to learn and take their newfound knowledge back with them.
You expect them to go back? I'm reminded of a former resident's characterization of a town in backwoods Ontario: "It's reverse natural selection. The smart and ambitious ones move to the big city, the rest stay here and breed."
Toronto-area transit rider? Rate your ride.
Your limitations will be primarily floor space, power and connectivity. These will drive layout to a very large degree. You will have problems with heat in a confined space as well. Arrangement will largely be dictated by the width of the chosen vehicle.
Since your audience can be assumed to be newbies, and since your function appears to be non-platform-specific (web access, etc), the OS should be chosen for stability and remote administration capabilities. The hardware should be chosen for space and power features.
I would suggest either running MacOS X on new iMacs (for space/power/remote admin/stability) or running Linux/GNOME or Linux/KDE on ldaptops, with external keyboards, mice and flat panel screens (for the same reasons, though the admin skill level will need to be higher, and it's more difficult to reload the OS/reconfigure the system if needed).
Also, in either case, you should be able to get some assistance from vendors in making this work.
For power, you can use readily-available generators that can be packed into tight spaces. For connectivity, you will probably need a microwave tower (if you can get line of site) or a bidirectional encrypted radio or satellite link. You might talk to the local telecom companies, or the local TV stations - they both have to solve this problem.
-jeff
-- Two men say they're Jesus. One of them must be wrong. - Dire Straits
Since it's for a "local polytechnic," I wouldn't think their budget allows for many high-end options. And I'd also think that most of these mobile connectivity solutions are geared for big business, and if so you'd expect them to cost a fortune. Maybe there's some way to rent or lease that kind of connectivity equipment? Or even better, if it's for educational purposes (granted the polytechnic's probably not a public school), maybe the telephone or cable companies would offer discounts.
Looks like this guy's going to be making a LOT of phone calls.
Developers: We can use your help.
A very good suggestion, but I raise two points. First, Mac hardware is expensive versus PC clones, and it's a lot harder to find places willing to donate Macs to the cause than old PCs. Second, you have to have some (not tons, but not zero) Mac savvy to keep your network happy, and if SickKiwi doesn't have the expertise he'll have to learn it or hire it.
Still, despite these pitfalls it's worth some consideration.
Virg
Obviously the easiest thing to do is to have an SUV with Starband and a proxy server in it with an 802.11 access point parked next to a tent with some tables and chairs and a bunch of laptops. Now, I'm assuming you do want to use this in inclement weather too. Then...
Use the largest van (trailer) you can legally drive around with (53' I think) and build in a slide out section on one side. If you figure the front five feet go to HVAC, servers, a generator (sound insulated, 5 kW may be more than enough, two 5 kW if you want to be sure and have a backup) and storage and use 4' per workstation you should be able to fit a total of 24 workstations in. I would seriously recommend using laptops with 802.11, again Starband and a proxy. During transport and parking of the van these can be stored in a secured location. You want to be careful you don't have too much trouble with vibration damage too, not much of a problem if you've got a suspension system in the vehicle or trailer.
Keep in mind you'll need an exit at both ends, you don't want to be the guy responsible for a bunch of kids getting incinerated.
Be careful with the lighting too. Think about a nice warm environment, the kind you'd like to work in.
I haven't done exactly what the original poster is asking for, but I have done a lot of trade shows and various demos.
You do not want a CRT in a mobile van. Ever. You do not want to pack them all up before you move ten feet because the guy who told you where you could park didn't have that authority. You do not want to deal with the even trivial cases of the socket getting flaky with the CRT, let alone with the cases where something will break in spite of your best efforts. No matter what you do, you will eventually have to deal with union guys and, unless you watch them like a hawk, there will be cases where the CRT's are packed improperly. You do not want to have a bunch of CRT's running in summer. Ever.
For the same reason and for the walking-away problem, you do not want to have laptops or separate LCD screens, because some union guy is going to think it's a great idea to stack them up to save space.
You could conceivably build everything into a set of consoles so that they didn't have to be stored. Then when they broke, which they would because nobody ever puts in enough shock protection, you could have dead machines sitting there until you got around to crawling behind and fixing them, which you will be a lot less likely to do than you think now.
Something like the new iMac would be good. Fairly durable, light, and bottom-heavy, but most important, you can put it in a box. Most of the volume will be air, and the screen will not be flat on a box side, so it's inherently resistant to packing problems.
a mobile IT bus to bring technology to rural areas
Is this like introducing fire to early humans? Or is it like selling freezers to Eskimos? Are those living in rural areas really going to benefit from this?
I think we can all agree that broadband connections in many urban areas are either severely lacking or extremely expensive... so why would they be any cheaper in rural areas? Sure, there could be a community effort to bring broadband to all, but I'm guessing this bus is not going to be visiting those communities anyways. Local telcos are forced to sell rural telephone lines below cost (offset by higher prices in urban areas); however, broadband does not fall under this regulation.
So one day, suddenly the mobile-tech bus drives up and stops next to Billy Bob's house. Billy Bob doesn't know anything about computers and probably is not going to understand the possibilities of them. But if Billy Bob has children, they may be very much interested in the mobile-tech bus and the goodies inside. But how does the mobile-tech bus really do anything for the rural inhabitants? It's like parading around in a Ferrari and saying, "Gee, isn't this cool? You could have this, but you can't afford it... sorry."
So now you've managed to generate some interest in computers and broadband in rural areas, but they still won't be able to make use of it.
I'd like to offer you a solution to the problem, but I cannot. I would recommend that you build your mobile-tech bus while at the same time working with local ISPs or government to promote broadband, etc so hopefully when the bus shows up, you're not trying to sell freezers to Eskimos -- instead, you have a plan for dispersing the technology to those who you're hoping will benefit from it.
Buy a small van/SUV. Buy laptops with 802.11. Get an access point, and a server.
When you go tech, find a local church, school, or other hall with folding tables. Slap down the laptops, turn on the AP, and you're good to go.
It's very simple. It's durable, laptops are made to be moved around. You can increase or decrease the number of clients with ease, just add or remove laptops. You can probably also carry enough for 50-100 people, if you needed to do that. Also, laptops with batteries won't die if you accidently blow a breaker somewhere.
It's not fancy, but it would be easy and cheap.
"When do I click once, and when do I double click?"
There's an easy way to answer that question.
Open Windows Explorer and go to Tools -> Folder Options. At the bottom of the dialog box, there is a "Click items as follows" selection box. Select the bottom radio button, and everything on your desktop acts like the Web -- single click to execute; mouseover to select.
That's not to say that Windows doesn't have its share of usability issues. However, this one is no longer one of them.
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Some of your decisions will be pretty obvious - basic flat-screens have come down in price enough that you're far better off using them than CRTs, because you're trading off the cost of the equipment vs. the cost of a bigger bus and more electricity. But if you're trying to show things to a larger group of people, you'll have to find something that fits your budget but still works, though that may be "display the same slides on N screens at once." And of course you'll want a couple of CD-R-burners for giving away software, as well as stacks of blank CDs and floppies.
Will you be showing off how to build hardware? Letting people know what the basic guts of a PC are like is valuable, so you'll probably want some basic PCs, card tables, and screwdrivers for people to play with, and spare parts to make up for the ones you'll lose or break. But if you're also doing telemetry, you'll need whatever flavors of hardware that uses, whether it's simple RS-232 stuff like X-10 or fancier data bus things, and you'll need a few sample things to telemeter.
Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
What you are looking for is this
If you find it, steal it, dump the boat and the BMW for some cash and add a Beowulf cluster.
+++ath0
A few years back I worked for a program that was designed to teach principals and superintendants of public schools how to use technology. The idea was that by teaching the top of the education food chain, we could convince them of the value of educational technology. Interesting project, and one I really enjoyed working with. I won't mention what operating system we taught or who sponsered the event in order to protect the innocent. ;o)
To answer the posted question, we actually roamed all around the state setting up mobile, networked labs at all the major universities, holding multiple sessions of four days for a few weeks at each location, and then tearing it all down to head to the next site. All of the sites were VERY different--we had to get creative when wiring networks and power setups.
As for how we traveled, we used a large Chevy van for all of our equipment. We had a couple of printers, a scanner, digital cameras, 80 toshiba laptops per site, a ton of hubs, power cords, a large spool of cat5 for wiring the rooms, and assorted other details. It took about 2 days to set up at each location, depending on how the layout of the rooms whatever university we were at had [grudgingly] bestowed upon us. We also patched into local drops at each site. This got real interesting when working with the campus sysadmins in each area.
At any rate, we had a good time and from the responses we got the program was a complete sucess. I wish you luck in your own venture!
-s
- - - - - - - -
Don't worry, being eaten by a crocodile is just like going to sleep in a giant blender.
Take a wander around a fairground, circus, sideshow alley at a Royal Agricultural Show, whatever. Take a look at what they are doing for design, because to an extent they are solving the same problem as you.
One approach would be to get a large trailer, just small enough that it can be towed on a conventional vehicle like a ute or something, and set it up with a fold-down side or sides. This radically increases your available floor space. Set up your PCs on desks such that in travel mode, all the desks can simply be dragged into the centre of the trailer, and the side(s) folded up. In classroom mode, you just fold down the side(s) and drag out the desks. In travel mode, if all the desks fit snugly and the monitors and PCs are bolted to the desks, there wouldn't be an issue with gear moving around in transit.
The trailer wouldn't be open to the weather; you could set up some simple canvas tenting arrangement to cover over your folded down side, creating the necessary three walls and roof. Temperature management would obviously be an issue; so you'd want some fairly gutsy reverse-cycle airconditioning.
On a separate subject, when contemplating glass monitors vs. LCD monitors, think about the cost difference per monitor, and the cost per square metre of floor space in your chosen vehicle. A glass monitor takes maybe a quarter of a square metre of space, versus an LCD monitor taking negligible space. If an LCD monitor costs, say, NZ$300 more than a glass monitor, is it worth spending that, or would it be better to simply spend NZ$300 more on the vehicle, to get one that's a teeny bit bigger? Plus, the glass monitor has the advantage of being less theftable.
Don't think fixed, think mobile. Apple sells iBooks in 5-packs at reduced rates to education. Fit them out with Airport cards, put the basestations and uplink or whatever in the van, and have people sit on lawnchairs and use the computers in the open air, or community hall or whatever.
(To the Moderator: Yes, this post was designed to be modded as "Funny" or "Redundant" Go right ahead and do that, but if you label it as "Insightful", you need to up your medication dosage. OK? Fine. :-)
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