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  • City University of Hong Kong Implements Hong Kong's First Mobile Interactive Learning Systems With Bluetooth-enabled Palm® Handhelds.

    Palm Solution Facilitates Secure, Mobile Communications at Telford Annex.

    The College of Higher Vocational Studies, City University of Hong Kong (hereafter known as City University), has launched Hong Kong's first wireless LAN and Bluetooth™ enabled Palm® handheld mobile interactive learning system. This system was introduced at the Telford Annex campus in October 2002.

    This project is a joint effort between Palm Hong Kong Limited, Object Valley (Asia Pacific) Limited, and the College of Higher Vocational Studies, which aims to create a closely integrated learning community, City University is expected to improve the quality of teaching and the effectiveness of learning when this mobile, paper-less learning environment is implemented in Hong Kong.

    Under this programme, City University provided every Associate Degree student with a PalmTM m125 handheld. The system allows students to gain access to all their teaching materials, be equipped with a time management tool, communicate with peers and teachers and also lets them receive regular campus and programme announcements.

  • "With the Palm handheld solution, students can learn much more effectively, and for the very first time in a highly mobile environment. The communication network instantly improves communication..."

    Professor Richard Ho
    Provisional Provost
    City University of Hong Kong

    The Challenge
    The challenges of pioneering this wireless interactive learning system are as follows:

    1) Infrastructure
    This is the first wireless LAN and Bluetooth-enabled infrastructure project developed for a University environment in Hong Kong. This is an extremely good case study of what wireless LAN and Bluetooth is capable of achieving if it is planned designed, implemented and executed correctly.

    2) Paper-oriented Learning Environment
    Students are used to a paper-oriented learning environment. In the past, they can only obtain campus and programme information in printed documents. All collaterals were delivered by mail, distributed in classrooms, picked up at the campus, or posted on notice boards. It was important for schools to improve this time-consuming process and have access to all the information via their Palm handhelds.

    The Solution
    With the installation of the software, students with Palm m125 handhelds are able to surf the Internet and communicate with their classmates conveniently. The Palm m125 handheld, which is easy-to-use and durable, was found to be an ideal learning tool for students. With the Secure Digital/Multi-MediaCard expansion slot, students can extend their handhelds with customised applications such as loading their favourite images/icons and a large variety of games.

    Object Valley, a Hong Kong-based technology provider, developed the MobileGate application that is used at the campus. This application consists of a wireless LAN and Bluetooth digital education framework and offers a common, interactive and cost effective platform for communication.

    The MobileGate server application runs on Linux servers, alongside MySQL, a handheld version of MobileGate. By using the wireless cradles installed at the campus, University staff and students can synchronise data via 802.11b access points. These are connected to the campus LAN and directed to the Mobile Gate solution server. Alternatively, by inserting a Bluetooth card, data can be synchronised at various Bluetooth access points within the campus grounds.

    A large variety of customised programmes, such as the Penpower Chinese Overlay, LAN/PAN supported applications like Bookwormie e-book reader, MobileGate 2000 and education editions of Enterprise date book and address book can be installed.

    In developing this project, the college wanted to improve its existing network with a wiresless LAN infrastructure and yet take advantage of all the open standards available in the market. Lawrence Ma, Lecturer and Project Leader, Division of Commerce, City University of Hong Kong, said, "Initially, we installed a one-stop kiosk with six Xircom wireless cradles for staff and students to synchronise data from the server through wireless LAN access points. The Palm Bluetooth enabled solution complements the infrastructure and provides a wireless access solution for our students that can be easily deployed. This is a huge leap for us and we are keen to develop a technology-driven environment for our students."

    The Outcome
    Approximately 800 Associate Degree students are using Palm handhelds as learning tools at the Telford Annex campus. Students can manage a number of activities from their handhelds including these:

    • Synchronise up-to-date information related to their programme of study, extra-curricular activities and access academic news as well as obtain campus announcements and daily news on their Palm handhelds;
    • Obtain programme details, course outlines and schedules by synchronising data on their handhelds without carrying around a stack of paper;
    • Take lecture notes and compile simple assignments and testing papers on their handheld devices.

    "With the Palm handheld solution, students can learn much more effectively, and for the very first time in a highly mobile environment. The communication network instantly improves communication between college instructors, students and even amongst all the students themselves," said Professor Richard Ho, Provisional Provost, City University of Hong Kong.

    "We are excited about this system. It has been created to facilitate communications and improve internal University processes. The MobileGate communication platform, complete with user verification capabilities, allows us to deliver City University's education programmes to students with peace of mind," said Alex Kwok, chief executive officer, Object Valley (Asia Pacific) Limited.

    About City University of Hong Kong
    City University is one of seven Hong Kong universities funded by the government of the Hong Kong SAR of the People's Republic of China. The institution was established in 1984, and has been growing at a remarkable pace. The University now has some 18,000 full-time and part-time students, and offers over 100 programs leading to City University awards from three Faculties, two Schools and a College.

    All Bachelor's Degree and Postgraduate programmes are organised in the Faculties and Schools, namely, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Creative Media, and School of Law.

    The College of Higher Vocational Studies is the largest academic unit in the University, representing about 35% of the University's total student population. Through its five Divisions, the College offers a wide range of practical and professionally oriented Associate Degree programs in the areas of Building Science and Technology, Commerce, Computer Studies, Language Studies, and Social Studies, to meet the needs of students, their future employers, and the Hong Kong community. To cope with the growing demand, the College has opened a new campus at Telford Gardens, Kowloon Bay, in September 2002. The campus is well furnished with modern teaching facilities, and wireless network that supports computer and handheld device.

    More information is available at http://www.cityu.edu.hk/col/

    About Object Valley (Asia Pacific) Limited
    Founded in 1999, Object Valley (AP) Ltd., Palm Enterprise Alliance Partner and IBM Business Partner, is a world-class provider of Wireless and Bluetooth Integrated software technology for the international market with an industry focus on enterprise solutions and business know-how together with a software product including professional services. It has professional services and research staff to support enterprise clients including hardware manufacturers and commercial clients. Its product line is distributed in Asia Pacific, USA and Europe.

    Mobile Gate 2002 is the first of its kind technology to support businesses in developing, promoting and deploying mobile content on Wireless LAN and PAN devices including handhelds and phones. It has been successfully deployed at City University within its Telford campus to provide an information and knowledge base management and sharing platform using PDAs with Palm OS as the communication device. Mobile Gate allows students to get information such as timetables, events, news, lecture notes, and even interactive application transactions, from the college servers. With the Mobile Gate Web Services kits, students and lecturers can exchange data on a common communication platform across multiple devices.

    More information is available at http://www.objectvalley.com