This was the headline frorm "Technician's" report on Web Accessibility.
When laptop computers hit the market, people jumped at the opportunity to take their work with them everywhere. Laptops were supposed to make the computer-user's life easier, because they would not have to e-mail files to work on them at another location or save files to return to them later. Remaining consistent with American trends, if it is smaller, it must be better, which must make it the most efficient.
So naturally, universities were quick to join the bandwagon called "The Leaders of Technological Breakthroughs." Larger universities tend to be the pioneers of those breakthroughs anyway. Schools like UNC-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech require students to have their own laptops.
But just because students have laptops does not mean universities are sensitive to accessibility demands on campus.
Laptops have benefits, but better possibilities exist.
A new concept called Virtual Computing Labs could revolutionize the computing network at N.C. State. The ability to access and use programs and software from one source without downloading it onto personal computers could make learning a lot easier for students.
Now, if a student does not have their own personal computer, they have to go to the computer lab directly related to their major.
That can be inconvenient. A student double majoring in humanities and engineering cannot even access the programs he or she needs from the same workstation.
Allowing students to remotely access a central network of software programs would cater to those who have desktop computers, laptops or no computer at all. This system would be especially efficient if VCL was encompassed with a campus-wide wireless Internet.
A number of questions arise from this new system. How many students could access one program at one time? What happens if one source shuts down? What would happen to the existing computer labs?
Well, anything new comes with obstacles -- the University could simply have a VCL for each college and each college would have a backup in case something went wrong.
As for the existing labs -- they do not all need to go, but the available space sure wouldn't hurt.
To determine how accessible your website is, please contact us. For further details on making your website accessible, visit the Disability Rights Commission or read our report on 8 benefits of Accessible web sites.
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