Originally published in Imprint (October 26, 2007, Volume 30, Issue 15)
“The timing is right … what better place to be than [Waterloo]?”
Pushing into unchartered waters is no easy task, though.
Despite the many challenges in the horizon, Sean Van Koughnett, director of UW Graphics, has high hopes for the project he has been charged with leading. The Media & Mobility Network Project (MMNP) is the University of Waterloo’s foray into the transformation of media and communications in the university environment, the first project of its kind in Canada.
In an age where Facebook, Google, cell phones and other digital technologies are as much a part of a student’s life as basic necessities, UW wants to push the envelope, as the cliché goes, and further connect our already digital lives. The multi-tiered project hopes to explore various technological enhancements to student life.
A pilot study is currently underway to test the feasibility of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) in residence. Currently, seven senior staff from ResNet — UW’s in-residence, student-powered answer to the Geek Squad — have Freewire TV, an IPTV software, activated in their rooms which enables them to view 11 channels on their computers.
Tools used: pen, paper, laptop, coffee
