Leverett House Goes Wireless

Leverett House residents can now e-mail and surf the net from any common area of the house on their laptops.

The improvement to Internet connectivity came when Harvard Arts and Sciences Computer Services (HASCS) installed wireless Ethernet in the House over the summer.

HASCS has touted the convenience of wireless Ethernet and plans to install the technology in all 12 Houses by the end of the academic year, according to Coordinator of Residential Computing Kevin S. Davis ’98, who is also a Crimson editor.

Davis said that the drive for wireless Ethernet came from students, who indicated an interest in the service on computer surveys administered by HASCS.

“Going wireless is one of our highest priorities,” said Davis.

He said that there are plans underway to install the wireless system in 10 of the 12 houses.

But access to this service requires a wireless Ethernet card, which can cost nearly $100, built-in wireless technology or a 802.11b-compatible laptop.

Leverett resident Adrian Foo ’04 said he will use the new wireless Ethernet because his laptop came equipped with wireless capabilities.

But other students hesitate to make the investment just to be able to use the Internet in the courtyard or dining hall.

“Buying a wireless card is not really worth it,” said Leverett resident Donald W. Van Valkenburgh ’03.

“I just don’t take my laptop around that much,” he said.

“[Wireless Ethernet] will be pointless if no one buys a card,” said Blaise P. Huguenin ’03, also of Leverett House. Huguenin owns a laptop but does not plan to purchase a wireless card.

In addition to outfitting Leverett House, HASCS also remodelled computer labs in the Science Center and added more computers in Loker Commons over the summer.

The newly completed terminal room in the Science Center sports 95 computers complete with flat-screened monitors—20 more machines than last year.

The upgrade came in response to student demand, Davis said.

“We have a large number of students using the Science Center computer labs, to check e-mail of course, and also students who have a lot of socializing in their dorm rooms can find a better work environment in the labs,” Davis said.