By Siphamandla Mncube l ncube@pan.uzulu.ac.za

1. The Status and Challenges of Access by students and staff of Wireless Technologies at the one of the University in South Africa By SiphamandlaMncube lncube@pan.uzulu.ac.za

2. Introduction This presentation explores the status, challenges of access and use of Wireless Technologies at the one of the University in South Africa. Wireless technology is one the newest form of internet access in higher education. They have proven popular because one can connect without wired connectivity.

3. Objectives of the Study To briefly examine the status of wireless technology To determine which types if any wireless technology are in use at the one of the University in South Africa To determine the level of implementation and usage of wireless technology. To find out if students and staff make use of wireless technology at the one of the University in South Africa To find out about the benefits to student and staff about wireless technology.

4. Conceptual framework Wireless communication is the transfer of information over a distance without the use of enhanced electrical conductors or "wires". Wireless communication is generally considered to be a branch of telecommunications, (GTSLearning, 2005).

5. Types of Wireless used WI-FI Wi-Fi, which stands for wireless fidelity, in a play on the older term Hi-Fi, is a wireless networking technology used across the globe. Wi-Fi refers to any system that uses the 802.11 standard, which was developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and released in 1997 Wi-Fi works with no physical wired connection between sender and receiver by using radio frequency (RF) technology, a frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum associated with radio wave propagation.

6. Types cont.… WIMAX WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a telecommunications protocol that provides fixed and fully mobile internet access. The current WiMAX revision provides up to 40 Mbit/s with the IEEE 802.16m update expected offer up to 1 Gbit/s fixed speeds.

7. Methodology The study targeted all registered students and staff members in the University. Twenty five students and twenty five staff members were selected randomly from four different faculties. A survey to gather data in a real-life setting was used in the study. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The study used questionnaires, 50 questionnaires were distributed, 25(2.1% of 2010 enrolment) and handed to students and other 25 (6.6% staff in 2010) were handed to staff members of the University in order to collect information. This quantitative methodology was chosen in the light of the purpose of the study, the kind of information that was required and the available resources.

8. Data processing After all the questionnaires had been received, the important task was then to reduce the mass of data obtained to a format suitable for analysis. The respondents’ responses were coded. Frequency distribution was used.

9. The awareness of wireless technology at the University. The study reviled that students are most aware than staff. Statistics shows that 40% both students and staff are not aware about wireless technologies.

10. Access points of wireless Library Computer laboratories Main Campus hall In some students residence

11. The advantages of using wireless technologies Both student and staff responded by the following answers: Wireless Internet provides super fast broadband speed. Wireless Internet is more affordable and more reliable than satellite broadband , since satellite signals typically have to travel tens of thousands of miles, Wireless Internet is also incredibly responsive, when you call up web pages, download emails, and engage in teleconferencing or video conferencing over the net, your wireless Internet system will yield ultra fast transmission, Weather, radio frequencies, and traffic congestion can all impede wireless Internet flow, The wireless Internet broadband service offers rural Web surfers a way to tap into high speed telecommunications without laying down fiber,

12. Cont... wireless Internet is a wonderful way to optimize your surfing time, mobility, no cable require to connect in order to connect to the internet, you do not have to be in the computer labs all the time, You can access lectures online.

13. Wirelesstechnologies knowledge

14. For what purposes do students and staff communicate with wireless technology to connect to the internet for accessing information from online databases, to search for information on the internet for study purposes such as completing assignments, for research and socialization in websites such as facebook, twitter, badoo and skpe. freedom of accessing internet where ever you are within the University for searching and retrieval of information, for teaching and learning (e-learning) purposes, for personal research.

15. Support concerning wireless technology. The 5% of students responded by yes about getting support base on wireless technology, here are their following responses: Request the ICT department for any help base on connecting Free access of internet The 65% of students responded by “no”, most of them emphasized that the University do not give any support about wireless technology. What they know they find in their way out. No printed documentation provided by the University concerning wireless technology. The 1.3% of staff responded by ‘yes’ the responded staff member are working for ICT department, their provided with the following answers: benefit from using internet at no cost but university expenses. The 98.7% staff members responded by “no”.

16. Conclusions and Recommendations The University should provide with information literacy to all students so that they do not find any difficulties in using wireless technologies (internet). By doing the pass rate will increase because they will be having most skill of searching and find information where ever they are. Also staff members must be provided with enough skills in computer literacy so that will be more efficiency and productive.

17. Cont.…. The availability of information sources should accessible to all students and staff. The wireless performance should be increase. ICT department should provide support in both students and staff about wireless technology.

18. Input please