Posted on May 11, 2001

A group of engineers are finding a way to help universities with large classes be a little more like, well, Union College.

A lecture hall with hundreds of students provides little opportunity for interaction between professor and student. That got five Union engineers thinking about how they might help others get the kind of small-class interaction that they enjoy.

They have adapted a wireless network technology known as Bluetooth to enable students to use their notebook computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs) to ask questions of a lecturer or teaching assistant. The network also would allow the presenter or assistant to answer questions or survey the audience.

Matt Abrams '01, computer systems engineering; Nelson Abramson 02, electrical engineering; Mahir Aydin '01, CSE; Eric Giang '03, EE; and Andrew Stone '02 CSE are to present their project – “Bluetooth-Enabled Wireless Presentation System” – in a poster session at the 11th annual Steinmetz Symposium on Saturday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the Nott Memorial. Their advisors are David Hemmendinger, John Spinelli and Cherrice Traver.

A tiny Bluetooth chip, soon to be available in a many personal computing devices, transmits a radio signal that can be received by another Bluetooth chip within 10 meters. A room full of Bluetooth chips provides a low-cost solution, with no network setup, anywhere a presentation is given.

The group developed the project over two terms as part of the IEEE Computer Society International Design Competition. Seventy-five teams from institutions around the world submitted proposals employing the Bluetooth chip. Later this month, IEEE will invite the top 10 to present their projects at the finals in Washington.

The hardest part of the project, say the students, was figuring out the best use for the technology. “The technology is so new and applicable to so many different problems, it was difficult choosing one specific application that is original, interesting, and something that we could accomplish in the given time frame,” says Abrams.

“Anytime you have a large room filled with students, people are reluctant to ask questions,” says Abrams. And, says Spinelli, students who wait until after class to ask a question may ask it anonymously during class.

Posted on May 11, 2001

1. The minutes of the April 23, 2001 AAC meeting were approved.
2. The committee commenced discussion of Civil Engineering with a brief discussion of the role of the AAC in this matter followed by Bob Balmer providing the committee with the background and timeline of events in order to inform the committee of some facts and clarify some of the issues.
3. Christie Sorum provided a brief discussion of the resource problems facing the College highlighting the areas of financial aid, facilities (in particular dormitories and science facilities) and our declining ability to attract faculty due to sabbatical policy and teaching load.
4. Discussion will continue next week focusing on curricular issues, allocation of tenure lines and further discussion of resources.

Posted on May 11, 2001

A total of 326 students – an all-time high – are to participate in the 11th annual Charles P. Steinmetz Symposium, a showcase of student scholarly and creative achievement, on Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12.

With classes canceled on May 11, concurrent sessions begin at 9:20 a.m. and run through 6 p.m.

Dance performances will take place during Session III (from 12:20 to 1 p.m., and 1:10 to 1:50 p.m.) in the Arts Building Dance Studio.

Student artwork will be exhibited throughout the weekend in the Arts Atrium of the Arts Building.

After Prize Day on Saturday morning, May 12, Steinmetz poster sessions will be in the Nott Memorial from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Presentations will be in Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts Building, Steinmetz, Science & Engineering, and the F. W. Olin Center.

The Choir and Orchestra will perform Friday, May 11, from 8 to 9:15 p.m. in Memorial Chapel. The Jazz Ensemble will perform on Saturday, May 12, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Dutch Hollow.

Posted on May 11, 2001

Through June 1.
Social Science Faculty Lounge Art Gallery.
“The Photographer's Eye: People, Culture and the Environment,” an exhibition of works by three members of Social Sciences division _ Shelton Schmidt (black and white portraits), George Gmelch (black and white portraits of Irish Travelers) and Deb Ludke (color works of nature and objects). Gallery hours are weekdays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call ext. 6072.

Through May 20.
Mandeville Gallery, Nott Memorial
“Saints, Sinners and Sacred Spaces: Devotional Folk Art in Latin America.” All artwork in the exhibition comes from the collection of curator Beate Echols and Michael Shub. Echols is a collector of Latin American folk art, and a private dealer. She is faculty member of the Folk Art Institute of the Museum of American Folk Art in New York City, where she teaches “Art from the Americas.” She has also taught this subject at the New York City Graduate Center and New York University. A number of related events accompany the show.

Posted on May 11, 2001

Events

Friday, May 11
Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts Building, Steinmetz, Science & Engineering, and the F. W. Olin Center
11^th annual Steinmetz Symposium.For details see the Web site: Steinmetz Web Site

Friday, May 11, through Monday, May 14, 8 and 10 p.m.
Reamer Auditorium
Film committee presents O' Brother, Where Art Thou.

Friday, May 11, 8 p.m.
Memorial Chapel
Concert by the Union College and Community Orchestra.

Friday, May 11, 9 p.m.
Old Chapel
Performance by Idol Minds improvisation group.

Saturday, May 12, 10 to 11 a.m.
Nott Memorial
Reception for families with President Roger Hull.

Saturday, May 12, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Memorial Chapel
Prize Day convocation.

Saturday, May 12, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Hale House
Prize Day reception.

Saturday, May 12, 8 p.m.
Nott Memorial
Acapella concert with The Word.

Tuesday, May 15, 11:30 a.m.
Reamer Auditorium
Faculty colloquium with Prof. John Spinelli on “Will the Internet Crash: The Reliability of Large Computer Networks.”

Tuesday, May 15, 6:30 p.m.
Nott Memorial
Workshop and performance by Bombazo Latino Youth Dance Group.

Learn some basic Latin folk dance steps and then view a performance by Bombazo Latino. This event is free and open to the public. Part of “Saints, Sinners and Sacred Spaces: Devotional Folk Art in Latin America.”

Wednesday, May 16, 6 to 8 p.m.
Nott Memorial
200^th birthday party for William Henry Seward.

Thursday, May 17, 6 p.m.
Hale House and Old Chapel
Ninth annual awards reception for Academic Opportunity Program and Higher Education Opportunity Program with contributions to benefit the AOP Scholarship Fund. For information and to RSVP, call ext. 6115.

Friday, May 18, through Monday, May 21, 8 and 10 p.m.
Reamer Auditorium
Film committee presents Traffic.