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| 11-14-2003 | Previous edition: 11-13-2003 |
        
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Printer-friendly version Interest in wireless system increasesBy Crissanka ChristadossStaff Writer The new wireless system developed by Purdue students and faculty, e-Stadium, has seen an increase in use since it first appeared at home football games. Julie Kercher-Updike, project coordinator for e-Stadium, said there has been really good feedback at all the games in which e-Stadium has been distributed. At previous games, Kercher-Updike said they would have to go to people prior to kick-off and solicit e-Stadium. She said it would take about an hour to get most of the Personal Digital Assistants distributed. However, at this past Saturday's game, so many people wanted to use e-Stadium that there was a waiting list. All the available PDA's were distributed within half an hour. Developed by students and faculty at the Center for Wireless Systems and Applications at Purdue, e-Stadium is a prototype built for interactive wireless entertainment. Features include real-time game statistics, biographies, weather, other game scores and trivia. The athletics department and Information Technology at Purdue have contributed to the production and distribution of e-Stadium. There were 30 to 40 Purdue students who used these PDA's, but it's difficult to say how many people actually took advantage, as anyone with their own digital assistant had access to the program. Ten devices were distributed to parents of the Indianapolis Public School students involved in Purdue's Science Bound program. The Science Bound students and their parents were excited about the overall opportunity to get involved with Purdue technology, said Wesley Campbell, director of the Science Bound program. However, Campbell found that avid football fans were more enthusiastic about the technology. Rick Kosdrosky, an employee from Lockheed Martin, one of the companies that funded research for the Center for Wireless Systems and Applications, attended the Iowa game with his son. Kosdrosky said that e-Stadium definitely enhanced the game experience for both him and his son, and that the advanced technology influenced his son's choice to attend Purdue. Ned Howell, managing director at the e-Enterprise Center at Discovery Park, also attended the game with his family. Howell and his family "especially enjoyed playing the trivia games and got some of the other people around us involved." Due to the success and popularity of e-Stadium this football season, Kercher-Updike said, "We are reviewing the distribution model (for e-Stadium) for next year. We expect to have a lot more devices available by the next (home) game." Printer-friendly version |
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