By Megan Jicha

The human race is moving rapidly into the age of wireless technology, with mobile phones, Blackberrys and ever-shrinking laptop computers. One key element of this techno-revolution is wireless Internet, which is offered in some Northeastern locations. As other cities and campuses nationwide move toward complete wireless coverage, students are divided as to whether Northeastern is providing enough.

Northeastern’s on-campus wireless signal, NUwave, provides a strong wireless signal in the InfoCommons, Snell Library, Marino Recreation Center Food Court, the Cybercafes on campus and a number of areas in the Curry Student Center.

Last October, 5,500 people utilized the service, said Bob Weir, vice president for information services. The next month, 6,000 used it. Weir said these statistics show usage of NUwave has doubled since last school year. However, more students still use the university’s wired Internet, ResNet, with 30,000 plug-ins available throughout campus.

Northeastern is currently trying to finish setting up wireless connection in some areas of its residence halls, including lounges and laundry rooms, but not residence hall rooms and living rooms, Weir said. The university is also updating its wireless connection protocol to one that is quicker and more secure, he said.

Northeastern’s campus is moderately wireless compared to other universities, such as Boston College, Syracuse University and Boston University. Each of these colleges uses the same speed connection as Northeastern and mainly have a strong connection in common areas, libraries, selective academic rooms and research centers.

Drexel University, on the other hand, which was ranked 15th on Intel’s 2005 “Most Unwired College Campuses” survey, allows their wireless signal to be picked up by cell phones, Blackberrys and pocket PC’s, and has more areas for students and faculty to receive stronger signals than other schools within Northeastern’s territory.

The idea of total wireless coverage has taken off in some areas, like the city of Philadelphia, which is working toward citywide signal, according to the Associated Press and other media outlets. However, Weir said he does not think becoming completely wireless is the most sensible thing for Northeastern’s 60-acre campus.

“Wireless isn’t really great for speed or security,” Weir said. “It’s great to have wireless in areas where there is no wired connection, but if you can plug in, plug in.”

Cost is also keeping the university from going completely wireless. “We wouldn’t make a huge investment in such a young technology that hasn’t yet stabilized. It wouldn’t be a good use of tuition dollars,” Weir said.

Students have mixed feelings on whether it would be good for the campus to go completely wireless.

“Since I usually use wired service, I don’t really have a need for wireless,” said freshman english major Gabriela Swider. “I wouldn’t want to pay extra [tuition money] for something I wouldn’t need.”

Rui Loura disagreed. The senior computer and electrical engineering major said the cost would likely be a one-time investment, and wouldn’t be a noticeable tuition burden.

“Most major U.S. college campuses are completely wireless,” he said. “There mostly shouldn’t be any need for a tuition increase because it would be a one-time cost for the university. The maintenance fees would be negligible.”

Loura said security might pose a problem.

“The main concern for the university should not be the cost but the security,” Loura said. “As it exists now on campus any person with a laptop can sit in a quad and get access to the Internet, student or criminal. Northeastern has no way of discriminating.”

One precaution Northeastern currently takes is preventing wireless access in residence halls. Since wireless Internet is not supposed to be used in residence hall rooms on campus, the university will shut it down if it is detected. Weir said it is shut down because if set up incorrectly it could negatively affect the wired service, and because it is less secure.

Although the university is not looking to go completely wireless anytime soon, Weir said they will try to keep up with technology.

“We have no crystal ball to see what the Internet or wireless connection will be in the future,” Weir said. “We will continue to judiciously decide what new technology is implemented throughout the campus.”