By next spring, students soon may be able to check their e-mail while sitting in class or surf the Net at the Hub while they bite into a juicy hamburger.

Currently, Director of Communications John Kingland is working on a project that would create a wireless Internet network at Iowa State for students and faculty to use. There already are “a few buildings on campus that have wireless Internet installed in them, which are being used for testing purposes in addition to our department,” he said.

Some of the advantages of this technology include the mobility, the low cost to students and the convenience, Kingland said. Students and faculty would be able to access the Internet without wires to check e-mail, browse the Internet and chat with friends.

However, Kingland said the growing popularity of wireless technology does not mean the end of more conventional technology.

“Wireless is not a replacement for a wire,” he said. “It is only a compliment by making access easier.”

Steve Russell, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, said a wireless Internet would eliminate some connection problems.

“I went to see a lecture last week and the speaker couldn’t hook up their computer in order to show a Power Point presentation,” he offered as an example. He said these types of technical difficulties would be resolved.

Although wireless technology may seem to be an innovative compliment to the current network, it is prone to some disadvantages, Kingland said, such as interference from cordless phones and microwaves.

Another key problem with the wireless Internet is that it is a shared resource, and, as more and more users go online, the bandwidth is used up, Kingland said. He said this means users would be discouraged from using programs such as Napster to transfer large files.

However, Kingland said the Telecommunications Department currently is “evaluating new technologies that will provide more bandwidth, greater distance, less interference and more security.”

This wireless Internet will make its debut to the ISU community this year in places such as the Memorial Union, Parks Library and the Hub.

Unfortunately, Kingland said the current Internet network in the dorms likely will not be replaced soon.

“Wireless technology will not be seen in the dorms anytime soon due to the performance of their [current] network,” he said.

To make use of this technology, students and faculty will have to purchase a card for their laptops or lease them from the university when the services becomes available in the spring semester.