What Are We Paying For?
In chapter 8, Mark Giese discusses the history of the Internet and the different ways the Internet has been used in our society. On page 154, he discusses the Internet on a collegiate level, and what it is that we pay (or do not) pay for. He quotes John P. Doyle by stating,“One of the keys to understanding why colleges and universities make their computers available to the public is the fact that it doesn’t really cost them anything. The computer servers are always on.”
Giese continues Doyle’s thoughts by stating that“…even at the institutional level, the costs associated with the growth and maintenance of the Internet are diffused and indirect. Once the investment in computer hardware is made, there is little additional cost associated with making access to the Internet available to a wide range of people”
I thought that the idea of the low cost of creating a serve with wide range access to a large group of people was very interesting, especially here at Fordham. With the campus being almost 99% wireless, I always wondered how the IT department was able to fund the ever-expansive wireless project. However, now I understand that making these services available to a large group is fairly inexpensive, comparatively to what it could be. I also now understand why the IT department is able to provide us with free customer support and free programs such as Symantec Anti-Virus and the dreaded Cisco Clean Access Agent.
It's a good point you make that the larger the group and if a network can be established to sweep a wide area, the cost is less. It's an advantage that is overlooked, especially by the students who may not really care and understand all that IT does for us. We just get caught up on the bad things and system failures were are part of any large network.
ReplyDeleteThat is some very interesting stuff. I have noticed everywhere you go now, more and more places offer free wireless connection. We are moving toward an all wireless world. It is only so easy, because of the relatively low costs.
ReplyDeleteInteresting Lauren!
ReplyDeleteWe learned about how some companies were donating computers to impoverished neighborhoods in other countries. Some of the complaints from the people who got the lap tops were that they couldn't afford to pay the cost at the internet cafes for online usage. If only someone could set up wireless for them.
It is quite wonderful that these services can be provided for free, and defrayed over a large population. You have to wonder how much of what we pay for is artificially jacked up in price.
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