In 1998, the Node Learning Technologies Network undertook extensive research into the state of mobile computing at North American colleges and universities. The resulting report, "The Laptop College," drew on interviews with representatives at 17 mobile campuses, most in the first or second year of implementation. At that early stage in the move towards mobility, topics of current interest centred on issues of planning, start-up and implementation. Questions such as whether to lease or purchase, how much of the cost to pass on to students, and how to prepare for classroom adoption dominated the discussion.
Now, almost two years later, the pioneers have moved beyond these initial issues as they mature as mobile campuses. What new issues do they face as they enter "phase two" of their laptop programmes? How has the reality of mobile computing met with original expectations? What impact has it had? What lessons have been learned? Institutions are observing positive changes in their campuses and confirming their commitment to the vision of ubiquitous computing.
"The Mobile Campus Matures" re-examines laptop computing through the eyes of the pioneers' experience to answer these and other questions.