Computer in my Purse

A student met his algebra instructor at the mall and asked if he could see his grades. The instructor told him his class record is in his computer. The student asked if he could go to his office in school so he could see it. The instructor told him, “oh no, you just sit on the bench and wait.” He opened his bag, brought out his notebook computer, switched it on, opened the file and showed the student his grade. Talk about convenient.
Mr. Ramos, a faculty of the university, was at the canteen drinking coffee when his phone rang. It was a text message email alert indicating a new message in his email. He went up to the 3rd floor of the building where a wifi antenna is located. He brought out his notebook computer, switched it on, logged in into the internet, and checked his email. The email was from a book author who sent him an electronic copy of a book he needed in his classes. Mr. Ramos then proceeded to download the book and emailed the author thanking him for his generosity. A fitting example of the advantages of technology.
We see more and more of them everyday. We see people carrying them in suitcase-like bags, in backpacks, in carry-alls, and even in purses. They come in different colors, sizes and shapes. There are notebooks with wide screens, notebooks with built in cameras, and there are those with built in wireless adapters. With portability in mind, they are getting smaller and thinner. And economically, they are becoming less expensive. Whatever types of notebook there are, they’re here. Gone were the days when only wealthy businessmen can afford a laptop or notebook computer.
The notebook computer has become a very useful tool for faculty and students alike. Its portability enables the user to bring it anywhere. It has become a personal tool just like any mobile phone. It is useful to instructors because they can make notes, lesson plans, presentations and compute grades anywhere they are. They can even use their notebooks as presentation and demo tools by connecting them to large screen televisions and multimedia projectors. Some faculty members show educational movies played through the cd or dvd rom of their notebooks.
The faculty members of Saint Louis University have now embraced this technology. Users of notebook computers in the faculty are increasing steadily. In the College of Computing and Information Sciences, since it is directly related to their field, there are at least 15 users of notebook or laptop computers. In the IT and CAD departments, almost a three-fourths of the population of the faculty own a notebook computer. In fact, in the Computer Applications Department, the faculty members were encouraged to bring their notebooks because when their classes reach 50, there are no demo units available so they use their own notebook computers. In the College of Engineering, an average of 4 faculty members per department have notebook computers and bring them to class. Even in non-IT related departments like Social Sciences of the College of Human Sciences, there are at least 3 faculty members who own notebooks and use them in their classes.
It is a very convenient tool for researchers. They can bring it when they are on field and encode data real time. They can use it for statistical computations, encoding and formatting their paper, and use it as internet research tool.
The notebook computer is excellent when traveling. For some travelers email is critical in communications. Email is easy once there is a connection. They can write and keep their calendar on their computer, do video phone with friends (CUSeeMe), and even prepare lectures, presentations, advertising and flyer layouts when needed. When taking pictures with their digital cameras, they can store what they have taken in their laptop to free memory in their cameras. In that way, they can take more pictures of their travels and it would be easier to share with travel mates, or family and friends at home.
If you watched the movie “Legally Blond”, you may have seen that in the movie, each student has his own laptop, bring them in class and take notes with them. It was shown that it was a requirement in class. This scenario is not farfetched because in time, students may be using their notebook computers as ordinary school device like paper and pencil. Our students are aware of this convenience. When you pass by the 3rd floor Diego Silang lobby, it is not strange to see 3 or 4 students with their notebook computers open. Of course, for students, the notebook is an all purpose gadget. They can play audio and mp3 music, play computer games, watch movies, communicate through the internet, use it as scheduler or organizer, use it for research and of course, to keep loads and loads of class notes.
There is an endless litany of advantageous and good things we can do with the notebook computer. My point is that the technology is here. We cannot stop it. It is becoming as popular as the mobile phone that maybe in the future everyone in the academe will be toting one. My hope is that the confusion about the regulation of the laptop or notebook computer in Saint Louis University be cleared so that everyone will not be in fear of bringing and working with their notebooks in school lest they be denied entry into the campus if they do not have permits. My contention is if bringing notebooks to school need permits then we might as well require permits for bringing in cellphones.
Below is a list of things to consider and to promote and ensure comfort when using laptop or notebook computers. The following was taken from the website: http://www.tifaq.com/articles/laptop_guidelines-aug99-griffin&kahan.html:
Notebook/Laptop Typing Guidelines
· Set up the notebook/laptop keyboard, much like you would your regular keyboard. Elbows should be level with or slightly higher than the keyboard (elbows at approximately 90 degrees, wrists level, upper arms hanging as vertically as possible)
· Try using a chair that does not have arm rests so that you will have room to move your arms.
· If you have the option to plug in your regular keyboard and monitor to your lap top, do so.
· If not, avoid resting on the wrist rest areas WHILE typing. Try using whole hand and arm movements to navigate around the keys.
· If you are unfamiliar with your keyboard, try watching your hands at first to learn where all the keys are placed. Some of them may have been rearranged.
· As the touch on notebooks/laptops are often lighter, and the key bed is shallow, be especially careful not to pound on the keys.
· If your laptop has a glide point that is difficult to move, try plugging in an external mouse, and / or try using key commands instead.
· When looking down at the screen, be careful not to bend your neck and head forward to see. Try tucking in your chin to look down, keeping your head and neck more or less balanced over the spine.
Guidelines for using notebooks "on the go"
· When traveling, make sure to set your self up as ergonomically as possible. If you are in a hotel, conference room, or any other facility, don’t settle for resting your laptop on a desk, table, counter, or surface that is high or far from reach. Your options include:
o Using a pillow, pad or even folded towels, to raise your chair high enough so that your elbows are level or slightly higher than the keyboard (elbows at approximately 90 degrees).
o Asking if the hotel has a docking station for notebooks. If not, ask if there are computer workstations for desktops (many hotels are computer user friendly) and plug into their keyboard and monitor.
· If you can’t find a surface low enough, or a chair high enough, then your lap is always an option.
o Sit so that your knees and hips are level. This will allow the notebook to rest comfortably on your lap.
o Again, be careful with your neck. Look down at the screen by tucking your chin in as opposed to bending your entire neck down, as this can cause strain and fatigue to the neck and shoulder area.
o Try using a chair that does not have armrests to give you room to move your arms.
· If you elect to place your computer on the food tray, and it is too high to achieve comfort, try raising your seat height by folding one or two blankets under you. If that doesn’t work, you may be best off using your lap.
· Notebooks come in different weights. For heavy ones, you should avoid carrying them with a handle. Try carrying them on your shoulder and use a bag with a padded shoulder strap.
· Pace yourself. Take frequent breaks. Stand up and stretch. If you feel any strains or pains, stop what you are doing and experiment with different positions. The same rules of healthy computer use apply to notebooks as well as desktops.
While I am writing this I am at the east side of Melvin Jones, here at Burnham Park, typing away while watching my children play soccer, sitting on a blanket with a picnic basket at my side. If I don’t have a notebook, I would be waiting to get home to write this article in my PC and would have lost some of my thoughts in the process. Kudos to my working buddy, my remarkable notebook computer!