Energy-efficient kiosks save money
Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 12:25PM By Kayla Sudduth
Students say they appreciate the convenience computer kiosks
What if you are running to class on the first day, are halfway there and you forget the location of your class? It would probably be out of the way to run to a computer lab or back to your room.
Winthrop, however, has thought about times when all one really needs is a quick stop at a computer rather than sitting down in one of the labs.
All of the computer kiosks around campus, from the two in West Thomson lobbies to the two right next to Java City, are provided as quick stops for students to take care of the small but sometimes urgent needs between classes.
But as it turns out, these kiosks are not fully running PC’s. There has been implementation of NComputing devices in the kiosks rather than a full PC, said TJ Carney, user support manager for Winthrop. Replacements help with the cost of repair and replacement, along with electricity needed for each station.
“These devices are not only cheaper than a full-sized PC,” Carney said, “but use significantly less electricity than a standard desktop computer.”
He said the NComputing L230 device Winthrop uses “draws only five watts of electricity compared to 120 watts of electricity for a standard PC/desktop computer.”
As for the maintenance of these devices, they are generally checked weekly unless service is promptly needed. They are also rebooted nightly for updates, Carney said.
Less electricity is probably political science professor Christopher Van Aller’s favorite idea behind the kiosks. As the Winthrop Outdoor Activities Club (WOAC) advisor and overall advocate for smart electricity use, Van Aller sees the fact that the kiosks draw less electricity than a normal computer as a good thing.
While these computers can be useful in immediate situations, like quickly needing the room number for your next class, many students also use them to check their e-mails or Facebook accounts. Lauren Harris, a sophomore biology major, said she loves the kiosks.
“I think they’re the best idea because they’re so convenient,” Harris said. “I feel comfortable using them to check my Wingspan or Facebook because I know it takes a quick second, and no one is sitting right next to me in a lab.”
Rachel Raney, a junior fitness and wellness major, thinks the same way about safety using the kiosks. “I can always tell if someone is near me when I use them, so checking personal information or a personal Web site never makes me nervous,” Raney said.
Raney and Harris both use the kiosks to check school business, along with Facebook or Twitter accounts, but neither feel like the kiosks detract from the educational environment on campus.
“They’re really just for convenience and a capability to get information quickly,” Raney said.
Lynn Horton, a physical education professor, said he thinks kiosks around campus are useful for students and professors alike.
“It does not detract from a student’s environment just because some may check personal sites on kiosks,” Horton said.
She said they are useful for checking cultural event information, along with Wingspan or news.
As for plans for additional kiosks in more places on campus, Carney said there are plans for every building with internet access to have kiosks.
“Overall,” Harris said, “the kiosks are a great and helpful idea for the campus.”
