Agenda

Notes

Action

Status

Introductions

JSB introduced and welcomed Andrew Minter, the new Director of ISO

Minutes of last meeting

The minutes of the meeting on 16th March 2005 were approved.

Matters arising

Faculty web server

As EK not present, matter will be carried over to next meeting.

EK to pursue

AV Technician

As EK not present, matter will be carried over to next meeting.

EK to pursue

Computing Strategy

The drafted Computing Strategy has been re-written by JSB and was circulated.

Capital Expenditure plans for 2004-2005

It was reported that the site agreement with Macromedia was going ahead.

AC and GB had not yet set up the information about the items they have for student borrowing. It was agreed that the information would be made available before the start of the next academic year.

AC and GB

JSB reported that he has contacted Andrew Osbaldestin to discuss Maths assets but has not yet had a reply.

JSB to pursue

EK wasn't present to report on status of Microsoft Visio. Subsequent to the meeting, it was reported that the University had agreed to include Visio in the Campus Agreement.

JSB reported that he had updated the CAM Equipment Bids 2005 spreadsheet incorporating the decisions of the Committee.

Strategic developments

JSB tabled the latest draft strategy document.

The future needs for computing facilities in SOC and CT were discussed and the following points raised:

It was anticipated that an increasing number of students will want to use their own laptops on campus for their work. The need to provide plug in/wireless access was discussed and the need to provide increased support for this. Do we need a "laptop drop-in centre" to provide this support? Secure physical storage of portables was also an issue raised.

Student software issues were discussed. There are current problems in licencing software (particularly multimedia development, e.g. video editing) for students to use on their own machines but these may reduce as more open-source tools become available and vendors become more flexible in their licencing arrangements. Pro Engineer is an example of a system that is licenced for students to use where they like.

SB agreed to find out whether the University's Macromedia deal included students usage.

SB

What if we provided students with a laptop, with software pre-installed? This could have an enormous impact on the way we teach. Would a machine issued at the start of year 1 still have sufficient "legs" at the end of year 4? The need for backup facilities was also noted. Any package should perhaps include insurance and maintenance. If we did issue laptops to students, what about students who wanted to use a tablet or PDA instead?

Linux was discussed and whether it was still required. It is important, but could be delivered in a number of ways (e.g. virtual machines, remote login to central server).

Basic computer literacy was discussed. Not all students come to the University with the basic skills required.  It is undesirable that relatively under-priviledged students (in the WP sense) should be at a disadvantage at the start.  It was suggested that clearer instructions on where to get technical help and online support appear on the University Home Page. The European Computer Driving Licence was discussed. Support for distance learning students who study online needs to be a priority.

Any other business

Date of next meeting

The status of the Committee is yet to be decided given the merger of CSSE and ISCA.