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Harris On Campus: PRISM Technology Enables Wireless Networking for Students and Faculty

— NgeeAnn Polytechnic joins University of Florida and University of Central Florida in adopting Harris’ WLAN technology

MELBOURNE, FL, April 7, 1999—In another move to further the adoption of wireless networking among schools and universities worldwide, Harris Semiconductor has partnered with Singapore’s NgeeAnn Polytechnic by providing Harris’ PRISM* Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology for Polytechnic’s Research and Development initiatives.

"Harris is committed to bringing state-of-the-art wireless technology to schools and universities," said Ron Van Dell, vice president and general manager of Harris’ Communication Products Business. "Wireless networking is playing an increasingly important role as schools and universities roll out distributed learning systems. Wireless expands such systems by delivering a wealth of educational resources, including that available via the Internet, without the hassle of wired connections. We envision campus-wide wireless networking systems becoming widely deployed over the next few years."

PRISM WLAN technology is now in use at NgeeAnn Polytechnic, with the recent test setup of a WLAN system that connects to its existing wired campus network. This involves the use of PRISM-based WLAN PCMCIA cards and access points at selected test sites such as the library and the courtyard cafeteria area. The wireless network lets students and faculty enjoy the flexibility and mobility of wireless access to the Internet and campus network from laptops fitted with PRISM-based adapter cards and access points.

"NgeeAnn Polytechnic is the first institute of higher learning in Southeast Asia to adopt state-of-the-art wireless technology," said Mr. Khoo Chin Hean, Principal, NgeeAnn Polytechnic. "We have successfully developed and piloted the concept of campus-wide teaching and learning by means of wireless communication. We are proud to be teaming with Harris Semiconductor, a world leader in wireless communications products, and Intrasil Tech, a system integrator in wireless information technology. This collaboration with Harris and Intrasil will help us enhance wireless applications in our teaching and research activities. Most of all, students will benefit from the experience of a new and exciting learning environment."

NgeeAnn Polytechnic, one of the leading polytechnics in Singapore, is one of several institutions to adopt Harris’ PRISM-based WLAN technology in the last year. The University of Florida (UF) and the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) campuses recently went wireless with the installation of PRISM-enabled WLANs on campus.

UCF equipped its College of Engineering building with a PRISM-based wireless networking system in August of 1998. The system enables students and faculty to wirelessly connect to the UCF campus network from any location in the building; plus their notebook computer (or other portable device) can move with them throughout the building and still maintain the connection. The wireless system improves the accessibility to computer resources in the college, exposes students to state-of-the-art technology and increases their ability to function efficiently in the education environment.

UF also equipped its computer engineering building with Harris’ PRISM technology. Like UCF, the wireless network enables faculty and students with PRISM-enabled laptops to access UF’s network and the Internet from anywhere on the building’s first two floors. Both UCF and UF’s systems include PC cards and access points that feature Harris’ PRISM, enabling the wireless connection between the laptops and the networks.

Harris Corporation's Semiconductor sector manufactures discrete semiconductors and integrated circuits. Product development efforts are focused on innovative "next level solutions" for the communications and power markets. The company’s portfolio of high-value products serve many market segments – automotive, industrial, PC computing, wireless networking, tele-communications, signal processing, PC multimedia, consumer electronics, space and defense.

Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), with worldwide sales of $3.9 billion, is an international communications and electronics company focused on providing product, system and service solutions that take its customers to the next level. The company provides a wide range of products and services such as wireless and personal communications, digital television (HDTV), health care information, automotive electronics, transportation, business information, defense communications and information and Lanier office products.