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I was surprised to find this morning that a new email system has been
announced. Yes, I know, it’s only a new web interface but it will be
perceived as a new email system and so we may as well acknowledge that. A part
of my confusion is that I was under the impression that ATS was investigating
the use of Microsoft Exchange for faculty and staff. If that is the case then college
administrators should know about this plan before deciding what to do about the
new web front end to Mail.
And here comes the difficult part since I don’t want to be either
unkind or to ignore fiscal limitations, but the second part of my confusion is
the quite frankly klunky nature of the proposed web interface for Mail. I
understand the problems in building an add-on to a home brewed system, and I am
not necessarily opposed to local development of some systems. They have their
place, but the bar has already been raised for email and calendaring systems
and expectations are necessarily high.
For what it is worth, I am moving towards the view that, rather than concede
email and calendar development to Google, which this new interface effectively
does, MSU should be aggressively seeking to build a full-fledged MSU community
with real-time unified communications – i.e. state of the art
point-of-presence, email and calendar pushing to iPod Touch devices (for
example), Pre-filled calendar class schedules for students, pre-built class
email lists, readily available web conferencing, and multi-point video
conferencing between students and faculty.
These tools are available today, and no, they are not cheap, but then
neither is a less than optimally effective and motivated student body or a
less-than-committed alumni group. If MSU has set its goals on becoming a world
integrating community, then community building, in my view, had best begin at
home.
http://www.wainhouse.com/files/papers/wr-case-sfsu.pdf
http://www.wrplatinum.com/Downloads/8808.aspx
The last URL requires registration but all .msu.edu email
addresses have automatic access to Wainhouse Research Platinum Pro material
until June of 2009.
Laurence A. Bates
217E Erickson Hall
MI 48824
517-355-2178