Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 10/99) - Teens, job hunters, and information enthusiasts have been checking out the Internet more frequently on the Yellowknife Public Library's new high tech, wireless computers.

Prior to February when the new computers were installed, people had to wait in line and book a time to use the library's only Internet computer. Accessing information on the old computer was slow and cut into a user's precious time slot because it was only capable of accessing at speeds of 28.8 kilobytes-per-second, which is about as fast as the average household computer.

The library's five new computers, three of which are available for public use, are hooked up to a high speed modem with a combined speed of 768 kilobytes-per-second (Kps).

"With all five people making requests at the same time it is still much faster and smoother," said Allan Ross, general manager and service manager with SSI Micro, which hooked up the computers for the library.

The term "hooked up" isn't exactly correct as there are absolutely no wires, plug-ins or cables attached to any of the machines.

When the GNWT started discussing with SSI Micro what it would cost to connect fully networked and Internet accessible computers in the library, it became apparent that there must be another option besides cables and wires.

"It (the library) is a big building and such a big project would have literally cost thousands of dollars more (if it involved wiring)," said Ross. "The amount of service to get technicians and pull cables through the ceiling would have been eight to $9,000 more...Plus any time you do any work like that it has to be approved by an engineer and it has to go to the city for approval because you are going to be pulling cable somewhere."

The decision was made to go with a wireless system which would cost not only less to set up, but it would enable the library to place and move the computers anywhere in the building.

Each of the computers have their own transmitters which communicate signals back and forth with one transceiver set up in a back room of the library. The transceiver acts as the network communicator and is hooked into a high speed modem to connect to the Internet. The library's transceiver actually gets its Internet service through its connection with another piece of equipment that the GNWT purchased which sits in SSI Micro's office.

The system is the first of it's kind to be set up in Yellowknife, which has residents not only interested in the library's expanded Internet access, but in the novelty of the high tech equipment.

"People have been flocking in here and been quite impressed," said Deborah Bruser, public service librarian. "It's attracting more teens than in the past. It's good to see them in here and interested."