UCF opens new technology facility

Out with the old, in with the new: UCF's outdated computer centers are now home to a new, multipurpose technology center.

The new Technology Commons, which is located near the Library and the Student Union, opened its doors Tuesday, Jan. 10, with an upbeat opening ceremony attended by approximately 150 people, project manager Aaron Streimish said.

The 15-minute ceremony featured speeches from President John C. Hitt, Provost Tony Waldrop, Student Body President Matthew McCann and Vice Provost of Information Technologies and Resources Joel Hartman. The event also offered guided tours of the facility for those in attendance.

Waldrop, in particular, spoke positively of the new facilities.

"There's no doubt that this is going to be successful," he said. "I know the students will love it."

One main goal organizers have for the facility is the effect the new technology space will have on portable technology users such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. The number of students that own portable devices is rising each year — in some cases, students own more than one portable device.

A concern mentioned by these portable device-using students is the lack of suitable room for portable device usage.

"They could probably get more outlets around [the Student Union]," sophomore technical communications major Tess Powers said. "Maybe if they put more chairs in here [the Student Union], I'd enjoy it more."

Another concern for students is the strength of Wi-Fi connections at UCF. While comments are generally positive, some students feel there's room to improve.

"I wish I could connect in more places. It's hard to connect to [the] WPA_2 [network]," senior criminal justice major Brad Mulligan said.

The Technology Commons solves those issues by creating the BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) Lab, an area with no desktop computers – only couches, tables and electrical outlets so portable-technology users have a suitable place to use those devices. As for the Wi-Fi connection issue, the Technology Commons has a Wi-Fi antenna dedicated to the building, so connection speed will be higher for those in the building.

Another issue tackled by the designers of the Technology Commons was a drastic change in the common learning style for students: working with others.

"Increasingly, UCF students are more apt to study in groups and collaborate on class projects," Hitt said at the ceremony.

Traditional computer labs — long, rectangular rows of gray desks with desktops every few inches — found in the computer centers, weren't conducive to this "new" format of learning.

In order to accommodate this new learning style, the Technology Commons designers built with collaboration in mind.

"This space is designed to support collaborative work, teamwork, group work," Hartman said. "And we think that's how this is going to shape up."

Some of the 100-plus new Apple and Dell desktop computers inside the Technology Commons are placed on tables that can be moved and rearranged into numerous shapes, allowing students to group up and work together with ease. There are also four meeting rooms so student groups can organize and do their work in private, not to mention have projectors and interactive whiteboards at their disposal. However, if collaboration is not a student's style, there are also individual work areas in the Technology Commons, including a traditional computer lab.

Aside from the educational aspect of the Technology Commons, there are also several amenities for students inside the Technology Commons, one of which is the UCF Computer Store. The computer shop, which was originally located in the Student Union, has been renamed and revamped for its move to the Technology Commons. The computer store, now known as the Technology Product Center, will feature additional products from Apple and Dell, not to mention a vastly expanded floor area.

In the coming weeks, two more amenities are set to arrive at the Technology Commons. The first is a technology vending machine, which will sell headphones and flash drives, among other things. The facility will also host a Seattle's Best Coffee café.

"We did this for students, and we did it to make a place that wasn't just good to be [at], but it was functional," he said.

The Technology Commons will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.