Students can print via wireless PittNet

Anyone who has printed something in a Pitt campus computer lab has probably, at one time or… Anyone who has printed something in a Pitt campus computer lab has probably, at one time or another, had to wait in line for it. Starting in mid-to-late September, however, Pitt students won’t have to wait in line for lab computers to print documents they had on their personal computers. ‘[CSSD] wants to make sure that the product is as close to perfect as possible before being released in every lab,’ said Jinx Walton, director of Computing Services and Systems Development. In an effort to combat traffic in computer labs, the University will soon be implementing an alternative self-service printing method for Pitt students. Beginning with two printers in David Lawrence and three printers in Posvar Hall, the new test pilots will allow students living on or off campus to print to either of these computer labs via wireless PittNet. After opting to print from outside sources, students need to stop by one of the aforementioned labs, swipe their Panther IDs and choose which of the items from their quotas they would like to print. Supporting Mac and Windows computers, the printing program has been in the works for the past few years. The University is currently in the process of final testing on the mechanism. According to Walton, Pitt also used campus-wide kiosks to help clear out unnecessary build-up in labs. Specifically targeting e-mail checkers, the kiosks have filtered out some of the traffic from busier labs. CSSD hopes that the new printing system will have the same effect on hectic printing areas. The pilot program will also be surveying students and monitoring the new printers in an attempt to answer the needs of the majority of computing lab users. Students throughout campus have been curious about whether the new printing platform will improve overall efficiency in computing labs. Familiar with long waiting sessions, Pitt senior Katie Scholl thinks that ‘traffic will be lessened by the new printing method.’ Scholl did say, however, ‘It’s still not convenient having to make a trip to the lab.’ Junior Heidi Zimmerman disagreed, stating, ‘The printing idea sounds convenient, but traffic levels are probably going to increase because more people will be stopping by to print.’ Pitt newcomer Kristen Pierro is already beginning to experience the chaos of campus printing. She said that the new CSSD program seems ‘efficient and will make it easier for students to pick up and print documents.’ A similar off-campus printing idea was introduced last year by Pitt senior Corey Bonnell. Using Pitt’s UNIX timesharing server, Bonnell’s program also allows students to print from outside computer labs, although some glitches with connections and printer malfunctions have occurred, said Bonnell. Although alike in theory, Bonnell’s program sends documents directly to lab printers, whereas the University’s new pilot will give students the option of cancelling jobs and maintaining their printing quotas. Different methods distinguish the programs. ‘Pitt has been working on its printing system for quite some time,’ said Bonnell. Despite the earlier appearance of the UNIX idea, Pitt’s new system was not created in response to Bonnell’s device, said Walton. If self-service printing proves to be successful in David Lawrence and Posvar halls, then CSSD is hoping to expand to other labs, as well. Whether self-service printing will benefit students will be determined with time. The efforts to help students minimize waiting time in computing labs by the likes of Bonnell and CSSD have not gone unnoticed by the Pitt community.