[LINK] University of Adelaide and iPad

[Steven Clark]

  On 11/09/2010 6:17 PM, Adrian Chadd wrote:
> Because IT is increasingly viewed at universities as a tool, rather than something that can be innovated? :)

Well, to be fair, University ICT groups are often outsourced (little 
incentive or desire to 'innovate' when the emphasis is on maximising 
profit by minimising expenditure) and most academic departments are up 
to their eyeballs in just trying to cover teaching and research loads 
with available staff.

Besides, computing devices are largely seen as tools and consumed like 
whitegoods. We're back to ICT as the domain of the specialist. An 
increasing percentage of students entering ICT degrees have played with 
toys, but a decreasing number have tinkered or have much idea about 
what's going on under the hood.

Most/many businesses view ICT as something that just *is*, and ought to 
just *work* - and since Apple tends to achieve this with their consumer 
devices - they're winning the game.

[In my experience, to expect non-tech-oriented academics or 
bureaucrats/administrators (or students) to care about how the toys work 
is like expecting them to be able to fix the new Holden Commodore with a 
box of spanners and wrenches. That's the purvue of tech support/mechanic.]

-- 
Steven R Clark, BSc(Hons) LLB/LP(Hons) /Flinders/, MACS, Barrister & 
Solicitor

PhD Scholar
School of Commerce, Division of Business
City West Campus, University of South Australia (UniSA)
http://people.unisa.edu.au/Steven.Clark

Deputy Director, Community Engagement Board (CEB)
Chair, Economic, Legal and Social Issues Committee (ELSIC)
Australian Computer Society (ACS)
http://www.acs.org.au/index.cfm?action=show&conID=acscas 
<http://www.acs.org.au/index.cfm?action=show&conID=acscas>

*Disclaimer:* This is email is not legal advice. Comments and statements 
above are based on my understanding of the issues at hand, and my 
attempts to understand them. They are intended to add to, and elicit 
discussion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, opinions and statements 
are mine, not those of UniSA or the ACS.