Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

I foresee a need for a special web page that requires a login by a student using a handheld.

Problem:  users with internet phones, PDAs, PSP, ect can get on the internet and my filter does not know who they are.  If I still want them to have access, I need to know who they are.


Possibility?  I need a web page that recognizes a user of a handheld ( could be based on screen size less than 640x640 )

Then the web page would prompt for a user name and password (that would reference a user database - LDAP ? )
If the user is in the database, then they can browse the internet.

It could almost work like the disclaimer page mentioned on the list earlier.

I have seen this done at a hospital for their WIFI .

Any ideas?  I really feel this is worth pursuing.

There are lots of options, depending on what branch of education you are working in and exactly what you are trying to protect.

I have just re-written an Athens web page to be mobile friendly and it so far it seems OK. My big concern at the moment for education has got to be Federated Access (sometime called Shibboleth), which is the 'next big thing' certainly in HE and FE. That really hasn't been designed with mobile access in mind. So althought the technology should be OK the interface is appalling.

I think there are loads of options and most you won't need to pay for. Since most phone and pda browsers have similar security features to desktops now (always expceptions of course).

So the basic principle is if it works on the desktop - it should (in theory) work on the mobile. Its the interface that will cause you the biggest problem.

That's useful to know Mike. Does CAS work with Federated Access?

My main concern about Federated Access is the Waif and the long lists of names you end up having to plough through. I really don't want to see authentication becoming a big issue for users but fear it might. It's hard enough trying to get user engagement as it is!!

Thanks for the pointer to the report Michael.

Not had much of chance to read through it (something for Christmas I guess! but I think it will be interesting.

It would be good a practical level if this forum can be encouraged to raise concerns about Federated Access and mobile devices because it really is not been thought through yet. The main problems I forsee are usability ones but they need addressing now before large scale adoption.