AFTER USHERING A PAPERLESS OFFICE TIME TO FULLY EMBRACE WIRELESS NETWORKS.

Technology has come along way since the times of Leonardo da Vinci the Italian painter, sculptor, engineer, scientist and architect - the most versatile genius of the Italian Renaissance (1452-1519) when he used to imagine future technological advancements through his quintessential and timeless paintings. Long before the calculator was invented he painted one, the Wright brothers probably saw his airplane paintings and on a light touch the ladies must thank this guy for make up and beauty products companies must have given the Mona Lisa a serious thought.

During the “dot com bubble” period in the USA, Silicon Valley is generally considered to have been the center of the dot-com bubble which started in the mid-1990s and collapsed after the NASDAQ stock market began to decline dramatically in April of 2000. Even after the dot-com crash, Silicon Valley continues to maintain its status as one of the top research and development centers in the world. A 2006 Wall Street Journal story found that 13 of the 20 most inventive towns in America were in California, and 10 of those were in Silicon Valley.
Since the early twentieth century, Silicon Valley has been home to a vibrant, growing electronics industry. The other world economic superpowers have also excelled with various inventions. Though Africa in the past decade has played her usual role of a dumping site with second hand devices flooding her overflowing market of cheap “made in china” gadgets, statistics indicate that there is a significant increase in computer users beyond just playing computer games. There has been a great leap to the paperless office,Plus a major offshoot of Computer Training Colleges, internet usage has surpassed expectations with increased data rates.

New ventures like the EASSY and TEAMS optic fiber cable are undergoing their completion are signs of good things to come. But before then we should be exploring ways to rip benefits from available technologies especially in providing high-speed data and telecommunications services. The new the easiest, least expensive way to connect the computers is to use a wireless network, which uses radio waves instead of wires. The absence of physical wires makes this kind of network very flexible. For example, you can move a laptop from room to room without fiddling with network cables and without losing your connection. The downside is that wireless connections are generally slower than Ethernet connections and they are less secure unless you take measures to protect your network.

If one wants to build a wireless network, you'll need a wireless router (a router is a computer whose software and hardware are usually tailored to the tasks of routing and forwarding, generally containing a specialized operating system e.g.” Cisco's IOS or Juniper Networks or Extreme Networks XOS” RAM, NVRAM, flash memory, and one or more processors - Routers are like junctions whereas subnets are like streets and hosts like houses).
Signals from a wireless router extend about 30 meters in all directions, but walls can interrupt the signal. Depending on the size and shape of your building and the range of the router, you may need to purchase a range extender or repeater (a repeater connects two segments of your network cable. It retimes and regenerates the signals to proper amplitudes and sends them to the other segments. When talking about, Ethernet topology, you are probably talking about using a hub as a repeater.)

To get enough coverage a wireless adapter is needed in each computer you plan to connect to the network. You can add printers and other devices to the network as well. Some new models have built-in wireless communication capabilities, and you can use a wireless Ethernet bridge to add wireless capabilities to devices that don't. If you decide to build a wireless network, you'll need to take steps to protect it - you don't want malicious people hacking your wireless signal. Wireless security options include:
• Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP) • WiFi Protected Access (WPA) • Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering

You can choose which method (or combination of methods) you want to use when you set up your wireless router. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has approved each of these security standards, but studies have proven that WEP can be broken into very easily. If you use WEP, you may consider adding Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) to your operating system. TKIP is a wrapper with backward compatibility, which means you can add it to your existing security option without interfering with its activity. Think of it like wrapping a bandage around a cut finger - the bandage protects the finger without preventing it from carrying out its normal functions.

Some of the wireless technologies available include; WiMAX, the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a telecommunications technology aimed at providing wireless data over long distances in a variety of ways, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular type access. It is based on the IEEE 802.16 standard, which is also called WirelessMAN. The name WiMAX was created by the WiMAX Forum, which was formed in June 2001 to promote conformance and interoperability of the standard. The forum describes WiMAX as "a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL."
Wi-Fi a wireless-technology brand owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance, promotes standards with the aim of improving the interoperability of wireless local area network products based on the IEEE 802.11 standards. Common applications for Wi-Fi include Internet and VoIP phone access, gaming, and network connectivity for consumer electronics such as televisions, DVD players, and digital cameras. The Wi-Fi Alliance, a consortium of separate and independent companies, agrees on a set of common interoperable products based on the family of IEEE 802.11 standards. Wi-Fi technologies have gone through several generations since their inception in 1997. The Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X and open source UNIX and Linux operating systems support Wi-Fi to different extents. The two standards are aimed at different applications. Notably;1) WiMAX is a long-range system, covering many kilometers that typically uses licensed spectrum (although it is also possible to use unlicensed spectrum) to deliver a point-to-point connection to the Internet from an ISP to an end user. Different 802.16 standards provide different types of access, from mobile (similar to data access via a cell phone) to fixed (an alternative to wired access, where the end user's wireless termination point is fixed in location.)
2) Wi-Fi is a shorter range system, typically hundreds of meters, that uses unlicensed spectrum to provide access to a network, typically covering only the network operator's own property. Typically Wi-Fi is used by an end user to access their own network, which may or may not be connected to the Internet. If WiMAX provides services analogous to a cell phone, Wi-Fi is more analogous to a cordless phone.
3) WiMAX and Wi-Fi have quite different Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms. WiMAX uses a mechanism based on setting up connections between the Base Station and the user device. Each connection is based on specific scheduling algorithms, which means that QoS parameters can be guaranteed for each flow. Wi-Fi has introduced a QoS mechanism similar to fixed Ethernet, where packets can receive different priorities based on their tags. This means that QoS is relative between packets/flows, as opposed to guaranteed.
Due to the ease and low cost with which Wi-Fi can be deployed, it is sometimes used to provide Internet access to third parties within a single room or building available to the provider, often informally, and sometimes as part of a business relationship. For example, many coffee shops, hotels, and transportation hubs contain Wi-Fi access points providing access to the Internet for customers.
Finally to quote Albert Einstein after the destructive effects of the atomic bomb he said that he could not predict what the 3rd world war will de fought with but he could tell that 4th world war shall be fought with sticks and stones hence with the current trends the leap from wireless technology is unpredictable perhaps a puzzle for Africa to solve. I rest my case

MBOYA AIRLIFTS PROGRAM

The Kenyan government initiative to offer free and compulsory primary education to all was a noble idea and the recent one to waive secondary schools tuition fee was even a grater one and the power wielders of the have proved true to the saying that wisdom comes with power as eloquently put by Albert Einstein. It is obvious to predict the next area of concern will be the tertiary level education (University plus Colleges), this area needs serious strategies.

A trip down memory lane when high education was a privilege of a few and brain power was the SI unit of success – one Thomas Joseph Mboya a Ruskin College graduate commonly known as TJ Mboya – a young, brilliant and iconic leader a centre of fascinating drama and an indefatigable fighter for noble ideas of freedom, independence and social progress, peace and friendship. He was Kenya’s version of JF Kennedy both by brilliance and charisma, he helped in coordinating and organizing funds to enable education thirsty African boys and girls secure a place in the prestigious American Universities and Colleges in what famously came to be known as the Mboya airlifts before his life was rudely cut short – RIP Mboya we will always carry you in our memories for the whole of our lives , we shall never be able to forget the fever of life we experienced besides you – you truly had a love affair with education.

Then there was Odinga Snr. The then dogma of opposition politics was exploding with “the positive African envy” and through his pet project – the Lumumba Institute (named after the late DR Congo president Patrice Lumumba (RIP) the greatest African socialist (read communist) was facilitating sending of young Kenyans to explore the Russian’s genius in the former Soviet Union - The “Odinga Boys” as they were branded out of political malice. All these initiatives brought a bird’s eye view to our government policies and international touch in our endeavours to shine in international debates, the country experienced a brain bonus or brain gain to quote Professor Ali Mazrui JKUAT University Chancellor.

Some the beneficiaries make up the fabric of the great leadership of this country namely Prof. Saitoti, Engineer Raila Odinga, Dr Adhu Awiti, Dr Oburu (an economist) and many more you would require a microscope to view their names but a telescope to trace their careers.My point is that Kenya boasts home to the best brains in the world this is reflected by the huge number of Kenyan students flooding universities abroad for further studies and statistics indicate that they excelling in their respective fields of study but hey there is a catch – money –Those who are cash strapped say money is the root cause of all evils while the rich say money can buy everything except poverty. There is need to establish an education kitty/trust fund like the Higher Education Loans Board whereby the money given will facilitate university studies abroad and the students who will have scored a mean grade of A plain in the KCSE exams can be assisted to compete with other top brains in MIT, Oxford, Princeton, Cambridge and other crème del crème institutions including our own Makerere, Cairo, Dar es salaam universities, this will increase the university intake and also encourage students with lower grades i.e. B’s to take up Medicine and Engineering courses .The big question would be brain drain but in a country with high levels of human resources we can start exporting brains who will be encouraged to invest at home by entrenching dual citizenship in the constitution, taxing the beneficiaries salaries would be a vital income for the government.

In my opinion a tentative amount of 2 Billion yearly would take care of top 100 students ( the number with A plains plus an additional 50 students from marginalized areas like North Eastern and North Rift areas) Each taking an average of a 5 year course but with an additional clause for them to return and work in the country for not less than 6 years or if they choose to work abroad (brain bonus) then a sizeable deduction should be made to their salaries and ploughed back to the kitty.Finally our renowned international scholars in the Diaspora can help in mobilizing funds, seeking admissions slots for the students and so on. Namely Prof. Ali Mazrui Director of IGCS the Albert Schweitzer Prof in Humanities. political studies and philosophy, Prof Makau Mutua Prof of Law and Director of Human Rights Centre of State University of NY at Buffalo School of Law, Prof Calistus Juma Prof of the practice of International Development at HAVARD UNIVERSITY and the Director of the Science, Technology and Global Project at Belfer Centre for science and International Affairs The list is endless.

SOCCER SCIENCE A JOY TO HOLD IN JKUAT

Last year’s JKUAT Champions League eclipsed the Italian Scudetto –Serie A and outclassed the flair and pomp of the Barclays British Premier League or the splendor of Spanish La-liga, the Champions League is an effort by soccer lovers in the campus to take some time away from the big screens where Gtv and Dstv call the shots so that they can show case some of the skills learnt and most importantly bond with students from other departments its also away to exhale the tough and lethal fumes after an ‘academic burn out’

JKUAT is home to not so bad and not so good soccer pitches notwithstanding that is where the action went down. In the first game the “Mechaniks” (Mechanical Engineering Department) seemed to be using pollutant leaded fuel and their coveted 6.0 liter V8 twin-turbocharged engine with dual intercoolers was firing blanks the valves bowed to pressure, they squandered a two goal lead, their defense warriors could not hold and they were falling apart and everything went topsturvy finishing 2-3 against the “Physkal Wizards” - (Physical Science Department)

The next game was between “Physkal Wizards” versus BEED (Bio Mechanical And Environmental Eng Department) perhaps the BEED guys worried about Green gas emission seduced the scientists to back the Kyoto protocol in exchange of a Bundalangi of 4 goals. Bsc Physical Science perhaps wanting to end a four year jinx of losing in every final since the JKUAT champions league was started were upbeat and went to deflower by giving “food scientists” (Horticulture Department) a taste of their own medicine in terms of squeezing goals out of them and surely the juice of goals was worth the squeeze.

The unlucky culprits were the Alternative Degree Program (ADP) they looked as damsels in distress crying fowl at every decision made by the referees and other match officials – they proved that if you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your verbal superiority anyway that’s not an ingredient for success. Maybe next time you can assemble your femme fatale babies as a cheering squad they can attract opponent’s attention and hand you an easy victory

Then came the “Elec Elec” (Electrical engineering department) soccer wannabes who were the defending champions they seemed to have the Midas touch and every team the played against soaked under a flood of goals. They carried a big banner of Heineken claiming those were their sponsors no wonder the frequent black outs in JKUAT.

The most interesting game was a semifinal match; it made the final match pale in comparison and proved football to be as glitzy and quintessential as it could get for the stern faced and skillful masters of the game (“Elec Elec” guys) against the flamboyant and tenacious “Physkal Wizards”. After an excruciating 90 minutes and an extra time of grass trampling “Elec Elec” snatched a lucky penalty shoot out win, “Physkal Wizards” who were heard whispering that the road to success is always under construction but they forgot that if at first you don't succeed, redefine success, as this was their third time in a row they missed to clinch the title. “Elec Elec” soccer pundits used every cliché in the “Theraja” and other Engineering Bibles to explain the nanotech chip technology which makes their circuit board of soccer prowess tick.

One question still begs as to which Operating system the Computer Science (ICSIT) guys used in the “project soccer”? Practice what you preach if you use Linux OS in your computers how come you brought a virus infected Windows OS to the pitch and ended up losing every game was it a system crash or a Trojan horse tactic backfired?

Despite all this eudemonic showcase fans could hardly steer away from the Premier League and La-Liga football discussions, I challenge everyone to consider our own Kenyan soccer league for its going live brought by Dstv supersports channel, Anyway for the losers -sometimes you get the bear....and sometimes the bear gets you, as for the winners you can't afford to get lackadaisical and rest on your laurels. For this year it shall be a battle to remember!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!