Wireless and Broadband Communications Multidisciplinary Challenges

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Wireless and Broadband Communications --
Multidisciplinary Challenges

• Michael P. Fitz
• The Ohio State University

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Todays Situation
We need engineers who know VHDL.
Can you believe seniors do not know finite field
theory?

• Employers want vocational training
• Faculty want to train researchers
• Students want vocational training
• Students want some free time to think

What course do I take to learn about OFDM
Social life? Not with your homework sets
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Why Are We Here?

• Lack of resources
• Tradition
• Industry pressure to provide workers
• MTV and sound bites

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Recommendation

• Five year degree
• Multidisciplinary capstone project
• Realistic design experience!

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Capstone Design Project

• More realistic experiences
• Two year design cycle
• Build on past accomplishments and document the
  progress
• Build on classroom knowledge
• Audio modem versus a chipset for a cable modem!

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Benefits of Larger Design Project

• Significant opportunity for writing and speaking
• Team work will be important
• Larger projects imply that all students must
  contribute
• Ongoing developments imply students learn
  advanced skills
• Faculty interest would be higher

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Holes in Research for Broadband and Wireless
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National Labs for Broadband and Wireless
Communications

• A shared national resource
• Students and faculty would have access to Lab
  expertise
• Would enable realistic projects
• Would enable more relevant research

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Benefits of a National Center

• Well trained students
• More sophisticated projects
• More national debate on standards on a technical
  level
• More realistic and important research

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Keys to Success

• Motivated core professional staff
• Continuous funding
• Industry support
• Leaving behind the capitalistic model