illustrating networking concepts with wireless handheld devices
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Illustrating Networking Concepts with Wireless Handheld Devices. Brad Richards & Nate Waisbrot Computer Science Department Vassar College. Project Overview. Writing custom apps for Cybiko “PDA for Kids” Wireless communication Illustrate selected topics via hands-on lab sessions - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Illustrating Networking Concepts with Wireless Handheld Devices
Brad Richards & Nate Waisbrot
Computer Science Department
Vassar College
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 2
Project Overview• Writing custom apps for Cybiko
– “PDA for Kids”
– Wireless communication
• Illustrate selected topics via hands-on lab sessions
• Students interact with each other through Cybiko apps – Each has a Cybiko
– Participate by sending routing info, data, etc.
– Process orchestrated by an administrator
• Funded by NSF CCLI grant
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 3
Overview of Talk• Motivation & Example• Cybiko Details• Project Status• Experiences• Ongoing Work
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 4
Motivation• Wanted easy way to introduce routing details• Had traditionally been a lecture-only topic• Was difficult to hold students’ interest
– Hard to respond quickly to “what if” questions
• Considered using simulator– Lots of good tools available
– Often much more detailed than required
– Non-trivial learning curve
• Cybiko applications– Students enjoy interactive nature
– Can arrange students to match virtual topology
– Can be used in any setting
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 5
Example: Distance-Vector RoutingStudents can:• Send short text msgs• Send DVs to neighbors• Ping neighbors• Display routing table• Clear routing table• Toggle msg forwarding
Also displays:• Incoming text msgs• Arriving DVs• Details on forwarding
Administrator can:• Change parameters:
– Split Horizon
– Split w/poison reverse
– Triggered Updates
• Force optimal routes• “Kill” nodes• Change NW topology
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 6
Cybiko Details• Basic PDA applications• Wireless RF communications (19.2 Kbps)• Cheap! (US $30 for Classic)• Full QWERTY keyboard• Grayscale LCD display• 1 MB memory (expandable)• Tethers to PC to download apps, etc.• Free Software Development Kit– Book also available
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 7
Project Status• Routing applications finished– Flooding, Distance-Vector, Link-State
• Lab materials available for faculty – Source code as well
• Materials used with several groups:– My undergraduate Networks course, Fall 2001
– High-school students, Fall 2001
– Max Hailperin’s Networks course, Spring 2002
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 8
Experiences• Did controlled study in Fall 2001
– Total of only 17 students (7 women, 7 of color)
• Introduced routing algorithms in lecture• Gave assessment exam
– Some concepts, some specific routing questions
• Randomly split group into two halves– 8 Students got additional, more specific lecture
– 9 Students covered same material via Cybiko
• Gave same assessment exam again• Both groups improved, Cybiko more
– Cybiko: 83103 (24%), 33% on detailed probs.
– Lecture: 86100 (16%), 15% on detailed probs.
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 9
Experiences (cont’d)
• Cybiko group wanted more examples– Both groups were asked
if they wanted more
– Could specify Flooding, DV, Link-State Routing
– Most popular answer in lecture group: zero
– Two and three were popular with Cybiko group
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
0 1 2 3
Cybiko
Lecture
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 10
Experiences (cont’d)• My conclusion:– Cybiko students learned at least as well
– Had more fun doing it
• Max Hailperin’s experiences less positive– Used with 24 students
– Had some hardware, user-interface difficulties
• We’ve worked to address most concerns
– Concluded that it didn’t add anything
– Still, did say:
“ability to match our collective wits against reality was the strongest positive aspect”
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 11
Ongoing Work• Currently working on apps for wireless NW• Demonstrate contention for shared channel• Hope to illustrate– Traditional Ethernet
– ALOHA
– WiFi (802.11)
• Progress slower than anticipated…
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 12
Summary• Using inexpensive wireless devices• Demonstrate concepts interactively• Can incorporate by:– Using our applications in lab
– Removing some of our code, students supply
– Extend our framework in new directions
• See www.cs.vassar.edu/cybiko• Demonstration on Wednesday
ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002 13