| Salt Lake City |
 |
 |
| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
 |
| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
|
| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
|
| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
|
| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
|
| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
|
| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
|
| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
|
| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
|
| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
Aussies in touch with home via Compaq PDA
By Lois M. Collins
Deseret News staff writer
Take a pinch of fear about anthrax in the U.S. mail, add one shiny handheld device, throw in excited fans thousands of miles away and stir.
It's a recipe for a wireless, completely in-touch Olympics. And it's bringing smiles to members of the Australian Olympic team.
Compaq Computer Corp. and Icewrx Inc. have teamed up to provide the Australian Olympic team members and and others from the Australian delegation with Compaq iPAQ Pocket PCs that operate on Icewrx's HIVE secure wireless location-based system and Compaq's ProLiant industry standard servers. And the athletes say they're loving it.
The Aussies have been barred from opening traditional mail during the Games because of anthrax and other security fears. But with the handheld devices, they're getting not only the e-mail their family members and friends send, but also fan e-mail, sent through a special Web site address. And they can respond in seconds, if they want. They also can see streaming video of the Games, reach their teammates and keep themselves updated on scheduling, statistics, weather and more.
The iPAQs also have been loaded with information on dietary requirements.
There are, of course, programs that the athletes can use based on their personal preferences or needs.
It's not a new collaboration for Compaq and Icewrx. They teamed up to demonstrate high-speed, arena-based capability at the National Basketball Association Finals and at other sporting events. There, 50 celebrities who were attending the game were given a chance to experience real-time instant replays, shopping from their arena seats, player profiles and other features.
Bandwidth during the Games is being boosted through use of mobile units with advanced hardware and secure software to help reduce network congestion.
In many of the sporting venues, Icewrx has been bypassing mobile in favor of wiring up enclosed venues like sports stadiums or office buildings with 802.11b-compliant wireless LAN technology, adding new base stations as needed. In this case, the mobile unit can be placed where needed along the Wasatch Front.
"We're very excited about having them," Ryan Wells, manager of e-communications for the Australian Olympic Committee, said of the handheld devices. "We've never had them before, and this is great. If a fan wants to send an e-mail to Jacqui Cooper, our gold medal hope in aerials, they just send a message via the Web site."
Other teams are reportedly expressing interest for future sporting events. And a Compaq spokesman said she hopes to see the devices blooming all over during the next Olympics.
E-MAIL: lois@desnews.com
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February 12, 2002
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