10 Tuesday, June 16, 2009 COMPUNET

COOL TOOLS
Modern education strategies
to develop business leaders
MOLOUK Y. BA-ISA | ARAB NEWS about the role of our programs and of our
college to the region. We try to make our
DHAHRAN: This year, Fundamentals of student projects as useful as possible to the
E-Commerce (MIS 300) and E-Commerce business community.”
Project (MIS 402) students from King Fahd In addition to student participation in
University of Petroleum & Minerals (www. projects and competitions while at the uni-
kfupm.edu.sa) are playing an active role in versity, Dr. Mohammed H. Al-Hazmi, chair-
the second Google Online Marketing man of the Department of Accounting & MIS
Challenge (GOMC). Developed by educators at KFUPM’s College of Industrial Management,
in collaboration with the search engine giant discussed the importance of the university’s
Google, the Challenge (www.google.com/ Co-Op Program. The university has required
onlinechallenge) is an opportunity for stu- the Co-Op experience since its programs
dents to gain practical, real world online began in 1963.
marketing experience. “As part of the requirements for gradua-
VIRTUAL REALITY: D-BOX Motion Code technology is “My e-Commerce students are the only tion, all juniors in our college spend 28
students participating in the GOMC from weeks working with local business and
installed inside seats at a movie theater in Mall of America. Saudi Arabia,” said Mustafa Faisal Ahmed, industry,” he explained. “Our cooperative
lecturer, Department of Accounting and programs are highly structured. We endeavor
Shake, rattle and roll Management Information Systems (MIS), to match the skills of each student to a suit-
n Movie theaters are installing new technology which moves the College of Industrial Management, King Fahd able Co-Op placement. A detailed program is
audience’s seats in perfect sync with the onscreen action. D-BOX University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM). created for each student and he is tracked
Motion Code uses programmed motion effects embedded and spe- “This semester students have been working throughout the semester during his Co-Op
with clients ranging from Saudi government experience. Three progress reports are sub-
cially programmed for each film, which are sent to a motion generat-
organizations to multinational hotel chains.” 21ST CENTURY EDUCATON: From left, Dr. Mohammed H. Al-Hazmi, Dr. Eid S. mitted during the 28 weeks and a represen-
ing system integrated in a platform or a seat. While audience mem- Companies joining with the students in the tative from the university visits the student to
bers experience motion during action sequences, the seats remain Al-Shammari and Mustafa Faisal Ahmed. According to Dr. Al-Shammari, at
Challenge include the Saudi Arabian General determine that everything is going according
still during quieter scenes. The seats come equipped with adjustable KFUPM the goal is to graduate students who have the ability to think
Investment Authority (SAGIA), the Supreme to plan.”
settings so individuals can customize the experience. The goal is to Commission for Tourism (SCT), Holiday Inn creatively, bolstered by the knowledge and guided experiences they have When students return to the university
make the moviegoer feel as if he is a part of the film. Al-Khobar, Gillani Inc., PreciseTrace, Goody gained at the university. after their experience, they write a report
and RedCap Auto. Over the course of the panies. We are always trying to find ways to information. What is better than computers on what they observed and learned. Many
Free calls worldwide semester, the KFUPM students have been help our students apply their knowledge. for such functionality? There were manage- students when they graduate get a chance
working with their respective clients to devel- Over the last six years KFUPM has partici- ment information systems before computers. to work with the company where they per-
n Today, Witel Corp (witel.com) launches a new mobile phone op and implement an e-marketing campaign. formed their Co-Op. KFUPM data shows
service that will enable virtually anyone in the world to make and pated in four global student competitions Paper and pencil can be used as part of a
Students have also done an analysis of the and KFUPM’s MIS students have always management information system, but now that about 80 percent of students receive
receive free calls. Witel’s global mobile phone service and its Jetter campaign, with two reports submitted to the an offer of employment from the organiza-
Wi-Fi phone allows free mobile phone calls without the need for a placed in either the finals or semi-finals.” computers are generally at the foundation of
client company — one prior to the cam- Management Information Systems (MIS) MIS. Management Information Systems are tion that sponsored them for their co-
computer or a dedicated Internet connection. All that's required is a paign and then a post campaign analysis. operative training.
Witel Jetter phone priced at $59.99. refer to a group of the overall internal con- developed, implemented and utilized through
“The GOMC is a good opportunity for stu- trols of a business covering the application of a combination of the talents of computer “Other Saudi universities have now intro-
The Jetter Wi-Fi phone looks and feels like a normal mobile dents to learn hands on about e-marketing. duced the Co-Op in their programs. It is also
phone except that unlike traditional phones the Jetter routes calls people, documents, technologies and proce- engineers, software engineers and MIS spe-
The campaign just ended on June 12 and we dures by management accountants to solving cialists. Each plays a role.” true that the number of students has increased
over Wi-Fi networks as opposed to conventional mobile phone should know the results in about two weeks,” and therefore the opportunities and the pres-
networks. This means that Witel users can be anywhere in the business problems such as costing a prod- Al-Shammari is pleased with the participa-
Ahmed said. “Through GOMC students get uct, service or a business-wide strategy. tion of the MIS students in the Google Online sure to have places in the companies is
world and place free calls. the excitement of competing on a global there,” remarked Al-Shammari. “Over the
Management information systems are dis- Marketing Challenge because he believes that
level. Of course there’s a great incentive. The tinct from regular information systems in that this shows how KFUPM is once again playing years we have had successful relationships
Bluetooth improves health overall winners and their instructor receive a they are used to analyze other information a leading role in preparing young minds to with a great many companies. Our reputation
trip to the Googleplex in Mountain View, systems applied in operational activities in “think outside the box” and compete both in as far as our graduates are concerned is an
n More personal health and fitness devices including heart rate California.” excellent selling point for the Co-Op.”
the organization. Academically, MIS is used the local and global economy.
monitors and watches will soon offer wireless connectivity through Online business is one of the newer focus KFUPM graduates are well placed at the
to refer to the group of information manage- “In many areas, KFUPM is more up to date
Bluetooth technology. areas in the Department of Accounting and ment methods tied to the automation or than people imagine. In terms of information top of the Saudi business hierarchy. This is
Continua Health Management Information Systems (MIS) at support of human decision-making. technology, KFUPM, even when it was the an achievement that KFUPM is striving to
Alliance, an industry KFUPM’s College of Industrial Management. “Any information system that allows some- University of Petroleum and Minerals (UPM), maintain by educating students who are criti-
coalition of health care Courses in e-Commerce have been offered by one to manage effectively is a management was along with Saudi Aramco, the first infor- cal thinkers. Updating its programs and
and technology com- the department since September 2000 with a information system,” said Dr. Eid S. mation technology center in the country. introducing innovative learning experiences
panies charged with focus on the business side of e-Commerce Al-Shammari, dean, College of Industrial KFUPM’s Information Technology Center into the curriculum are part of the universi-
establishing a system rather than the technical side. Students are Management, KFUPM. “It so happens that for (ITC) is still a leader in the Middle East,” he ty’s strategy to give its graduates a competi-
of interoperable per- well-equipped however to handle many of information systems to be effective, you need advised. “The university had computers tive edge in the business world.
sonal telehealth solu- the technical complexities of e-Commerce, to have fast, accurate, on-time delivery of before any other institute of higher learning “Our e-Commerce courses are just one
tions, named Bluetooth as the department has set up a dedicated in the Kingdom and we were the first to have means of helping students see the need to
technology as its choice e-Commerce lab. ‘smart’ classrooms.” strike a balance between knowledge and
for wireless technology “Our e-Commerce courses combine the The university’s methods for developing its creative thinking. Education is not about
within health and fit- essential information about international programs actually forces KFUPM to be cur- memorization. It is about learning to process
ness devices. e-Commerce with information about e-Com- rent in its offerings. Any department that knowledge into information and then have
Chosen over several merce in a Saudi setting,” explained Ahmed. develops a program must benchmark it and no inhibitions to develop new ideas,” said
other wireless technol- “We do use up-to-date textbooks, but they map it against the top ten programs in the Al-Shammari.
ogies after a rigorous are primarily US oriented so in certain areas United States. If there is a deviation in any Ahmed added, “Personally, I believe the
10-month review pro- we supplement the textbooks with local aspect of the curriculum, be it infrastructure future for my students will be very bright. The
cess, Bluetooth tech- information and local expertise. For exam- or content, then that must be justified. All nature of the e-Commerce courses at KFUPM
nology was selected to ple, some of the e-payment information in programs at the university are reviewed every is very entrepreneurial. In my advanced
enable low power NONIN’S PULSE OXIMETER: This the textbooks is not really applicable to the five years and the most modern textbooks e-commerce class, we covered topics such
mobile devices such as Bluetooth enabled device allows Saudi market, but it’s essential that students are used in instruction. as creating Facebook applications as a busi-
activity monitors and wireless noninvasive monitoring of understand the financial mechanisms for “Another point is that we are AACSB ness model. Not many other universities
oxygenation sensors to the oxygenation of a patient’s blood. e-Commerce in the Kingdom. Additionally, accredited,” Al-Shammari said. “The globally are doing this. In the Middle East,
be used to keep tabs we teach our students about all the organiza- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of e-Commerce is still underdeveloped and
tions that would be involved in e-Commerce NEW OPPORTUNITIES: KFUPM has Business (AACSB) has standards that are in there are many opportunities waiting to be
on a user’s health and fitness levels. This selection means that con-
in the Saudi setting, such as the the only students from Saudi Arabia line with what should be an acceptable repu- explored. For my students this means one
sumers should see a wider array of Bluetooth personal telehealth
devices hit the market by next year. Communications and Information Technology participating in the second Google table program and KFUPM adheres to these great idea successfully commercialized could
Commission (CITC) and local hosting com- Online Marketing Challenge. standards. In addition, we’re fully cognizant lead to success. That is very exciting.”
Solar makes this phone green

Mummies unwrap Egyptian history

n No need for a charger with Samsung’s new solar-powered hand-
set. Called the “Crest Solar,” the Samsung E1107 has a solar cell on
the back of the handset. For every hour that the phone soaks up sun,
the solar cell generates enough power in its 800mAh battery for ten
minutes of talk time.
The phone also charges with electricity because it would take 40 MOLOUK Y. BA-ISA | ARAB NEWS Everyone is invited to visit the Museum’s
website for access to a wonderful microsite

I
hours to charge the phone fully for 12-hour long talk time.
Nevertheless it’s great in an emergency or if you’re frequently away f you ask children from outside the dedicated to the exhibition: www.mcq.org/
from a charging source. region about what fascinates them most momies. The microsite offers an overview
The Solar Crest is eco-friendly in that it's made from recycled in the Middle East, mummies are usu- and three games that provide a glimpse into
ally high on their list of curiosities. Mummies ancient Egypt. Complete the three games to
materials and is free from noxious substances such as beryllium and
have been in the news lately thanks to new leave your mark in the sarcophagi chamber
phthalates. The phone is
discoveries by world-renowned archaeolo- and earn a fantastic personalized wallpaper!
dual band 900/1800
gist, Dr. Zahi Hawass (http://dr.hawass. Another amusing mummy resource is at
Mhz. It also has an FM com/) and US President Barack Obama's http://kids.discovery.com/fansites/tuten-
radio, a 1.52-inch CSTN sightseeing while on a diplomatic visit to stein/tutenstein.html. Tutenstein is an Emmy
display, MP3 ring tones, Egypt. Award winning animated television series
and embedded games. A new exhibition, “Fascinating Egyptian that features young mummy
The phone can be used Mummies” will run Tutankhensetamun -
as a flashlight, but that’s
probably not ideal if you
through the next year WYSIWYG based on real-life
at Quebec City’s Musee Tutankhamun and
are recharging with de la Civilization. usually called
solar power. Although tombs and mummies have long “Tutenstein” as in the title. Supposedly, he
There’s also a fake been subject to pillaging and curiosity, their was awakened about 3,000 years after his
call feature which can situation today has changed. Mummies have accidental death and now has to face the
give the user an exit become valuable vehicles for discovery and fact that his kingdom is gone. The Discovery mask and there’s a “Mummy Lesson Plan” two very different mummies: one from an
when needed. Even if scientific analysis thanks to new noninvasive fan site offers a variety of games and activi- with do-it-yourself mummy projects. Finally, Egyptian tomb and another from the Andes
you usually use a fancier technologies such as tomography (CAT). The ties including name writing in hieroglyphs don’t miss National Geographic’s “Xpedition” Mountains in Peru. Children use the clues
phone this is a great exhibition contains updated information on and mummy making. called “Unwrapping Mummies” at www. provided by each mummy to decipher who
phone for a day at the SOLAR CREST: With a photovoltaic ancient Egypt, linking past and present. The Guardian’s Egypt (www.guardians.net/) nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activi- they were, how they died and what their cul-
beach or a vacation. panel at the back, the Samsung mummies’ secrets provide insight into Egypt’s has a kids section filled with information and ties/17/mummies.html. The Xpedition tack- tures were like. The Xpedition is supple-
The Samsung E1107 is E1107 can be charged either past, and shed light on a civilization that activities about Egypt and mummies. Children les mummies from the perspective of a mented with multimedia resources, educa-
priced at just $59. through electricity or solar power. continues to captivate people worldwide. can take a mummy quiz, make a mummy famous archaeologist. Kids are asked to study tional games and stories.