#7a Technology to behold

Thing 7a. Write a blog post on some technology of interest
I always take pride that the NSS lab is fully equiped with real routers and switches. Our students get to work on real equipment. However, recent development in the simulation technology has changed the learning landscape forever. With the latest Packet Tracer 5.0, a freeware from Cisco System, students can do their experiments anytime and anywhere. They can also do things that they cannot do with the real thing, for example, packets that are generated within the router and discarded by the same router. On the real router, there is nothing to see. On the other hand, the simulator displayed such packets marked with a cross. It has, in fact, become the platform of choice for our students.

Packet Tracer 5.0 also supports multi-user . It came with multi-player platform like the "King of the Hill" game where multiple players contest to reach the top of the hill first. They moved simultaneously toward the target by solving puzzles and their movement can be seen in real time adding to the excitement of the game.

The captured figure is also a good example of Watermarking Technology. If you look closely, you will see the words "Packet Tracer 5.0 Beta" dotted all over. They do not intrude the user's vision and shows the ownership subtly.