Episode 79: Understanding Internet Dependency, Pt. 2 with Roger Sands, Co-Founder and CEO of Wyebot
Roger Sands is a co-founder and CEO of Wyebot Inc. Roger has 17 years of executive management positions in successful networking startups and Fortune 500 companies. Before Wyebot, Roger was the Business Line Manager for Hewlett-Packard’s WW WLAN business growing it from #6 to #2 market share. Roger joined HP via the acquisition of Colubris Networks a wireless startup where he held several executive positions including co-CEO and was instrumental in the HP acquisition. Before Colubris, he was a GM at Accton Technology founding the enterprise wireless business and building it to #3 market share via 6 strategic partnerships. Roger also held senior management positions at 3com, USRobotics, and Bytex Corporation. Roger holds a Masters and Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University.
Has the COVID pandemic and related changes increased our dependence on networks?
Due to the results of COVID, there is an increase in demand for hybrid learning. Distance hybrid learning was there since the 70s but when COVID hit, it changed the landscape all around. The comfort level in terms of the technology, and the number of professors using this type of distance learning became a lot more pervasive. Several universities have been using this method for quite some time but when we were forced into it across not only the United Stated but the globe, that drove a level of technology and innovation and comfort level right around the technology, the tools, and the ability to do this. We are seeing an acceleration of something that was already there and working, but now we are seeing an acceleration because of that adoption that has taken place over the last couple of years, and expected it to continue. There will be a combination. There are benefits and in certain situations, for onsite learning and collaboration when you are in the in-person environments, but having that flexibility now with both distance hybrid learning as well as in-person is going to be a combination that universities are going to optimize going forward because it will provide more flexibility.
How can educational institutions adapt to this rising demand for connectivity?
The universities that have this younger generation within their school system yens to be on average faster adopters. This is a common theme in the industry. It isn’t necessarily the school adapting to the rising demand for connectivity because some people and professors are comfortable with the process and the procedures that they have been using and often the advanced technology isn’t at the forefront of what they are looking for so it is not so much as a school profile but those within the schools, who are the ones pushing and adopting and working with the students are the one who are making a difference.
Where do you see the future of connectivity on campus going?
WIFI is going to be primary for campuses. This does not mean it will only be in the building but the whole campus infrastructure. This includes sports stadiums, outdoor venues, quads, etc. There are just a lot of different aspects to take into count. What is going to be more important is having student, teacher, and staff conductivity right across the entire infrastructure because sharing information in real-time is what we are going after here, so the universities that lead that idea will have a technology advantage. As you migrate outside the building and you are talking to these larger campuses, that is where you see 4G and 5G becoming more prevalent and the core conductivity. You will have these devices that leverage both.
Contact Roger Sands: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-sands-4142673
Get Information about Wyebot Inc:https://wyebot.com/
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