Tag: university of michigan

Installing .mobileconfig files on iPad (Setting up MWireless and U-M VPN)

Posted on by

Secure wifi networks often require installation of a certificate on mobile devices trying to connect. Apple provides a utility to allow companies to create configuration (“.mobilconfig”) files for iPhone and iPad that install the appropriate settings and certificates for their wifi network.

These .mobileconfig files can be put on the web for download to the device through Safari, but sometimes this doesn’t work. If the web server is not configured with the correct MIME type (application/x-apple-aspen-config for .mobileconfig files), the device’s Safari browser may not allow it to be downloaded. The link may not even function at all – it is not clickable in some cases.

If this happens, you can still install the .mobilconfig file by downloading it on a laptop or desktop computer and emailing it to your i-device. When you click on the attachment, it should start the installation process. However, you may have to change the extension to “.der” before emailing it to have it recognized as a certificate.

The University of Michigan has .mobilconfig files available for connection to the MWireless network and U-M VPN, and I found that emailing them to my iPad as described above was the only way I could install them.

Continue reading

Virtual Reality Field trip

Posted on by

mu3d_tour_02.jpg

The VR gurus at the University of Michigan took us on a short trip into their realm a couple of days ago (just before the power failure!). They demonstrated three viewing options for their VRML files: The Cave, a rear projection screen, and standard web VRML plugins like the Cosmo player.

The Cave is a huge cubical room, about 10 feet on a side, with one wall removed. Each wall is a rear projection screen, except the floor, which gets its image from a mirrored projection unit placed in the ceiling (at least the mirror is – I am not sure where the projection came from.) The offset images are polarized, apparently they are alternated about 100 times a second, so if you view them without glasses, you will see a slightly doubled image. The viewpoint is determined by the “leader” who wears a set of polarized glasses (kind of like Oakleys on steroids) wired into the system. When the leader turns their head, the perspective – and separation of the images – changes to suit them. The glasses have shutters on each eye -they alternate open and shut, in sync with the image. The 3D effect is quite good. Everyone else in the room wears shuttered lenses also, but not wired in, so the viewpoint may be a little off for some. They demonstrated an architectural model of “the Barcelona House”, and a human heart.

Continue reading