As technology advances, education often follows: computers, the internet, and, more recently, artificial intelligence. However, remembering older learning methods — perhaps the most used- is still essential: printing. Here at Stevens, it is not uncommon to need to print out many materials, from formula sheets for exams and posters to forms and graphing paper. At the end of the semester last spring, Stevens announced the launch of a new printing app to use the on-campus printers. The Stute investigated how to use Pharos Mobile, the new app, and how well it works.
Announced last year on April 17, the printers in the library started using the Pharos MobilePrint platform, Uniprint. This platform allows students to print from phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers, regardless of the operating system. This new system allows printing documents, emails, images, or materials from a webpage. The Uniprint application uses students’ myStevens log-on credentials to print.
There are two ways to use the app: computer or mobile. The first step for printing from a computer is to use Steven’s Uniprint SharePoint, choose the computer’s operating system, and download the drivers. After downloading the drivers, select the Library Printing Queue, which, once logged into, will let you print to the library. Printing from a mobile device requires more steps than a laptop or desktop computer. To print, attach the document to a new email, which must be from a registered stevens.edu email address, and send it to either printbw@stevens.edu for black and white printing or printcolor@stevens.edu for color printing. Next, the system will auto-reply with a list of submitted documents and instructions on “releasing” the documents. Releasing is modestly simple, requiring tapping the DuckCard that matches the requesting email address. However, after 2 hours with no release, the system will delete the request and send a new request email. Another method of mobile printing is from the Uniprints web-browser option. Once in a web browser, go to Stevens’ printing website, log on, upload the documents to print, and select the preferred settings — releasing the documents is the same as above.
The Stute printed with all four (Windows, Mac, mobile email, and web browser) methods. The most inconvenient part of the Windows and Mac options was downloading and saving the drivers and settings on the computer. However, after that, it was modestly simple for future prints. The mobile options were also simple: emailing or logging onto the website.
For the most part, this new system is a significant improvement from the prior system, which required students to go to the library, log onto a desktop computer (which was often busy and always slow), and print that way. The Uniprint system offers the ability to print from anywhere on campus and have two hours to go to the library and print the documents from the queue. No log-on or device is required; tap the DuckCard that matches the requesting account (though, a quick note: it is still possible to print from the library’s desktops).
However, there are still some downsides. For one, it is only possible to print if students have enough DuckBills in their account. Additionally, it could be challenging for the first few prints to get used to the system (though this could be true for any new system). Additionally, there are quite a few restrictions and requirements regarding document types, document size, and the applications used to print.
With the launch of the Pharos MobilePrint’s Uniprint system, Stevens has upgraded its printing experience. The new app allows printing from anywhere on campus and many operating systems and device options to print from. Although there are some downsides, the system offers a significant improvement from the prior system. With time, the system will improve its downsides, and the new printing app will become a welcome addition to the Stevens campus.
