High-tech gadgets and gizmos will be on display today at the third annual Technology Fair.

“The fair’s purpose is to bring the latest technology to the campus so faculty, staff and students can view it,” said John Henderson, director of user services at the Center for Academic Technology Support.

“We’re trying to show the technology that’s out there,” said Michael Hoadley, assistant vice president for academic affairs for technology.

Twenty-four outside vendors and 12 on-campus organizations are participating in the fair. Outside companies such as Dell, Toshiba, Gateway and Consolidated Communications are represented among the 24 vendors. The on-campus organizations participating are Ninth Street Productions of WEIU-TV, the academic technology advisory committee, Booth Library and others.

The fair starts at 9:30 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. with a break at 11:30 a.m.

During the lunch break, CATS will recognize 16 faculty members for excellence in the use of technology at a luncheon banquet.

The fair is also an opportunity for the campus to give feedback to CATS about what kinds of technology they’re interested in.

“We try to get feedback from the campus all the time,” Hoadley said. “That’s why we do the tech fair-to give them ideas and then ask for their advice.

“I’d much rather have them recommend things and then we evaluate them so that we’re not saying this is what you’re going to use.”

The university has purchased technology featured in previous fairs, he said, listing Turning Point-a program that works with PowerPoint-projectors, printers and computers.

Aside from the venders, it’s important that the campus becomes familiar with the on-campus technology organizations because after the companies sell their product, the on-campus groups provide the local support, Hoadley said.

“I want people to know that we don’t have to leave campus to get that expertise,” he said. “They have lots of options here on campus.”