June 7, 2002

Computer System Displays Personal Messages About Graduates at 2 Commencements

The days of masking-tape messages on mortarboards could be drawing to a close, at least at the Universities of Pennsylvania and New Mexico.

Last month, both institutions held commencements using a Web site and wireless technology to allow students to display personal messages on video screens as they collected their diplomas.

The displays were produced with a computerized system called MarchingOrder, which was developed and is maintained by two students who graduated from Penn