JACOB KONST/Arizona Daily Wildcat Isa Gordon, a.k.a Psymbiote, explains the functions of her many technological attachments to Ari Lerner, an undecided sophomore. Gordon was one of the speakers at the opening of the Multimedia Zone, a high-tech computer lab in the ILC.

The Multimedia Zone, a high tech computer lab in the ILC,

officially opened yesterday with a dedication ceremony.

People mingled throughout the Zone, viewed demonstrations of software, and talked to Psymbiote, a woman with technology implanted in her body.

Sally Jackson, vice president and chief information officer, and Carla Stoffle, dean of university libraries, sliced through the large red satin ribbon stretched across the Zone's entrance, officially dedicating and opening the area for use.

"The Zone stands for UA's distinctive approach to technological learning. It also has a deep, deep sense of cool," Jackson said.

Karen White, associate professor in the School of Art, said that the technology will be a huge benefit for students.

"It's really exciting and thrilling to see it come together. Everyone's very enthusiastic about it. Students now have another opportunity to use technology to go from the idea stage to realization of their goals," she said.

The Multimedia Zone is opening up two years after the ILC was completed because budget cuts delayed the project and then forced the Zone to open with only eight workstations instead of the 40 originally planned for.

Regardless, administrators and students were excited.

"It's scaled down, but it's here!" Stoffle said.

Guillermo Uribe, director of the University Learning Center, said he hopes that the Zone will be able to expand in the future.

"It's my hope that high demand will justify expansion of the project," he said. "So far, it's been great. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays successful."

Psymbiote, the Human Cyborg-Zygote, also known as Isa Gordon, was hard to miss as she walked around covered in leather and various apparatuses. During the event Psymbiote put in her thoughts about technology and the trends that the UA is setting in terms of development.

"Technology has become integral to our daily lives," she said.

The UA has created a center in this space that is pretty magical and fantastic. This is an example of how the university is trying to shrink the gap between the haves and have-nots in terms of giving technology to the community as a whole, she said.

"She's pretty cute," said John Neilson, a pre-pharmacy sophomore. "I also like her large shoes. They're nice."

A few bewildered students, faculty, and staff passing through the ILC noticed the growing crowd outside of the Multimedia Zone.

A family from Fountain Hills was on its way to a tour when it came across the Zone.

Grant Laten, a sophomore at Fountain Hills High School, and his parents Judy and Don and Grandma Joan Edwards commented on the quality of the UA's computer lab.

"This is awesome. Everything is considered to be state of the art technology. My son was also excited to see so many Macs. I don't think we'll be able to drag him out," said Don Laten.

With $1,000 given away just about every hour, the Zone sparked interest in students who said they have no multimedia expertise.

"I have no background at all in this area," said Aaron Huber, a psychology senior. "The free stuff sparked my interest because I have an old junker computer at home, and I'd like to win something new."

He ran out of luck in the first giveaway group, as Sol Cunningham, an Architecture senior, won the 40 gigabyte firewire hard drive.

"I saw they were giving away really cool stuff today," he said. "I already use the Zone for architecture projects. It's pretty exciting because you can create realistic looking structures."

Other students said they came not only to win prizes but also to satisfy their curiosity.

"They were definitely an incentive to come," said Chuong Tran, an electrical engineering freshman. "I also just wanted to see what was here."