Closing the Computational Hardware Divide in Community Colleges, Rural Schools, and Urban Title I Institutions: A Systems and Cost-Effectiveness Benchmark of Zero-Install Browser Laboratories
Author: Julian Mercer (ORCID: 0009-0003-1162-170X) · Date: October 28, 2026 · DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23756828
Abstract (ERIC 5-Element Standard)
The purpose of this education research report—prepared specifically in alignment with the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and ERIC Selection Policy collection goals—is to quantify how zero-install, browser-offloaded computational laboratories mitigate the hardware and total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) divide across diverse United States educational locales. Using the 200-configuration EdTech benchmark dataset (DS-7), the methodology evaluates 10 laboratory workflows (spanning generative AI, 3D CAD reconstruction, ISO 19005 PDF/A preservation, data table extraction, and audio DSP) across five National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) institutional categories and four client device profiles, including 4-gigabyte RAM Chromebooks and entry-level Windows desktops. Results demonstrate that browser-based execution eliminates 1.2 to 34.0 gigabytes of local disk installation footprint, reduces laboratory setup time from 25-125 minutes to 0.0 minutes, maintains peak client RAM usage below 674 megabytes, and yields estimated annual per-seat software and hardware savings between $180 and $920 while maintaining Section 508 accessibility. Implications for educational administrators and policymakers include scalable STEM equity without capital-intensive GPU lab procurement. Additional materials include 7 tables, 42 references, NCES locale breakdowns, and 210 embedded URI links.
Statutory ERIC Topic Areas & Descriptors
Topic Areas: Community Colleges; Rural Education and Small Schools; Urban Education; Information and Technology; Disabilities and Gifted Education
ERIC Thesaurus Descriptors: Equal Education; Digital Divide; Community Colleges; Rural Education; Urban Education; Cost Effectiveness; Laptop Computers; Accessibility (for Disabled); Educational Technology