Proctored Exams

Reliable Connectivity for Everyone: A Commitment to Inclusive Technology

As I was driving through a remote area recently, I was engaged in an important conversation with a colleague. Suddenly, the line went dead—something that rarely happens when you’re in the city. We reconnected a few miles later, and the conversation continued. For me, it was a minor inconvenience, but for many who rely on our service, such disruptions can have significant implications.

In today’s world, the pace of technological advancement is often geared toward enhancing the urban experience—whether it’s faster food deliveries, high-speed online gaming, or quicker ride-hailing services. While speed is undoubtedly important, reliability is even more crucial, particularly for those in less connected areas. The digital divide is a growing concern, and as we race toward the future, we risk leaving behind those who don’t have access to reliable technology.

Proctorio’s Vision: Bridging the Digital Divide

When we founded Proctorio nine years ago, our mission was clear: to create a solution with the lowest bandwidth requirements in the industry. We understood that not everyone has access to the latest devices or high-speed internet. Whether in a bustling city or a rural community, our users should be able to rely on our service to complete their tests without interruption.

The pandemic highlighted the critical need for reliable internet access, as more universities and institutions moved online. The disparity between those with strong connections and those without became more pronounced. At Proctorio, we aimed to bridge this gap by ensuring that our service operates efficiently, even with minimal bandwidth.

The Challenge of Bandwidth in Digital Education

In 2021, Proctorio administered over 25 million tests. While this is a significant achievement, approximately 80,000 test attempts were unsuccessful due to bandwidth limitations. Although this represents less than 0.5% of total attempts, each failed attempt is a missed opportunity for a student and a potential source of stress and delay.

Bandwidth requirements remain a critical concern in digital learning environments. The EdTech industry is notorious for high minimum requirements, making it difficult for students with weaker connections to participate fully. An analysis of our competitors revealed that they would have faced significantly higher failure rates due to their higher bandwidth demands:

  • Competitor H: 465,313 more failed exam attempts
  • Competitor U: 839,508 more failed exam attempts
  • Competitor E: 1,023,642 more failed exam attempts

One competitor alone would have been unable to connect students to their exams over a million times.

A Breakthrough in Bandwidth Efficiency

While many companies would be content with our level of success, we were not. We knew we could do better. That’s why we’re excited to announce a groundbreaking update that reduces our bandwidth requirements to an industry-low 0.189Mbps.

By refining our proprietary streaming technology, we’ve enhanced the efficiency of our service. This update allows the computer to run more smoothly during exams, reducing CPU load, power consumption, and bandwidth needs—all while improving the quality of the recorded sessions.

Since implementing this update in January, Proctorio’s performance has improved by an impressive 54%.

Making Education Accessible to All

At Proctorio, we believe that access to education should not be hindered by hardware limitations. Our service is designed to be compatible with devices up to ten years old, ensuring that students don’t need to purchase new equipment to pursue their education. By dramatically lowering the necessary bandwidth, we are leveling the playing field for students everywhere, making education more accessible and equitable.

The future of education is promising, but it must be one that is inclusive, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their location or resources, can participate and succeed.

Data Insights and Future Outlook

Our data shows that even at speeds slower than dial-up, students attempted to take exams—demonstrating the resilience and determination of learners. This further motivates us to continue innovating and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in digital education.

As we move forward, our commitment remains strong: to provide reliable, accessible, and efficient technology that supports every student, no matter where they are. The future of education is bright, and together, we will make sure it’s a future that everyone can share in.

Leave A Comment

Your Comment
All comments are held for moderation.