Demonstrating Advanced Applications to a Worldwide Audience
In March 2004, Internet2 hosted its first ever community-wide Internet2 Day. Internet2 Days are typically held on individual member campuses and reach out to local audiences. National Internet2 Day was presented from 10 different member locations and netcast live to a worldwide audience. More than 20 speakers participated in this daylong series of virtual talks, many of which incorporated live demonstrations across several disciplines.
Director of Instructional Technology and Academic Computing
Case Western Reserve University
During National Internet2 Day, over 40 Internet2 member organizations hosted simultaneous local activities. Members supplemented the netcast presentations with information about projects and collaborations underway within their own communities and raised awareness of how students, faculty and staff can engage in—and benefit from—Internet2 networking capabilities.
Several National Internet2 Day sessions showcased uses of advanced technologies for teaching and learning. A presentation on Case Western Reserve University's MediaVision courseware featured a live demonstration of this application in use in a large undergraduate introductory chemistry course. Additional presentations featured case studies on uses of distance learning and remote instrumentation in the classroom.
A National Internet2 Day segment on collaboration technologies highlighted ongoing activities in the Internet2 Commons and in the integrated communications and connectivity arena. A set of presentations focusing on science and research included an overview of applications of advanced networking to a radio astronomy technique called eVLBI (Electronic Transmission of Very Long Baseline Interferometry), high energy and nuclear physics, and earthquake engineering.
A live jazz performance provided a musical interlude between sessions, while demonstrating the potential of advanced networking to deliver live performance events. The National Internet2 Day concluded with a performing arts panel discussion featuring topics such as producing remote master classes, presenting multi-site performances, and providing educational outreach in the arts and humanities.
Netcasting for the National Internet2 Day was supplied by the Internet2 Commons videoconferencing service. Internet2 Corporate Sponsors Polycom, VBrick, RADVISION, and inSORS, and Internet2 corporate member Fujitsu Laboratories of America provided equipment and support. The ResearchChannel provided archive services for the streams.