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Internet2, The Sequel

Government agencies and universities are collaborating on the development of a computer network to succeed today's Internet.

By Theodora Tongas, PCWorld   

Government agencies and the university community have sought a faster, larger-scale environment in which to conduct advanced research. Their solution is Internet2, an academic and government research-only network that serves as the platform for broadband network applications, including digital libraries and virtual laboratories.

Demonstrations of advanced Internet applications were the highlight of the Internet2 member meeting last week in Washington D.C., the first since the organization%squots inception a year ago. Participants in Washington linked with developers based at universities around the country (over the Net, of course). One presentation brought together Washington and the University of Illinois at Chicago in a shared virtual reality simulation of the intricate anatomy of the middle and inner ear.

%dquotWe can implement [the technology] in areas that aren%squott privileged to have a surgeon,%dquot said Dr. Mason, an otolaryngologist at the university. %dquotThis makes it possible for a master of otolaryngology to give a lecture anywhere. The beauty of the system is [that two parties] can see the model simultaneously over real time.%dquot

In addition to being a training tool, Internet2 will enable universities with significant libraries to share information, according to Jon Dunn, technical director of a project at Indiana University%squots School of Music that makes digital music archives accessible to students and instructors around the country with Internet2%squots capabilities. Dunn demonstrated the retrieval of a performance of Beethoven%squots Fifth Symphony via both Internets. While the regular Internet lost packets in transmission that resulted in a choppy rendition, Internet2 brought a virtual orchestra into the room.

Even with the technological advancements that Internet2 is exhibiting, commercial Internet users won%squott reap the benefits of Internet2 for a while.

%dquotInternet2 is following is the same process as the first Internet,%dquot said Greg Wood, communications director at Internet2. %dquotIt started out as a very arcane research project among scientists. Once the technological development by the university has been proven to be workable and viable, it will be adopted by the public sector.... [The common user] can expect to use the advanced capabilities of Internet in five years,%dquot he said. %dquotThe potential is really exciting.%dquot