News for and about the Internet2 community

["Greg Wood" <>]

Contacts:
Susan Andrews
Northwestern University

+1-847-467-5930

Peggy Keegan
C-SPAN

+1-202-626-8797

Greg Wood
Internet2

+1-202-331-5360

Mike Maney
IBM

+1-914-766-4530

C-SPAN, iCAIR and Internet2 Announce New Digital Video Initiative
New initiative supported by existing and experimental IBM and other
technologies

Washington, DC--March 28, 2000--Today the International Center for Advanced
Internet Research at Northwestern University (iCAIR), C-SPAN, and Internet2
announced an initiative to advance a new generation of Internet media
applications initially focused on higher education. IBM, a founding member
of iCAIR, will support the new initiative with a new combination of existing
and experimental technologies. Other technologies include high-performance
components that comprise the advanced networks. The technologies at iCAIR
will enable video content, high-quality digital encoding, high volume
storage, digital content management, and the indexing, retrieval, and
viewing of content through a video portal.

"This initiative will help develop experimental capabilities to interact
with video content and to integrate digital video for research and education
applications," said Robert Kennedy, executive vice president of C-SPAN.

"This project demonstrates iCAIR's advanced digital media technologies for
the Internet, which will soon provide powerful multimedia experiences to
anyone, anywhere, anytime," said Joel Mambretti, director of the
International Center for Advanced Internet Research.

This experimental system is currently in development at iCAIR and is being
demonstrated today in Washington, D.C. during the Spring 2000 Internet2
Member Meeting.

This initiative with C-SPAN is the latest step in an effort by Internet2 and
iCAIR to develop a national Digital Video Network (I2-DVN). I2-DVN will
provide a variety of digital services initially focused on higher education.
Supporting this network will be emerging advanced Internet technologies that
guarantee high quality video and audio services. Initial trials of the
I2-DVN have already been successfully conducted by the Metropolitan Research
and Education Network (MREN), a
seven-state upper Midwest regional advanced network linked to
high-performance backbone networks.

International Center for Advanced Internet Research, Northwestern University
(iCAIR): iCAIR was established by Northwestern and IBM, with Cisco Systems,
Ameritech, and other corporate partners to accelerate the development and
implementation of advanced Internet technologies and services
(www.icair.org). Northwestern University, established in 1851, is a leading
private research and teaching institution with 17,700 undergraduate,
graduate and professional students enrolled in 12 schools and colleges. It
is considered one of the top ranked institutions for effective use of
technology. For more information about Northwestern University, visit its
Web site at http://www.nwu.edu

C-SPAN, which marks its 21st anniversary in March, offers commercial-free
round-the-clock coverage of public affairs via cable and satellite and on
the Internet. C-SPAN was created in l979 by the cable television industry as
a public service to the nation. For more information about C-SPAN, visit its
Web site at www.c-span.org

Internet2(tm) is developing and deploying advanced network applications and
technologies for research and education, accelerating the creation of
tomorrow's Internet. For more information about Internet2, see:
http://www.internet2.edu/

IBM: IBM is the world's leading provider of information technology products
and services and an Internet2 Corporate Partner. IBM creates, develops, and
manufactures the industry's most advanced information technologies,
including computer systems, software, networking systems, storage devices
and microelectronics. For more information about the company, please visit
http://www.ibm.com

Metropolitan Research and Education Network (MREN): MREN, designed in 1993
and implemented in 1994 by a consortium of research organizations, is one of
the world's most advanced high performance networks. MREN was designed to
support a wide range of advanced applications and to accelerate the
development of next generation Internet technologies. MREN established the
world's first GigaPOP in 1995. For more information, go to
http://www.mren.org



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