VPnet Forums Expand Utilization of Network

Several forums have been held with various members from the VPnet consortium to explore collaboration opportunities.

  • Research Collaboration Discussion - The heads of research from the VPnet membership convened in February to discuss how to further promote research collaboration.  A "meet the researcher" seminar series is being planned utilizing video conferencing across VPnet.  This will enable researchers and others across the consortium to learn first-hand about some of the exciting research initiatives currently underway or being planned.

  • College of Education Discussion - The Deans of the College of Education from Whitworth, Gonzaga, EWU and WSU met in February to explore how VPnet could be utilized to support various education applications.  Whitworth College is using VPnet to conduct remote observations of Spokane Public School classes to garner teaching approaches and best practices.

  • Entrepreneur Program Discussion - Leaders of entrepreneurship programs at EWU, Gonzaga and Whitworth met to discuss how VPnet could be a tool for collaboration between the entrepreneur programs.  One of the early uses of VPnet will be to conduct guest speaker video conferences across all three campuses.


What is VPnet? What's Happening on VPnet? How can I Participate?
VPnet Committee Progress

VPnet committees are making excellent progress for the consortium.  The Funding committee, chaired by Judy Cole (Avista Corporation), has been instrumental in pursuing congressional support and securing member support for an FY06 federal appropriation request.  Receipt of an appropriation would enable VPnet to upgrade the network infrastructure and provide value-added applications for its members, including:  

  • Increased security through a redundant and centralized firewall service that can offer distributed management.
  • Network equipment redundancy (e.g. power supplies) that will result in greater equipment uptime and reliability.  
  • High bandwidth guarantees (Gigabit Ethernet) on a per node basis by implementing course wave division multiplexing (CWDM) technologies on the VPnet network.  
  • Increased bandwidth across wide area network connections (e.g. Seattle, Pullman)  
  • Applications and tools that provide additional value to the VPnet members (e.g. video conference bridge, content archive servers, portals for project-based collaboration, etc).

The Technology committee, chaired by Jack Miller (Whitworth College), is assisting in establishing VPnet video conferencing capabilities across the consortium.  Additionally, the technology committee identified several software collaboration solutions that VPnet is pursuing through Microsoft's Software Donation program.

The Business Development and Marketing committee, chaired by Pat Kelley (EWU), has been identifying key groups of faculty across the consortium to explore application and project possibilities.  Several clusters have been identified from which faculty members will explore application possibilities, including education, research, entrepreneurship programs, bioinformatics, medical informatics, and others. 

 

VPnet Application Spotlight - Distributed Music Rehearsal

The distributed music rehearsal is a VPnet project that bridges technology and the performing arts.  The experimental "distributed music" rehearsal occurred on April 18.   Musicians in two locations played together in real-time using a high-speed, audio and visual connection between Spokane and Cheney, Wash. provided by VPnet.

The experiment was undertaken by some of the region's top jazz musicians, led by Spokane musician and businessman Craig Volosing. One group of musicians was in the SIRTI boardroom in Spokane and the other group played from the Eastern Washington University Music Department choir room in Cheney.

Craig Volosing first proposed use of VPnet for performing arts applications. "This first experiment in the use of VPnet for music has allowed us to establish a baseline, technically and artistically, for ongoing experiments, applications and development," said Volosing. "We think VPnet will not only be a catalyst for economic development in the region but also a boost for the performing arts. It represents a commercially viable application in music and theater, and a cost-effective tool in performing arts education."

Organizers arranged for groups of area college students to evaluate both the technical and musical attributes of the experiment.



 

Imagine what happens when ideas and technology come together!

If you would like to learn more about VPnet, including possible membership to the consortium please visit our website at www.vpnet.org for details, or call Steve Trabun at 509-495-2829.


© April 2005 - Virtual Possibilities Network