Vpnet Newsletter

VPnet Meets With Local Representatives From Washington and Idaho Delegations
During May and June, VPnet President Steve Trabun, along with others from the consortium, met and presented VPnet to local delegates from Washington and Idaho. Local staff from the offices of Congresswoman McMorris, Senators Cantwell, Murray, Craig, Crapo and Representative Otter were provided briefings on VPnet. In a separate meeting, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris personally visited with Steve Trabun at Avista Corp. to observe several VPnet application demonstrations. The briefings have been an important part of reinforcing, for our legislators, the value and benefit of VPnet toward economic development in our region. VPnet is seeking a federal appropriation to enhance the existing network infrastructure.

VPnet Meets With Local Representatives From Washington and Idaho Delegations

During May and June, VPnet President Steve Trabun, along with others from the consortium, met and presented VPnet to local delegates from Washington and Idaho. Local staff from the offices of Congresswoman McMorris, Senators Cantwell, Murray, Craig, Crapo and Representative Otter were provided briefings on VPnet. In a separate meeting, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris personally visited with Steve Trabun at Avista Corp. to observe several VPnet application demonstrations.

The briefings have been an important part of reinforcing, for our legislators, the value and benefit of VPnet toward economic development in our region. VPnet is seeking a federal appropriation to enhance the existing network infrastructure.

VPnet Project Spotlight - EWU Partners In Learning Grant

Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire and Microsoft awarded a $2.5 million grant to Eastern Washington University (EWU) and the Cheney School District to help teachers learn how to best tailor their classroom instruction to meet students' individual needs in reading, writing and math. This collaborative project between EWU and Cheney School District proposes to create a new technological gateway through a "virtual school". The virtual school will offer curriculum designed to increase: 1) relevance of learning activities to students’ developmental levels and interests; 2) students’ motivation to learn, persistence and engagement; 3) instruction targeted to students’ specific academic levels and tailored to those needing remediation; and 4) assessment and immediate feedback about students’ mastery of facts, conceptual understanding, and application.

VPnet will be utilized for:

Real-time parent-teacher conferences and classroom observations
Pre- and in-service teacher preparation and technical assistance, including real-time collaboration
Pre-service teacher observations of classroom teaching

The project kick-off meeting was held on June 22, with attendees from the Governor's office, Microsoft, Cheney School District, EWU and VPnet. This project, which is anticipated to continue over a five-year period, is an "action research" project to provide continuous staff development for both pre-service and in-service teachers.

Applied Parallel Cluster Computing Research Roundtable
Fifteen Spokane area research scientists, representing all of the area’s universities and several private sector companies, research administrators, and economic development gurus met at SIRTI on Thursday, July 14, 2005 to brainstorm applications and projects requiring parallel computer clusters. The thirty attendees were treated to a cluster computing "state of the union" update by Bernard Daines of Liberty Lake Internet Exchange (LLIX) and Joshua Harr, Ph.D. CTO of Linux Networx. The Applied Parallel Computer Cluster roundtable was sponsored by Eastern Washington University (EWU), LLIX, Spokane Area Economic Development Council, and Virtual Possibilities Network (VPnet). The objective of this meeting was to identify a handful of novel and non-traditional applications that could execute on a shared computer cluster resource located in the Inland Northwest, with connectivity provided via VPnet. Several projects were presented that would leverage a regional computer cluster, and benefit from pursuing grant opportunities. Next steps resulting from this session included: Continue to investigate and encourage the research community, local entrepreneurs and existing organizations to submit additional research activities that may require cluster processing power and performance. Build the business case for a local computer cluster using a hosting/shared services model Work with the Grant Offices at the local universities regarding grant programs and opportunities that might be pursued to move some of these projects forward.	Bernard Daines, CEO of LLIX and Linux Networx, provides an update on cluster computing. A group of approximately 30 participants from our region brainstormed. Atsushi Inoue and John Mill discuss their "Human Centric Computing" applications with the group. Dr. Steve Simmons facilitates the researcher forum.

Applied Parallel Cluster Computing Research Roundtable

Fifteen Spokane area research scientists, representing all of the area’s universities and several private sector companies, research administrators, and economic development gurus met at SIRTI on Thursday, July 14, 2005 to brainstorm applications and projects requiring parallel computer clusters. The thirty attendees were treated to a cluster computing "state of the union" update by Bernard Daines of Liberty Lake Internet Exchange (LLIX) and Joshua Harr, Ph.D. CTO of Linux Networx.

The Applied Parallel Computer Cluster roundtable was sponsored by Eastern Washington University (EWU), LLIX, Spokane Area Economic Development Council, and Virtual Possibilities Network (VPnet).

The objective of this meeting was to identify a handful of novel and non-traditional applications that could execute on a shared computer cluster resource located in the Inland Northwest, with connectivity provided via VPnet.

Several projects were presented that would leverage a regional computer cluster, and benefit from pursuing grant opportunities.

Next steps resulting from this session included:

Continue to investigate and encourage the research community, local entrepreneurs and existing organizations to submit additional research activities that may require cluster processing power and performance.
Build the business case for a local computer cluster using a hosting/shared services model
Work with the Grant Offices at the local universities regarding grant programs and opportunities that might be pursued to move some of these projects forward.

Bernard Daines, CEO of LLIX and Linux Networx, provides an update on cluster computing.

A group of approximately 30 participants from our region brainstormed.

Atsushi Inoue and John Mill discuss their "Human Centric Computing" applications with the group.

Dr. Steve Simmons facilitates the researcher forum.

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.