Where We Need To Be

The challenge is clear.  The distributed providers described above must be able to work together to provide robust and seamless-to-the-user networks and concomitant technical support to handle the expected exponential growth in network demands.  Those demands will be driven by applications which, in spite of their evolution thus far, are still growing in terms of their ultimate impact.

  Applications which have only just begun to grow include:

*  Routine, full-featured off-campus access for students, faculty, and staff
*  Distance education with integrated two-way interactive video and data services
*  Medical imaging and telemedicine
*  Graphical displays
*  Full document retrieval and searching
*  Networked, multi-media classrooms
*  Web pictures, sound, and video
*  Ubiquitous use of hypertext
*  Increased need to provide access for use of portable computers by students

  Providing the strategic resources necessary to handle these types of applications to their maximum potential 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at a high percent reliability level, is critical to the missions of the University.

  To help the University move from its current networking status to a point where these demands can be accommodated, we make the recommendations below in the areas of User Support, Funding Models, and Technology Issues.

  Implementation of these resources is going to require considerably more resources than the University is currently investing in campus networking and will also require more efficient use of the resources already being invested.