Future Directions

The University of Florida is an institution of geographically distributed people, institutions and information. There is a need to apply common data points (including images and motion video) across a number of functions. Many areas of the University have already integrated video technologies as an intrinsic part of their core activities.

The future direction of video development at the University of Florida will involve innovation and evolution in the capture, storage, access, transport and viewing of video. As this process moves forward it must: 

• Maintain the reliability and interoperability of existing systems.
• Preserve the investment in legacy infrastructure.
• Design systems from the application to the most appropriate technology.
• Provide an affordable introduction or transition to the most current and appropriate video technology. 
• Bear in mind that "campus" refers to affiliated individuals and not geography.

The application of these tenets will define a process by which the University of Florida continues to integrate the use of video as part of daily practice. The testing and evaluation of video technologies must not interrupt existing operations. Standards must be adopted and implemented in a manner that provides interoperability that is transparent at the client station. Portals to translate digital and analog video must be available for the near future.

The digital infrastructure must be expanded and become more robust. However, support for University of Florida associates and clients in technology challenged areas must be maintained and improved. 

The future will be built by leveraging existing and new hardware resources to build a virtual Video Network Operations Center (VNOC). This VNOC will provide a means of interconnecting all existing resources and integrating new systems. It will provide translation between standards and algorithms. It will provide cross connects between different transport media. It will provide translations between data speeds so each node will operate in an optimized fashion. The VNOC will be the focal point of moving developing technology into an operational environment.

The VNOC will also be the organizational construct that allows an exchange of expertise and support. Units will provide and receive support for and from each other without sacrificing autonomy or control. Interpersonal exchange at the administrative and technical level will provide a means for the greatest return on individual investments. Expenditures can be coordinated to provide the greatest functionality possible by planning for integration and flexibility.

The VNOC will be dynamic. Technology will evolve and governance will be cooperative. This will assure the future of video at the University of Florida as "world class."

REFERENCES

1.  A Report on the Task Group on Distance Learning Technology, "Technology Infrastructure for Distance Learning,"University of Florida, October 31, 1995.
2. Distance Learning Subcommittee on Program and Substance, "A Report of the Subcommittee," University of Florida, November 27, 1995.