Rona Peart SynOptics Communications, Inc. (408) 764-7352 THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AND SYNOPTICS TEAM TO ENABLE LEARNING THROUGH NEW COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY Multimedia Communications between Teachers, Students, Electronic Textbooks, Video Lectures and Electronic Submission of Assignments are Planned CINCINNATI, OHIO, EDUCOM CONFERENCE, October 18, 1993 - The Ohio State University, Department of Computer and Information Science, Columbus, OH and SynOptics Communications, Santa Clara, CA, today unveiled a wide ranging, three-year project to deploy high-speed computing and networking technologies for the purpose of defining and implementing a university classroom environment of the future. With the overall goal of fostering the effective exchange of information and ideas while enhancing the learning and teaching experience, the Department of Computer and Information Science at Ohio State and SynOptics will work to pioneer the concept of an extended classroom and lab environment through the use of innovative new networking technology developed by SynOptics that support multimedia communications. As part of the initial phase of the project, the first of its kind using advanced networking technology, Ohio State and SynOptics will construct a high-speed communication network connecting more than 400 computers for use by over 12,000 students enrolled in courses from the University's Computer and Information Sciences Department. Future plans are to work with the University to extend this communication network to connect student dorms and off-campus facilities, for example. To support the requirement for simultaneous voice, video and data communications over the network, SynOptics will provide new computer networking involving intelligent hubs and switching equipment using an emerging high-speed communications method known as Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). ATM is a new digital transmission method for simultaneously transporting voice, video and data signals at 155 million bits of digital information per second, more than 30 times faster than conventional networks. The multi-million dollar project, the vision of Dr. Mervin Muller, chairman of Ohio State's Computer and Information Science Department, reflects the common desire by Ohio State and SynOptics to effectively enhance the learning process by exploiting interactive multimedia computing through the use of new high-speed communications technology and distributed computer network environments to foster increased student interaction. Using these emerging computer and communications technologies, the University expects to offer a variety of new instructional services including the electronic submission of instructional assignments, virtual study groups, an electronic reservation system for use of facilities, multimedia-based electronic help desk and electronic text books. These new instructional services will allow students to take greater responsibility for their education. Furthermore, improving the quality and quantity of information available to the student will increase the student's return on investment in their secondary education. "This program is designed to complement and enhance the classroom experience," said Dr. Muller. "The environment we're creating with SynOptics will support the idea of an extended classroom providing many forms of self-help tools that empower the students to control their educational experience while maximizing their return on their investment of time and energy." Tangible Benefits to Students and Instructors Using this new computer networking system, students studying for exams, for instance, could review lectures through digital video stored in University computers from their dormitories, review instructor notes for classes and use computers to direct questions to the instructor. They will also be able to interact and learn from their fellow students through the network of computers. Today, professors often prepare course notes on a computer, print them out, take them into a lecture hall and written them on a chalkboard while students transcribe as fast as they can then transfer their notes onto their computers. This process would be drastically improved with the new system as course notes and other materials could be made available to students electronically prior to classes. Students would then have an opportunity to review the information and prepare their questions prior to class. Commenting on the project, Andy Ludwick, president and CEO of SynOptics said: "The next major leap in the educational market will be in terms of how people exchange information and engage in the process of learning. We believe that networking technology will play a leading role in improving the way education is conducted and that this project will become a model for other institutions to build upon." Related to the project, The Ohio State University Computer and Information Science department is currently constructing a building with dedicated facilities to provide students with enhanced interactive learning and instruction through the use of technology. The new building will house three, state-of-the-art 40-seat computerized instructional classrooms with two dedicated facilities to enhance interactive instruction by enabling students and faculty to interact with each other from distinct locations using multi-media methods. "SynOptics' development work with ATM and the resulting products are a critical element in our ability to successfully put this new system into place," said Carl Phillips, manager of Computer Activities Department of Computer and Information Sciences. "Historically, there have been no technologies that could support these types of applications or, those that existed were cost-prohibitive," said Phillips. The Ohio State University currently has over 44,000 undergraduate and 11,000 graduate students. The University's Computer and Information Science Department currently has 37 faculty members. The department's Interactive Instructional Computer Facilities has 10 full-time professional staff members, 15 part-time student operators and 47 part-time student lab consultants. SynOptics Communications, Inc., a member of EDUCOM, is a leading supplier of networking products and management systems to organizations worldwide. SynOptics delivers the network fabric - a managed, high-speed communications system that supports new classes of enterprise and multi-enterprise applications. With the intelligent hub as its key building block, the network fabric seamlessly integrates emerging technologies with existing network equipment to create a transparent, self-managing system that easily expands and evolves as an organization grows. SynOptics, founded in 1985, is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. and has more than 50 offices worldwide. SynOptics is publicly traded over the counter under the NASDAQ symbol SNPX. # # # SynOptics is a trademark and SynOptics Communications is a registered trademark of SynOptics Communications, Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holder.