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1993-11-10
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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.