Portable System Providing Broadband Internet Access

Demonstrated on UT-Knoxville, UT-Chattanooga Campuses

Technologists from Ohio State University will demonstrate the

Transportable Satellite Internet System (TSIS) at the UT Institute of

Agriculture March 24, on the UT-Knoxville main campus March 25, and on the

UT-Chattanooga campus on March 26. The TSIS, which was developed to expand

educational, human services and governmental opportunities to rural and

underserved communities where standard Internet connectivity is currently

limited, was recently nominated for the Computerworld Honors Programs 21st

Century Achievement Award by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.

The TSIS provides high-speed Internet access directly to the end-user,

lowers effective latency and supports high-speed Web-based applications to

access databases, email services, the public Internet, file sharing,

collaborative applications, access to training, and educational materials.

Using TSIS, anyone, anywhere, can launch live video broadcasts or

participate in real-time videoconferences via the Internet. Moreover, the

system is designed so that it can be built using easily obtainable parts

at an affordable price.

The demonstration at the Institute of Agriculture will take place at 4 pm

EST in Room A335 of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital on March 24, and will

focus on agricultural and veterinary science applications. A similar

presentation, to be held at 9 am EST in the University Centers Shiloh Room

at UTK, will highlight the use of the TSIS for distance education. The

March 26 demonstration is scheduled for 3 pm EST in Probasco Auditorium at

the Erlager Health System Medical Mall, and will feature the uses of the

TSIS in medicine and related fields.

The demonstrations are open to the public and will include

videoconferences with remote sites.

The TSIS was developed by Ohio State University, ITEC-Ohio, a consortium

of Ohio universities, government agencies, and corporate partners, and

OARnet, an Ohio-based ISP, with financial support from the American

Distance Education Consortium (ADEC).

Local demonstrations of the TSIS are being sponsored by the UT Office of

Research and Information Techologys Customer Technology Support, The UT

Institute of Agricultures Extension Service, UT-Knoxvilles Distance

Education and independent Study Program, UT-Chattanoogas Distance Learning

Network, the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources,

and the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Program, a collaboration

between the University of Tennessee College of Medicine (Chattanooga Unit)

and The Erlanger Health System.