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Pilings -- Infrastructure
V. Pilings -- Infrastructure
The bridges of Pittsburgh are varied in structure, ranging from classic
suspension forms to an eclectic "football arch" [7] bridge. This variety
does not reduce the functionality of these bridges, since they all carry
the same types of roadways, footpaths or rail links.
In a similar manner the electronic links of the Internet often differ in
structure, but allow for the interoperability of end-user applications
by respecting certain underlying common protocols. The present project
seeks to provide new network capabilities in the schools and
neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, while retaining Internet services
previously provided for these communities.
The network elements and systems relevant to the present project relate
to local area networks (LANs) and metropolitan area networks (MANs).
CK:P has a considerable amount of research experience in both these
areas and will apply this knowledge to the present activities.
- LANs.
Each CK:P site has a small local area network based upon Ethernet
technology. Local servers are built on Unix workstations. Both the
server and the LAN have remote management capabilities. User management
and simple maintenance chores are carried out by on-site personnel with
support and training from CK:P staff. LAN services are provided the
client/server paradigm. Client machines are selected from popular
models of personal computers. This provides simple and affordable access
to the majority of new Internet resources.
- Foundries.
Each of the sites to be served by the present proposal will be provided
with a Mosaic Foundry [8] for the creation of online multi-media resources.
The Foundry consists of a high-resolution scanner, fast personal
computer and color printer. Tools will be developed to assist users in
placing materials generated by the Foundries in local World Wide Web
servers.
- MANs.
A major innovation in the present proposal lies in the area of
technology for the metropolitan area network. With the aid of donations
from Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and Tele-Communications,
Incorporated, we will connect the four schools, Hill House and the
Pennsylvania Room to the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center using DEC's
ChannelWorks Ethernet over cable TV technology. This will provide these
sites with 10 megabit connections to the Internet through the PSC. The
present proposal represents an important test of this technology under
carefully monitored conditions. Our own research [9] has identified this
technology as one of the most promising candidates for school network
interconnects in an urban setting. If successful, this test may provide
the optimal solution to this major problem. We will also continue to
explore other options for MAN connectivity and will experiment with
options [10] such as HDSL links over LADS lines where feasible and
appropriate.
- Demonstrations for business, government and community.
All of the newly-networked sites in the city will be used to demonstrate
the relevance of networking technology for the functions of business,
government and community empowerment. Specific programs will be
developed to carry out this theme, and project staff will work with
business and governmental groups to find the best venue for these
efforts. Following the year covered by the present proposal, we expect
to develop expanded activities at other sites around the region.
- Assessment.
Since a bridge is built to allow individuals to make journeys that would
otherwise be difficult or even impossible, in evaluating a bridge one
needs to ask questions such as whether travelers use it, how it suits
their needs, and if it opens up previously uncharted territory to them.
Thus, in addition to the technical issues described in the previous
section, this project will also focus on answering questions related to
three issues: (1) the extent to which the resources we provide are used,
(2) the kinds of individuals who use them, and (3) the purposes for
which these resources are used. The first set of questions will be
answered by tracking things like the number of log-ins at the different
sites, but such data alone are very sterile. Thus, information on the
kinds of individuals using these resources, with particular emphasis on
issues of minority access, will be gathered in ways tailored to the
particular site in question. For example, at schools in which virtually
100 of the students are African- American, tracking student use will
provide estimates of minority use. In other cases, such as the Carnegie
Library site, information on the demographic characteristics of users
will come from other sources, such as staff estimates or randomly
scheduled site visits by project personnel. Information on the purposes
that are served will be gathered though a combination of activities,
including interviews with users, collection of curriculum plans, student
work products, and the like.
- Dissemination.
In addition to the dissemination mechanisms currently employed by CK:P,
which include conference presentations, publications in scholarly and
popular journals, conference demonstrations, and online resources, the
work of the present proposal will be presented through a regional
networking conference to be organized in the spring of 1995. This
conference will be sponsored and funded under the auspices of CK:P.
- Timeline.
Preliminary steps for most of the activities outlined in this proposal
have already been undertaken. Staff exists within CK:P to plan
procurement, training and installation in advance of the actual award of
funds. Hence it is expected that the planned sites can be brought
online rapidly and used by the public soon after formal funding is made
available. A detailed timeline is given in the attached outline.