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Tibor Gyires
School of Information Technology
Illinois State University


What is Internet2?
Types of application
Example applications
List of projects by discipline
References


1. Internet2


Internet2 is a not-for-profit consortium, led by over 200 US universities, developing and deploying advanced network applications and technology, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet.


Internet2’s Mission


Facilitate and coordinate the development, deployment, operation, and technology transfer of advanced, network-based applications and network services to further US leadership in research and higher education and accelerate the availability of new services and applications on the Internet.


Abilene

Internet2 backbone network (IP over SONET)
A project of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID) in collaboration with various corporate partners

Link Capacities

13,000 miles of fiber optic cable, with over 8,000 miles of interior circuits and another 5,000 miles of access circuits
Operates at OC-192 (9.6 gigabits per second) or about 354,000 times faster than a typical computer modem.


2. Types of Applications

Internet2 applications require enhanced networking functionality—such as high bandwidth, low latency (delay) and jitter, and multicast—not available on our commercial Internet connections.

Attributes in the Most Compelling Applications

Interactive collaboration environments, where users can truly interact with others without the barriers of distance.
Common access to remote resources, such as telescopes and microscopes.

Using the network as a "backplane" to build network-wide computation and data services (Grid computing).
Displaying information through virtual reality environments—moving from static graphics and images to moving, three-dimensional animations.


3. Example applications

Grid computing
Telemedicine
Astronomy
Tele-immersion
Music
Digital Video
Tele-Operation of Remote Equipment


The Grid project

Using the network as a "backplane" to build network-wide computation and data services.
It enables scientific exploration, which requires intensive computation and analysis of shared large-scale databases, from hundreds of TeraBytes to PetaBytes, across widely distributed scientific communities.

Telemedicine

During a surgery performed at Ohio State University, Abilene was used to conference with doctors from other parts of the country.
An MRI machine can scan a patient in one location and send the data to a remote supercomputer for processing, and then deliver the resulting images to a doctor in a third location.

A specialist in Boston could give advice to a doctor in rural areas for on-site medical care, or even guide that doctor during a surgery. A medical student could watch a rare procedure that would otherwise be unavailable. http://cnn2000/HEALTH/10/02/inet2.demo.story/index.html


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