The nature of the JANET community is such that there is a large demand for both the use and development of multimedia applications, not simply to enhance teaching, learning and research, but also to create an environment where the ability to collaborate and communicate using JANET exists. Not only can multimedia services enhance more traditional network based collaboration methods, but they have the potential to enable collaboration via new applications where it previously may not have been possible.
Developments in network speed and connectivity now mean that real-time multimedia applications on JANET are viable. Within the JANET community, multimedia applications can be typically defined into these categories:
Although these areas all fall within 'multimedia', both their uses and requirements are very different.
JANET(UK) is actively undertaking development work in all of these areas, aiming both to create new services and to complement and enhance existing ones.
JANET(UK) is also working on other projects that will have a positive effect on content delivery on JANET, such as network access technologies, QoS, Multicast and IPv6.
JANET UK have recently undertaken a requirements gathering exercise to further understand the requirements for content based services such as:
Early results indicate a strong requirement for a number of services to support this growing area. The results of the exercise will be available here shortly.
For more information please contact roger.bolam@ja.net
