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Given by Geoffrey C. Fox at Beijing and Chang Sha China on 28 Dec 97 to 5 Jan 98. Foils prepared 8 January 98
Outside Index
Summary of Material
| We describe the Pragmatic Object Web (POW) model integrating Java COM and CORBA |
| We present an overall architecture for a fully POW based virtual learning system including Web-linked database at its heart |
| We consider applications which combine asynchronous and synchronous learning and combine education and training |
| We describe Tango Collaborative Infrastructure in the above context |
| We use examples from K-12, Undergraduate, Graduate and Continuing Education including special (handicapped users) education |
| Can traditional universities survive this revolution or perhaps some will grow from it !? |
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WebWisdom An Object Web approach to Education and Training December 27,97 -- January 6,98 Beijing and Chang Sha Hunan China
Abstract of WebWisdom Object Web for Education and Training for China
Some General Remarks
Some Observations on Education
Technology Opportunities in Education I
Technology Opportunities in Education II
Architecture of WebWisdom Education Delivery System
Critical Tools and Services in WebWisdom
Collage of 7 NPAC Course Home Pages
WebWisdom Design Details - I
Architecture of JSU Distance Education
Pragmatic Object Web Technology Model
WebWisdom Design Details - II
WebWisdom Design Details - III
Basic Object Web Technology Model
Educational Glossary I
CORBA Software Model
Asynchronous and Synchronous Learning
Vendors and Projects
CSC499 at Jackson State
Architecture of JSU Distance Education
Next Steps in CSC499 Experiment
NPAC Education Projects
K-12: Living SchoolBook http://lsb.syr.edu
Special Education http://www.pulsar.org
Undergraduate Education http://www.phy.syr.edu/courses/modsim.html
Graduate Education/Continuing Education http://www.npac.syr.edu/users/gcf/wisdom/help/ http://www.npac.syr.edu/projects/cps615fall96/ http://www.npac.syr.edu/education/web/
Industry Outreach: Syracuse Language Systems http://www.syrlang.com/
Educational Glossary III
Educational Glossary IV
Database Architecture for WebWisdom
Educational Glossary V
Educational Glossary VI
Educational Glossary VII
Educational Glossary VIII
Status of Tango Collaborative System
TANGO Applications with their participants
Next Steps in CSC499 Experiment
The current Capabilities of Tango -I
Tango Screen: Talking Heads and White Board
The current Capabilities of Tango -II
The current Capabilities of Tango -III
Tango Screen: Physics Applets -- Cross Product, Planets and Neural Network
The current Capabilities of Tango -IV
NPAC 3D Visible Human Room in VRML2. II
Collection of Shared Applications (incl 3D Visible Human) in the New Tango
The TANGOsim C2 Application
A demo of animated objects controlled by simulation engine of Tango collaborative system - III
Educational Glossary IX
Educational Glossary X
Virtual Classrooms: Televirtual Environment
Where are We Now ?
Outside Index
Summary of Material
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| Geoffrey Fox |
| Syracuse University |
| NPAC |
| 111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100 |
| 3154432163 |
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 8 January 98
Full HTML Index
| We describe the Pragmatic Object Web (POW) model integrating Java COM and CORBA |
| We present an overall architecture for a fully POW based virtual learning system including Web-linked database at its heart |
| We consider applications which combine asynchronous and synchronous learning and combine education and training |
| We describe Tango Collaborative Infrastructure in the above context |
| We use examples from K-12, Undergraduate, Graduate and Continuing Education including special (handicapped users) education |
| Can traditional universities survive this revolution or perhaps some will grow from it !? |
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| What is the "Enterprise" (business) model for (science) education and indeed universities themselves as an institution? |
US has a clear industrial information technology leadership in spite of perceived K-12 and undergraduate educational problems
|
| My physics students rarely end up in physics but do find that physics taught them good problem solving skills. |
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Technology can improve quality and reduce cost
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Training (typically lifelong learner) and Education communities surprisingly far apart
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Surely we need to support both asynchronous and synchronous (teacher in the loop)
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| At a recent distance education conference, exhibitors show some 20 Web-based asynchronous systems,; only 2 synchronous |
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Developments in Object Web (Java, CORBA databases etc) will give higher quality basic curricula with glossaries, database backends, reusable objects etc.
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Virtual Laboratories for Science -- including computer science (programming)
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Voice(RealAudio) and Video(H263) capture of teacher as augmentation of lecture curricula material
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Searchable video archives for finding critical few minute length clips to use in class
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| Collaboration Technology designed to link people, computers and instruments (accelerators, telescopes ..) together |
| Immersive Virtual Environments using VRML |
| Modeling and Simulation as used by US defense community (generalized flight simulation) |
| Log accesses using databases and analyze results (data-mining) for assessment |
| All these technologies can be used synchronously (with teacher) or asynchronously (exploratory learning in students' time) |
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| Database query and access including indexed video clips |
| Delivery including specialized VRML, GIS (virtual worlds), Simulations as well as classic HTML |
| Collaboration or sharing of interactive objects |
| User interfaces for disabled individuals |
| Security for proprietary material and personal information |
Quality of Service based on replication and bandwidth trade-offs
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| Conversion and Integration of Legacy material |
| Authoring (object creation) tools |
| Assessment Administration and Logging Tools |
| Specialized services such as programming laboratories |
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| cps615fall'95, ecs400spring'96, cps616spring'96,ecs400fall'96, cps606fall'96, cps616spring'97,cps600spring'97 homepages combined all in one |
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The layered design includes a secure database at its core on top of which are built a set of services including
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| The communication system supports the worldwide delivery and includes support for distributed databases to get high performance with for instance core courseware replicated on delivery machines with CD-ROM's or other such mechanisms. |
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| Participants at JSU |
| Teacher/Lecturer at NPAC |
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| The current incoherent but highly creative Web will merge with distributed object technology in a multi-tier client-server-service architecture with Java based combined Web-ORB's |
COM(Microsoft) and CORBA(world) are competing cross platform and language object technologies
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| Need to abstract entities (Web Pages, simulations) and services as objects with methods(interfaces) |
| How do we do this while infrastructure still being designed! |
| One can anticipate this by building systems in terms of Javabeans e.g. develop Web-based databases with Javabeans using standard JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) interfaces |
Design and Use Java Framework for Computing which will become a "CORBA facility"
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The top layer of WebWisdom consists of education and training specific capabilities, which customize and extend the generic middle-layer services.
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The delivery system is based on customized shared browser windows for curricula together with more generic collaboration capabilities e.g. audio-videoconferencing is used by students and teachers for traditional voice interactions.
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We believe that impressive demonstrations of all the above capabilities have already been prototyped and one can now build such a system.
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| The current incoherent but highly creative Web will merge with distributed object technology in a 3-tier client-server-service architecture with Java based combined Web-ORB's |
COM(Microsoft) and CORBA(world) are competing cross platform and language object technologies
|
| Need to abstract entities (Web Pages, simulations) and services as objects with methods(interfaces) |
| How do we do this while infrastructure still being designed! |
| One can anticipate this by building systems in terms of Javabeans e.g. develop Web-based databases with Javabeans using standard JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) interfaces |
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| Asynchronous Instruction: Students browse material independently from each other and from teacher. Communicate through generalized email such as threaded discussion lists (as in Lotus Notes) or MOO's |
| Synchronous Instruction: As in a classroom teacher and students interact in real-time exchanging information by audio, video and documents. Microsoft NetMeeting, NPAC Tango and NCSA Habanero implement this digitally |
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| WorkFlow |
| ORB |
| System Management |
| HPcc ? |
| .............. |
| Trader |
| Security |
| .......... |
| Naming |
| Persistence |
| Oil & Gas |
| DMSO Modeling and Simulation |
| Imagery |
| Banking |
| Manufacturing |
| ...... |
| ...... |
| Services |
| Horizontal Facilities |
| Vertical |
| Facilities |
| Standard Interfaces |
| i.e. Frameworks |
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Traditional Education "favors" synchronous style but if you use Web, it is clearly easier to chose asynchronous
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Role of Teacher in synchronous Web based learning system is that of a Tour Guide to a rich (asynchronous) Web Site of material the student can return to
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| As well as remote "deliverer of lecture", there is a local "mentor" at JSU while in general homework can be set and graded either remotely or on site. |
| Basic strategy is to support simultaneously asynchronous and synchronous learning |
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Client-server systems:
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Web-based systems:
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Taught using current Tango/WebWisdom over Internet (now DREN via CEWES) every Tuesday and Thursday from Syracuse
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| Jackson State major HBC University with many computer science graduates |
Can now offer addon-on courses with "leading edge" material (Web Technology) which give JSU graduates skills that are important in their career
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Needs guaranteed 30 (audio) to 100 (two way) kilobits per second bandwidth assuming course material mirrored at JSU
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| NPAC Web Server |
| JSU Web Server |
| JSU Tango Server |
| ... |
| Audio Video Conferencing Chat Rooms etc. |
| Teacher's View of Curriculum Page |
| Student's View of Curriculum Page |
| JavaScript |
| JavaScript and Perl |
| TANGO Server Client Chat etc. Java |
| NPAC CGI Server |
| Log of Access to Curriculum Pages |
| Perl |
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There are many universities/schools where such "augmentation would be valuable
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| Experience with teaching in China suggests huge demand in foreign universities where faculty less up to date in latest material |
| Will repeat course at JSU next semester with improved curricula and hopefully improved bandwidth |
| Hope to produce a grade 7-12 version of Web Technologies for kids offered in depth of this winter in Syracuse |
Note base material used in about 20 different courses/tutorials over last 2 years
|
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| K-12: Living SchoolBook |
| Special Education: Interfaces and Edutainment |
| Undergraduate: Physics and Computer Science |
| Graduate: Computer Science (Syracuse/China) |
| Industry: Syracuse Language Systems/WebWisdom |
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| Syracuse University School of Education, NYNEX, Rome Laboratory |
| ATM Connection to 3 schools in CNY |
| Web-linked Database Access to CD-Rom's (Newsbank) |
Video on Demand for commercial and student/teacher material
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3D Interactive Journey through New York State (20 meter data with Census and hyperlinks)
|
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| Led by Warner (Medical Doctor and Computational Science Fellow) and Ed Lipson (moving from Biophysics to computational medicine) |
| Neattools: Interfaces from diverse sensors to PC to Java to allow affordable computer access for disabled -- Quadriplegic Eyal Sherman |
| SmartDesk: Java/Shockwave games/assessment tools (logged in database) for mentally retarded |
| Telemedicine and Home Health care applications |
| Commercial Spin-off: MindTel |
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Phy105/106 teaches science to non scientists using standard Web resources and a growing number of Java Applets
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| Phy 307/308 modern computational physics course and also using Java |
| Some resources developed by MRA with Cornell |
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| All Computational Science, Compiler and Web courses offered through Web |
| WebWisdom prototype used to deliver courses built from Perl + Java + JavaScript and linked to Tango |
| VPL Virtual Programming Lab: HPF MPI Perl Java JavaScript Web Laboratory |
| Offered to China, Continuing Education and regular University |
| Will offer to DoD and HBCU next year |
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Language Connect University: uses sophisticated database core/administration module built by NPAC spin-off Translet
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| SLS leading PC foreign language teaching company (Triple Play Spanish etc.) |
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| Server-Side Dynamic HTML: HTML generated from a database and so page contents depend dynamically on values of current user or administrator (teacher) set parameters |
| Client-Side Dynamic HTML: HTML includes JavaScript and so exhibiting dynamic behavior depending on client side actions. Typically generated from back-end static pages but no reason why JavaScript enabled pages cannot be generated from a database |
| JavaScript: Interpreted language which is embedded in HTML or used server-side in Netscape servers as LiveWire. JavaScript is Java-like but less powerful but often faster both in execution and for developer as fully interpreted and integrated into client or server -- Not certain if MicroSoft and Netscape will agree on language |
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| Database Backend: used to store educational objects -- curricula, grades, quizzes; personal data (students and teachers); assessment logs; multimedia records of classes |
Web-linked database: A database used with a Web client front end. This can use various technologies:
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| Data Defining Content of Curricula Pages |
| Server side |
| Java(JDBC) or |
| LiveWire |
| Templates Defining How educational data stored in Pages |
| Web Server |
| Conventional but Dynamic HTML Pages |
| Web Browser |
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Audio or Video over Foils: Multimedia clips are attached to individuals pages of a presentation. These are either recorded from "teacher in action" or in more formal but perhaps less spontaneous studio presentations.
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| MOO: Rather controversial form of asynchronous collaboration supporting rooms and a simple "virtual world" view with often text supplying illusion of a more familiar virtual interaction space |
| Threaded Discussion Space: Hierarchically organized asynchronous collaboration with (text) messages from a chat room, bulletin board or mail interaction |
| Lotus Notes is a document database supporting asynchronous collaboration and offering a web front end. Offers a JDBC/ODBC interface and so can be viewed as a particular form of a relational database with tools to support collaboration. Has security features |
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| Shared Display technology replicates "portions of a frame-buffer" from one machine onto all machines sharing view |
Shared Event approach to collaboration only shares the information (parameter changes, mouse movements) needed to specify an application
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Microsoft NetMeeting is a well-known shared display PC technology
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Habanero from NCSA supports elegantly synchronous sharing of Java objects allowing multiple clients replicated views of arbitrary Java objects. Runs as a Java application and cannot be integrated with major browsers except HotJava
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Tango from NPAC is a Web browser based synchronous collaboration system allowing objects to be in any language including Java, VRML, JavaScript, C++
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| Habanero and Tango both support event sharing model |
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It must be competitive with best available collaborative tools and so its multi-language interface allows us to interface to other systems with Tango supplying Integrated Session Control
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Basic model is that of a room which is a group of people getting together for a class
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| Each room supports a collection of shared objects chosen by teacher/students/administrator |
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| Crisis Management and Command and Control or more generally distributed (tactical) real-time decision support -- decision makers and gatherers of information |
| Forums and Chattering on the Web -- the world! |
| Education -- teachers and students (and administrators) |
| (Tele)medicine -- Doctors (primary and specialist referrals), Nurses, Patients and administrators |
| Business Enterprise (strategic) Support as in Lotus Notes -- Employees of Business including especially managers |
| Multidisciplinary Applications including Collaborative design -- teams of up to 10,000 engineers |
| Computational Steering -- one or more computational scientist and visualization device |
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There are many universities/schools where such "augmentation would be valuable
|
| Experience with teaching in China suggests huge demand in foreign universities where faculty less up to date in latest material |
| Will repeat course at JSU next semester with improved curricula and hopefully improved bandwidth |
| Hope to produce a grade 7-12 version of Web Technologies for kids offered in depth of this winter in Syracuse |
Note base material used in about 20 different courses/tutorials over last 2 years
|
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| Tango supports (more than) enough (over 40) applications and our next step is to evaluate, improve and make robust release |
Core Collaboration Capabilities
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| From Tango - A Java/WWW-Based Internet Collaborative Software System part of NPAC Overview May 1997 |
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Office and Authoring Tools
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General Virtual University Applications
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Special Virtual University Applications
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| From Tango - A Java/WWW-Based Internet Collaborative Software System part of NPAC Overview May 1997 |
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Have some fun with Multi-player games
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"Other" Applications
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http://www.npac.syr.edu/projects/3Dvisiblehuman/VRML/VRML2.0/ |
| From 3D Visualization of Visible Human part of NPAC Overview May 1997 |
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| Latest Tango Capabilities June 97 |
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| TANGO Java |
| Collaboratory |
| Server |
| HTTP |
| Server |
| MultiMedia Mail |
| C2 Commander |
| Chat |
| VTC |
| Event Driven |
| Simulation |
| Engine |
| C2 Radar Officer |
| 3D GIS |
| Scripting |
| Language |
| C2 Weather Officer |
| Message Routing |
| SW/Data Distrib. |
| Other |
| Collaborators |
| MultiMedia Mail |
| Chat |
| Simulation |
| Engine Controller |
| All Clients |
| Typical Clients |
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| From Tango Project for CEWES Collaborative Tool Meeting |
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Education: Learning fundamental principles (such as the reasons why a language is what it is) which typically takes a long time (from years for a degree to several months for a course)
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Training: Learning technical skills such as a computer language in a time which is usually measured in days or weeks
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| However education and training have similar technology support issues |
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Computer Aided Instruction: typically an asynchronous learning tool -- originally CDROM based -- but often now based on multimedia web presentations.
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Flight Simulators: High end Computer aided instruction used in general to train defense and industry workers in particular difficult tasks.
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| This generalized "flight simulator" and MOO's and constructs an electronic virtual environment which emulates some optimal learning space |
| Could use distributed simulation technology and involves multiple individuals (avatars) |
| The technology of simple virtual classroom could also be used as part of this |
| Builds on gaming industry and could involve high performance computing to support multiple virtual participants in complex world |
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Tango and WebWisdom delivery/storage system essentially work and have "proven" (to me) value of integration of synchronous and asynchronous systems
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| But they do not have correct implementation for object web vision and have not implemented fully correct database and metadata standards |
| For instance need replace Perl CGI scripts with JDBC interface to commercial database |
| Need to take critical parts of Tango and make more robust and compatible with all browsers |
| Some services such as assessment need a lot of work |