Video on Demand Technologies and Demonstrations

SUMMARY 
   We apply leading information processing and information delivery technologies to video on
   demand applications in education. Key commercially developed technologies include
   Oracle's Parallel Database Server, MPEG compression utilities, and ATM LAN/WAN
   networking technology.

PARTICIPANTS 
   Syracuse University (NPAC, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, School of
   Information Studies, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), Oracle, nCUBE,
   NYNEX, Digital, Maspar, IBM

KEY CONTACTS 
   Geoffrey Fox, gcf@npac.syr.edu, (315) 443-2163
   Marek Podgorny, podgorny@npac.syr.edu, (315) 443-4879 

IMPACT 
   Video on demand technology will open a new channel of information transfer for
   educational institutions. Educational users will gain the capability to browse and query
   linked text and video databases and author video modules over the network. We expect this
   technology to greatly enhance availability of multimedia information to teachers and to add
   substantial value to the educational process.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 
   We will set up prototype databases for linked text and video with an initial focus on InfoMall
   information services and products that will support new educational initiatives. In the
   project, we will integrate several novel technologies, including data compression
   technology, parallel multimedia database server, and networking technology providing the
   delivery mechanism. Our primary field of interest is educational applications of the
   emerging Video-on-Demand (VOD) technology, but the technologies will have general
   applicability in business, entertainment and government applications.

   We expect that our initial focus will be integration of the CNN Newsource and Newsroom
   video with ERIC. The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) is a federally
   funded national information system providing educators access to educational-related
   resources. The NYNET InfoMall video on demand technologies and demonstration
   expands the ERIC educational database to support video. We will initially use CNN
   Newsource, an approximately four hour daily summary of the national and international
   news, now available by cable and video tape format. This daily video summary is
   supplemented by a set of classroom discussion notes for use by the teachers. This text
   supplement is available over the Internet and is archived by ERIC. InfoVision will expand
   the educational application of CNN Newsource video by integrating it with the classroom
   supplement and storing both in a database. Teachers will be able to access this database
   over the network , and author educational modules of video and text material for classroom
   use. A second video information source is the Discovery Channel, which agrees in principle
   to provide 30 minute documentaries on educational topics for use in an ERIC educational
   video library.

   A wide range of video source material is potentially available for use in the classroom.
   Important sources include CNN where we have potential agreement, other possible
   sources we are exploring are the Discovery Channel, Newton's Apple, and National
   Geographic. In addition, we propose to include video course modules prepared in
   conjunction with Newhouse and Maxwell, and HPCC (InfoSchool) courses offered
   through InfoMall in the mid-Hudson region. With our educational partners we will explore
   other sources of video such as Bettman film archives, the civil war series on PBS,
   classroom video (biology, physics, chemistry) lab experiments. We believe that addition of
   the relevant modules that can augment existing services will make VOD attractive to
   teachers and school administrators. Finally, we will consider making the outstanding
   Syracuse University audio archives, which exists in digital audio source, available via the
   media server as another related source of information.

   Project implementation has two distinct phases. In Phase I, we will implement a
   Video-On-Demand server by integrating existing technologies. We will demonstrate an
   interactive video on demand database accessible from NYNET, using initial databases
   from education (InfoSchool/University courses, CNN, askERIC) and InfoMall activities.
   Demonstration will be based on the infrastructure already gathered in NPAC. In Phase II,
   we will enhance server capabilities by implementation of a number of features supporting
   both more interactive user requirements (video browsing, context querying, database
   navigation) and better system support (protocols and scheduling mechanisms, video
   multiplexing). The task will be completed by demonstration of the enhanced technology.