INDUSTRY

BERKELEY, CA -- The University of California at Berkeley, the University of Tennessee and SURFnet, the national computer network for higher education and research in the Netherlands, have implemented the first live transatlantic broadband audio and video streams using MotionJPEG-over-IP. The implementation of this technology demonstrates how full-screen, near-TV quality video can be delivered over the Internet using simple, inexpensive hardware and freely available, open source software. Standard desktop PCs running the Linux operating system and fitted with affordable graphics cards that can compress and decompress MotionJPEG images were used in the trial. Hardware costs averaged approximately $2,000 at each end. Open source software developed by the University of California (http://bmrc.berkeley.edu/papers/rtptv.html) was used to transport the datastream over the Internet, and adapted by SURFnet to support the European PAL video format. The transmitted signal was sent at 16 megabits per second between SunSITE at the University of Tennessee and the SURFnet offices in Utrecht, the Netherlands, using the broadband connection made possible by Internet2 and SURFnet. The use of these technologies provides significantly better video quality than those relying on the H.323 standard. H.323 is the current standard governing interactive audio, video, and data communications in a networked environment. High-quality realtime video, video-on-demand and videoconferencing are critical for applications such as distance education, telemedicine, and remote scientific collaboration. Based on this initial success, Berkeley, Tennessee and SURFnet will continue to explore ways MotionJPEG-over-IP can be used to stengthen and expand academic instruction and research. About the participants: -- Berkeley Multimedia Research Center, University of California at Berkeley (http://bmrc.berkeley.edu/) The Berkeley Multimedia Research Center (BMRC) is an interdisciplinary group of artists, educators, professionals, and scientists who are experimenting with interactive multimedia technology in professional practice, scholarship, and education. -- SunSITE, University of Tennessee (http://sunsite.utk.edu/) SunSITE is part of an international network of academic and research institutions created by Sun Microsystems to promote the development and deployment of new and emerging technologies. -- SURFnet (http://www.surfnet.nl/en/) SURFnet is the national computer network for higher education and research in the Netherlands. SURFnet interconnects the networks of Dutch universities, polytechnics, research centres, university hospitals, academic libraries, and the world-wide internet. SURFnet uses a high-grade infrastructure and advanced technologies. In the context of GigaPort SURFnet has recently launched the SURFnet5 network, which is among the best research networks in the world.