X-Authentication-Warning: nic-ks.ip6.greatplains.net: majordom set sender to owner-pbs-demo@mail.TheQuilt.net using -f X-Sender: maryfran@mail.sura.org Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 15:48:50 -0500 To: pbs-demo@thequilt.net From: Mary Fran Yafchak Subject: Notes from PBS-demo call, 12/20/02 Cc: Mary Fran Yafchak Sender: owner-pbs-demo@mail.TheQuilt.net Reply-To: pbs-demo@thequilt.net Status: O Dear all, Below are the notes from our most recent PBS-Quilt call, held 12/20. Based on the discussion and to-do's from that call, our next call will be: Friday, **January 17** 12:30 p.m. Dial info: 800-998-2462 code: 6305950 Talk to you then! -mfy Attendees: David Felland, WPTV Dennis Haarsager, CPB/Wash State U Greg Petrowich, U of Alaska at Fairbanks Thomas Edwards, PBS Ellen Vaughan, I2 MFY, SURA We picked up discussion using Steven Vedro's strawman description (attached again here) and worked to address open questions and determine immediate next steps - 1) More thoughts on the feed - (basically the four paragraphs of the strawman) ** Open issue: Will you see anything on a normal HD camera or do we need a special camera? - Greg will get specs on the camera that was used for the night sky viewing pics discussed prior and the group can compare those to what an HD camera would do by default. - Thomas also found some specs on the Web and will forward this URL to the list. (Sent to list afterwards: http://www.westcanadatours.com/northern_lights/photography_tips.shtml, http://www.highdesertnews.com/auroraorder.htm.) Also, it would not be necessary to go to Poker Flats to get the Aurora. Being close to or on the campus would work and would significantly reduce problems in getting the image near I2. Folks agreed that we should simplify the network path at least for this first iteration/demo and that, if suitable viewing is available without ambient light, we should use that. Also discussed adding a daytime view - Mt. McKinley, for example, where sunrises/sunsets are amazing and long and reflect off the mountain. The idea of having viewers controlling the camera was discussed. Some issues that would present are how to handle the user queue and also limiting the effect on other users, for instance having a default return for the camera, or a limit to what can be done. It was then agreed that this may not be the best scenario for a broadcast and also that there is probably no HD camera available today that is equipped to do this, particularly not over the Web. 2) More thoughts on what to do with the feed - MFY suggested forking project into two threads: A) Working with the eagle feed that already exists to develop/evaluate educational context, B) continue to generate and equip for various new types of feeds, e.g., those that are being suggested above. ** Open issue: What is the status of working on context with the eagle feed? The Univ of Wisc Extension has agreed to lead this and there may be others that want to join. It was agreed that we needed Steve Vedro on the call to talk more about the already planned role/goals of UWisc Ext. Next call should be planned when Steve can attend. ** Note from Thomas on involving PathOne - PBS was in Milwaukee this week and left a PathOne Video-over-IP box there with plans to test in early January using compressed HDTV (19 - 25 MBps) from Milwaukee back to DC over I1. (Note: Still need a DC partner in I2 or to have PBS on I2 [seeking funding] to explore beyond I1). Anyone wanting more information on this should let him know. He will also send some specifications to the list. (Sent afterwards; attached again here.) PBS has one more box to demo/deploy. Perhaps we could experiment with multicast with PathOne boxes across all of Internet2. ** Open issue: Question on anticipated use of this feed in the K-12 classroom. Would we expect them to receive via satellite or is there some value in receiving via IP (development of learning objects, for instance)? In the first case we need to find schools that have HDTVs. The best way to approach that would be to work with schools that have a relationship w/a PBS station that can provide expertise and equipment. If IP, need to find schools that have very large I2 connections. There may be some of these within the I2 SEGP community. Ellen V will check into well-connected schools and bring results to the next call. 3) Fundraising? (paragraph 5 of the strawman) - The consensus of the group is that, if pocket change will suffice, we're O.K. :-). If we want to do more, we may need to propose something to someone. We also agreed that we need a project description to use when talking with potential partners/funders. iThe strawman doc would be good for this but we need to check w/David (who had to drop off the call before this point) as owner of the doc to see if we can circulate it. Thomas volunteered to check w/David on this and, if we shouldn't use this one, will ask for an alternate version to be used for this. ** Open issue: - Do we know for sure that our feeds will be integrated into PBS programming? Per Thomas, Jim K. (not on call) could speak to this from PBS point of view but programming integration would definitely need higher level approval. There are things we can do without this being a PBS offering but we will want to work towards that. Thomas will check w/Jim K. to see what the approval process is and how long it would take. May also be able to enable an "engineering feed" from PBS for limited broadcast. This represents another fork in the project - working on PBS approval while continuing to work with non-PBS broadcast alternatives. Attachment converted: Yafchak Mac:Data_Sheet_Cx1000_V0N_Path1.d 1 (WDBN/MSWD) (001441BC) Attachment converted: Yafchak Mac:From_See_to_Shining_See.doc 1 (WDBN/MSWD) (001441BD) -- ************************************************************ Mary Fran Yafchak IT Program Coordinator SURA (Southeastern Universities Research Association) http://www.sura.org "No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it" A. Einstein. ************************************************************