Internet2 FAQ

Q. What is Internet2?

A.   Internet2 is not just another internet. It is an extremely high-speed connection which allows for data transfers 100 times greather than that of the conventional internet. Internet2 is an emerging national network which has been under development for several years.
       More than 170 universities in partnership with the National Science Foundation and the University Corpoation for Advanced Internet Development have supported this effort. Internet 2 is available to researchers and educators through local institutional connections such as PREN.

Q. Who needs it and why?

A.   It's a vastly bigger, faster, smarter and more reliable connection. This makes it possible for researchers to transfer huge amounts of data with acceptable quality of service which would not be possible through a conventional internet connection.
       For example, OHSU heart researcher Kent Thornburg needs to send a 100-megabyte computer image of an embryo heart to a colleague across the country. Currently, the result will be a corrupted file which takes hours to send. A 100-gigabyte 3D model of the same heart would be impossible to ship with conventional internet methods. With Internet 2, both can be done.

Q. How will it be used?

A.   Educators can offer real-time, web-based distance learning because of the increased quality of service. Researchers can collaborate through "collaboratories," effectively erasing geographical distances. Immense visualization reference data can be accessed with worldwide, simultaneous capability.
       Access concerns can be effectively addressed through middleware, a layer of software between the network and the applications which provides services such as identification, authentication, authorization, directories, and security. See Projects.

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