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Anne
-----Original Message-----
From: Tak Utsumi <
utsumi@SOLAR.CINI.UTK.EDU>
To:
MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU <
MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Date: 24 July 1999 00:10
Subject: "Emerging Global Electronic Distance Learning", EGEDL'99
April 24, 1999
International Workshop and Conference
on
Emerging Global Electronic Distance Learning"
August 9 to 13, 1999
University of Tampere
Tampere, Finland
I. Conference:
================
The digital revolution and economic globalization are taking us into a new
era. We are moving towards a global knowledge society where information,
skills and competences become the driving forces of social and economic
development. The problems associated with this transformation can no longer
be solved with traditional educational paradigms. In this age, effective
learning requires upgraded multimedia educational materials that can best be
distributed using broadband Internet applications. The use of these
applications for global distance learning and telemedicine must be efficient
and cost-effective, allowing to foster global citizenship and achieving
�education for all."
In cooperation with the University of Tampered and Tampere University of
Technology in Finland, GLOSAS/USA will hold an international workshop and
conference on �Emerging Global Electronic Distance Learning" on August 9 to
13, 1999 (Reference 1). This event is funded in part by the InfoDev of the
World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (*), the Foundation for the
Support of the United Nations, the Japan Foundation of the Japanese
government, the National Science Foundation of the US government (*), Soros
Foundation, Pan American Health Organization, Finnair, the British Council,
Alprint, etc. (*: in process)
II. Purpose and Outcome:
=========================
The purpose of this conference is to collectively brainstorm methods for the
establishment of advanced global broadband (45 Mbps) wireless and satellite
Internet in the major regions of the globe, e.g., Pacific/Asia, North/South
America, and Europe/Africa. Included in the establishment are the
information
infrastructure, contents and the institutionalization of the Global
University
System which is to be financed by the Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF)
(Reference 2).
During this conference, the formulation of the pilot project proposals will
take place for submission to various financing entities in Japan, North
America, and in Europe. The Conceptual Development" project proposal of
approximately $500,000 is also to be submitted to the InfoDev of the World
Bank from each region.
III. Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF):
======================================
The GSTF is the emulation of the Universal Service Fund of the US Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) and which will be a pool of the Overseas
Development Assistant (ODA) funds of G7 countries in the magnitude of
several
billion dollars for ten years. The creation of the GSTF is to be made by
the
International Coalition for Global Information Infrastructure in Education
and
Healthcare.
IV. Global Broadband Internet:
===============================
The Internet, with its extending and improving infrastructure, will be the
main telecommunication media of tomorrow. It has been extended to most
countries, albeit with slow-to-medium speed. Broadband Internet backbone
development are expanding high-speed Internet access to higher education and
healthcare institutions in the developed countries. This technology holds
great promise for improving multimedia distance learning capabilities,
especially in rural and isolated areas in many developing countries that are
not well served by commercial network providers. The enhanced distance
learning capabilities of broadband Internet are only beginning to be
explored
and offer an immediate benefit to the populations served by these networks.
The global broadband Internet (Reference 3) will be the emulation of the
Medical Information Network by Communication Satellite for University
Hospitals (MINCS-UH) (Reference 4). This now connects more than two dozen
hospitals around Japan with two-way, broadband (45 Mbps) digital satellite
channels for medical diagnosis with high definition television (HDTV).
Although the MINCS-UH is very useful for diagnostic quality image transfer,
it
does not have TCP/IP Internet capability. Talks are now underway with
Teleglobe to combine MINCS-UH capabilities with the TCP/IP technology to
create a backbone trunk-line on the broadband Internet across international
boundaries (Reference 5).
V. Telemedicine Demonstration:
================================
Telepresence with echocardiography will be demonstrated by the Presbyterian
Hospital of Columbia University in New York. The echocardiograph signal of
a
patient on a tread mill in Tampere will be sent to Presbyterian for
diagnosis.
The 3D image of his heart will also be constructed. Both will be
disseminated
to the participants around the world via ISDN and Internet. The use of web
for telemedicine and a virtual reality model of a human heart (which can
realistically respond to a touch on a computer screen) will also be
demonstrated by Yale University School of Medicine at Norwalk Hospital and
in
New Haven, Connecticut.
VI. Reference Web Sites:
=========================
(1) Tampere conference:
<http://hoklpc25.uta.fi/EGEDL/> and <http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/GLOSAS/>.
(2) Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF):
<http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/GLOSAS/Tampere_Conference/GSTF/GSTF.html>.
(3) Global broadband Internet Networks:
<http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/GLOSAS/Tampere_Conference/Global_Broadband_Interne
t/Global_Broadband_Internet.html>.
(4) MINCS-UH:
<http://square.umin.ac.jp/kiuchi/ohp/> -- for slide show.
(5) Possible parties of pilot projects:
<http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/GLOSAS/Tampere_Conference/Pilot_project_parties/Pa
rties_of_Pilot_Projects.html>.
Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D.
Program Chairman of the Conference
**********************************************************************
* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., Chairman, GLOSAS/USA *
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.) *
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education *
* Founder of CAADE *
* (Consortium for Affordable and Accessible Distance Education) *
* President, Global University in the U.S.A. (GU/USA) *
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-3998, U.S.A. *
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Fax: 718-939-0656 (day time only--prefer email) *
* Email:
utsumi@columbia.edu; Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676 *
*
http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/GLOSAS/ *
**********************************************************************