Toward a National Research Network (1988) / Chapter Skim
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3 Researchers and Networks: Applications and User Concerns
3 Researchers and Networks: Applications and User Concerns
Pages 9-24
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From page 9... ...
As discussed below, researchers have called for expanding the capability of e-mai} services to include integration of text, graphics, animation, color, and speech. Overall, computer networking greatly enhances collaboration, avoiding problems due to multiple time zones and personal schedules or delivery delay that can make telephone and mail communication unwieldy.
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From page 10... ...
that produce very large files at great expense to taxpayers. The data files are of enormous potential value; many researchers want to use them but cannot gain network access to these centrally located databases.
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From page 11... ...
Further, in general, instruction, documentation, and troubleshooting support are limited, resulting in a situation where those able to make the most out of existing research networks are those who have acquired expertise in computer networking science and technology.*
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From page 12... ...
Networking problems that researchers faced stem in large part from inadequate funding support for networking. With inadequate funding support, researchers have few network options from which to choose.
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From page 13... ...
Oceanographers, for example, need to transmit satellite images in digital form to allow remote researchers to work with them, something they are generally unable to do with today's research networks. The discussion above about how message, image, and file transfer applications may develop builds on what we know about current messaging activity.
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From page 14... ...
Thcsc packa~cs may be produced by commcrc1~1 catidos (the third-party software industry) or by 1ndlvldual rcscarchcrs or groups of rcscarchcr~ Network access to remote computers fac1Utates the use of such sof1waro.
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From page 15... ...
This may be a very expensive device such as a supercomputer that cannot be economically justified at every user site, or a new and experimental device that simply cannot be provided at more than a few sites because in the early stages of development only a few examples actually exist. High-energy physics, computational chemistry, mechanical engineering, atmospheric science, oceanography, astrophysics, nuclear engineering, and many other disciplines need access to supercomputers to solve leading edge problems.
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From page 16... ...
Researchers working with image files have particular needs to transfer very large files in a speedy, dependable, and accurate manner. Currently, many of the networks have implemented forms of binary file transfer, but many technical problems make this file transfer difficult.
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From page 17... ...
Examples are the result of the interviews conducted by members of the Utility Subcommittee as well as responses to an electronic bulletin board solicitation. The large number of responses, along with the great length of some of them, clearly demonstrated the strong interest in the networks and their future on the part of the science community.
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From page 18... ...
Chemists need remote supercomputer access for the generation of electron density maps by chemical modeling. The simulation of molecular structure, chemical reactions, and statistical mechanics of solids, liquids, and gases on supercomputers are all growing areas that, because of major computing demands, will require state-of-the-art supercomputing for the foreseeable future.
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From page 19... ...
It includes about 2000 users. It supports personal communications as well as bulletin board announcements, binary file transfer, and some graphics transfer.
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From page 20... ...
In this design process, remote users must access computational results produced by prime contractors who carry out most of the computational experiments but rely on a wide variety of users to interpret the results. Thus many remote users need dependable links to Boeing and Lockheed to participate in Space Station design and evaluation.
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From page 21... ...
Researchers in chemical engineering need supercomputer access and communication of three-dimensional images for simulations of thermodynamic properties of liquids and gases; for molecular simulations of various kinds; for simulations of fluid flows, chemical reactions, and flames in the presence of turbulence; for simulations of fluid flows in pores and porous media; for simulations of catalysis of all kinds, and for simulations of interactions of gases and liquids on catalytic surfaces. Life Sciences and Medicine Medical researchers are active network users.
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From page 22... ...
Many medical researchers see the main advantage of networking to be the simultaneous availability of disparate pieces of information on a single display. Some of the nation's leading racliology departments have committed to digital transfer of radiographic images on broadband local networks operating at 100 to 1000 Mbits/s.
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From page 23... ...
If there is a broken component, users cannot and should not be expected to troubleshoot and identify the problem. Use of a network as a test bed might be acceptable in a communications research environment but not in a service environment.
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From page 24... ...
They may be difficult to achieve in that extending service to areas of low population and user density may be relatively costly. On the other hand, a situation where large or "rich" users provide their own individual solutions to networking would prevent an NRN from achieving the benefits of scale or access promised by the concept of a truly national network.
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