From: scott@sklib.usask.ca
Subject: Client-Server Computing and X - IUSC Workshop, London, January 1993
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 12:53:43 GMT

           Client-Server Computing and X  -  IUSC Workshop

             University of London Computer Centre (ULCC)
                        5th-7th January 1993

     Experience with the client-server computing paradigm is
     growing quickly in some institutions; in others this model
     for IT services is only just being considered. This
     conference in the biannual IUSC Workshop series will tackle
     the practical aspects of planning, implementing and
     supporting client-server computing services with particular
     emphasis on applications using the X Window System.

     ULCC will be hosting the conference, in the university
     quarter of London in the heart of Bloomsbury. There is easy
     access to the sights, entertainment and West End shopping
     for those choosing to stay a little longer or bring
     families.

     The conference will include an extensive exhibition of
     hardware and software from those servicing the Higher
     Education sector. This is likely to include suppliers of X
     terminals, software emulators, client-server applications,
     services such as training, and infrastructure such as
     networking. There will also be demonstrations of X
     applications used at ULCC including AVS.

     The workshop programme will consist of invited keynote
     speakers and contributed papers from the wider UK education
     and research community. All appropriate topics will be
     considered by the programme committee.  Proposals should be
     made on the equivalent of one side of A4 by 18th September
     1992. Prominence will be given to practical experiences of
     running client-server computing services and X applications.
     Suitable topics for papers will come from a range including:

     Client-server computing in general:
       - practical models available (X, RPCs, remote database)
       - benefits of the client-server paradigm
       - new services made possible by client-server computing
       - Motif experiences - problems and pitfalls
       - standards and interfaces

     Service provider issues:
       - capacity planning, sizing new systems for X and client-server computing

       - central institutional clients
       - managing distributed servers/clients on campus
       - supporting X servers, applications and clients
       - X desktop experiences - benefit or bane?

     Developing applications for client-server environments:
       - tools and toolkits
       - developing X applications
       - converting current applications to use and exploit X
       - software evaluation in practice

     Graphics:
       - image processing
       - AVS and other experiences
       - 3D extension to X - PEX and PHIGS
       - other extensions to X, e.g. video

     Networking implications:
       - impact of client-server working on network infrastructure
       - LAN capacity and performance for X
       - delivering services over wide area networks
       - delivering SuperJANET speeds to the desktop

     Choosing and supporting X server hardware and software:
       - criteria for selecting an X terminal
       - performance of PCs as X servers
       - experiences with Vista eXceed, PC/NFS and X11/AT
       - do I need a workstation?

     Delivering library and teaching material to the desktop:

       - electronic journals
       - networked library CD ROMs
       - CBT/CAL over X

     Administrative, MIS and corporate issues:
       - e.g. corporate databases

     Costs: The provisional delegate rate has been set at 120
     pounds for academic institutions and covers all events in
     the three days of the conference. Further information is
     available from Rosa Quick at ULCC, tel. 071-405 8400, email
     iusc@uk.ac.ulcc.

     Dates:
       Deadline for proposals of contributed papers:  18th September 1992
       Start of delegate bookings:                    16th October 1992
       Deadline for abstracts of accepted papers:     20th November 1992
       Deadline for delegate bookings:                4th December 1992
       Conference:                                    5th-7th January 1993

     Contributed papers:                  Conference information:
       Dr Malcolm Keech                     Rosa Quick
       IUSC Workshop Programme Organiser    IUSC Workshop Secretariat
                      University of London Computer Centre
                      20 Guilford Street
                      London WC1N 1DZ
                      Phone: [+44] 71-405 8400
                      Fax: [+44] 71-242 1845
                      Email Janet: iusc@uk.ac.ulcc
                         Internet: iusc@ulcc.ac.uk