Similar projects are already underway in the UK under various funding council initiatives. It is important that the UK can deploy this new protocol as soon as possible. The JISC will also keep a watching brief on developments in digital TV as this offers the possibility of providing near ubiquitous Internet access to the home and workplace. The JISC will also explore managerial and financial models to facilitate the exploitation of digital TV when appropriate. The vision of the DNER is to provide a rich collection of on-line information that can be easily searched and will provide links to an increasing range of scholarly resources.
More work is needed to incorporate moving images and high fidelity audio.
This includes tackling problems of cataloguing, standards, digitisation and rights clearance as well as determining the impact on networks. There is also more work to be done to create a seamless, easy to use interface incorporating necessary security procedures. This will be done in partnership with providers of on-line services, and in collaboration with appropriate organisations in North America, Australia and Europe. These mechanisms must be suitable for the needs of all uses in learning and teaching, research and administration. The RDNC will form strategic partnerships with common purpose organisations in the public sector and act as a resource of value to other HE initiatives in support of learning and teaching and research.