Close your eyes and try to envision what the Web could offer were it a thousand times faster than it is today. That's more than just wishful thinking for Joe Mambretti, director of the new Center for Advanced Internet Research, which is slated to open on the campus of Northwestern University by the end of the year. Working with Ameritech, Cisco, IBM, and other corporate partners, the Center first plans to tackle Internet-based digital video. The project includes developing a TV station for the Internet, which not only broadcasts digital video but also offers interactivity with viewers as well as customized content. The system will run over fiber optics, with connections initially going to research institutions, universities, businesses, and then homes.
People now are accustomed to the world wide wait.
Abilene is unique in supporting what are called differentiated services. Often, this contention results in people not getting what they want when they want it. The next-generation Internet will support different levels of priority and access, which means that some people will absolutely, positively get what they want when they want it. For instance, a radiologist needing to view an X-ray right away would have priority over someone requesting a price on a pair of jeans. Software programs are currently being developed to manage these negotiations.