IU is the home of a sophisticated and powerful environment for research and academic computing. IU also houses and manages the operations centers for two high-performance research and education networks. TransPAC is a network connection between the United States and the Asia Pacific region, connecting over forty American institutions to outstanding counterparts in Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Australia. As a founding member of Internet2, IU seeks to foster the development of a new family of advanced applications based on broadband networks, media integration, interactivity, and real-time collaboration. IU's partnership with Microsoft ensures easy student access to a large variety of software.
Students also have free access to e-mail, the Internet, and online classrooms.
IU's online technology database is considered the best in the country, with 4,500 constantly updated computing questions and answers. IU faculty have developed the first CD-ROM textbook, the first business text entirely on the Web , virtual archaeological digs of the Olduvai Gorge, and dozens of other creative uses of electronics in teaching. IU's Department of Biology is home to IUBio , a nationally known center for computing in the biological sciences. Through the IU Alumni Association, alumni can sign up for an e-mail address that never changes , no matter where they move or where they work. To use this service, alumni must have an existing e-mail account.