4. Global Lecture Hall (GLH)(TM) of July 7, 1994:

Referring to his most recent Global Lecture Hall (GLH) world-wide demonstration in July '94, Dr. Takeshi Utsumi (Chairman of GLOSAS/USA and President of GU/USA) stated "This is one step closer to my long-standing dream of realizing Globally Collaborative Environmental Peace Gaming through Global Neural Computer Network of the Global Brain".

Referring to the same activity, I believe this GLH bought us several steps closer to my own long standing dream of developing an infrastructure that will support a "Distributed Global Model".

Are we talking about the same thing? Very nearly, if not exactly.

Tak is forging toward his objective by way of a vigorous drive on behalf of distance education. I, on the other hand, being committed to promoting computer simulation and modeling for better understanding and pursuit of solutions for current global problems by activities such as MISSION EARTH, must be content to simply applaud and publicize Tak's good work.

But both Tak and I look forward to the time when the technology that he and his colleagues in the GLH endeavor are developing, and the understanding for which my colleagues and I in MISSION EARTH are striving, can lead to the development of a distributed global model persuasive enough to convince people around the world of the necessity for population control, and the fact that war is not the answer -- to that, or anything else.

The following material concerning the GLH series, especially the demonstration of July 1994, is based on reports by Dr. Utsumi, Chairman of GLOSAS/USA. There are also remarks by this writer, the first of which is that readers not particularly interested in the GLH demonstration per se, might nevertheless find "Brief Evaluation and Comparison of Various Delivery Systems," covered in the last part of this write-up, both interesting and valuable. To me this is the most useful part of the report.

It originated from the University of Tennessee, to celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of the university, and was connected with the First International Conference on Distance Education in Russia, which was taking place in Moscow.

Tak explained that about a year and a half ago Vladimir Kashichin had appealed for help in establishing an electronic distance education system in Russia. Tak had immediately responded and helped him to solicit interested parties in establishing the Association of International Education with Alexander Ivannikov, organizer of the Moscow conference.

In spite of some technical difficulties, the GLH was full of exciting demonstrations of advanced desktop videoconferencing technologies that seem to indicate the future direction of global electronic distance eduction. This particular GLH was the most complex one organized in the past decade, with demonstrations greatly appreciated by viewers around the world. This enabled Dr. Utsumi and his colleagues to attain their goal of comparing and evaluating various delivery technologies for global electronic distance education exchange, which is one of the most important uses of the Global Information Infrastructure ("GII" -- a term coined by Vice President Al Gore at the Conference of the International Telecommunication Union held in Buenos Aires in March, 1994.) The GLH was also a clear example of cooperation of international and domestic, governmental, industrial and academic organizations for a global scale project.

In Tak's own words: "Today, you will witness the first crop of intellectual curiosity and the most up-to-date desktop videoconferencing system on a global scale, ranging from Moscow to New Zealand, from Finland to Argentina. Please bear in mind that fearless infants often make mistakes. So, please be tolerant if there is a glitch during demonstrations today."

Dr. Utsumi then set forth the premises underlying the Global Lecture Hall, which set it apart from conventional videoconferencing.

1. Education is fundamental for any society and nation building.
2. Globalization of society is the trend of the 21st century.
3. Communication is the key component of education.
4. Application of high technology, especially "tele"-communication with computers, to education is an inevitable trend; thus global electronic distance education is inevitable.
5. Information needs to be disseminated widely with the use of telecommunication, which implies global scale. Thus a Global Information Infrastructure is a vital necessity for fostering global citizenship with "participatory democracy."
6. The value of information increases with wider dissemination, which in turn requires a low-cost delivery system. An "old" economy based on "tangible" and "visible" manufacturing of commodities is different from a "new" economy based on "in-tangible" and "in-visible" information and knowledge in which "creativity" is highly valued, and toward which our global society, particularly the United States, is now heading.
7. Possible uses of the information superhighway are in (1) education, (2) business, and (3) entertainment. Education is social investment, business is for return of the investment, entertainment is for relaxation. This is the order of importance for building a new nation and a new society in the 21st century.
8. Acquiring knowledge is a joy, and sharing knowledge is an ultimate joy. "In my country [Colombia] only 13 people in 100 obtain an education. In this century, the accumulation of material possessions has signalled wealth, but in the 21st Century, it may be the attainment of knowledge that differentiates the classes." -- Dr. Juan Camillo
9. Asynchronous, "just-in-time", individualized education is the ideal system of education and training.
10. The order of importance for electronic distance education delivery system is (1) voice, (2) documents (text, graphs, diagrams, freezeframe pictures, photo, computer capabilities [such as spread-sheet, simulation, etc.], whiteboard, etc.), and then finally (3) video.
11. The word "video-conference" may not be appropriate to use for electronic distance education, since it emphasizes "video" rather than "audio", and "conference" is not appropriate either for situations in which "experiential learning" is taking place -- it should be something like "globally collaborative learning platform (GCLP)." Conventional videoconferencing is for collaborative discussion. GCLP with computer through TCP/IP oriented Internet or Plain Old Telephone (POT) line is for collaborative, synergetic learning and creation of new alternatives based on facts and figures.
12. Socialization is an important factor in education. Once met, people remember the faces of instructors and fellow classmates -- the amazing power of the human brain, a factor often not taken into account in the application of telecom media and in electronic distance education. Thus, once met, video (or its equivalent) may not be of major importance.
13. Acquiring knowledge is an individual matter, but collaborative experience with learning will enhance it. Knowledge gained through interaction becomes wisdom. This is the so-called "experiential learning."
14. Major portion of funds for electronic distance education should be applied to tuition/scholarship and courseware development -- which will eventually come back to course providers as their compensation, and will in turn increase the number of students, and thus contribute to the spread of global electronic distance education -- rather than spending a major portion of the funds on costly telecom media and equipment.
15. Computer screens are better than analog TV monitors. When the computer screen is transmitted via satellite, resolution of the monitor (and recorded video tape with it) is degraded. Also, when we use an analog TV monitor (via satellite or via digital high speed line), we cannot have immediate access to computer capabilities (such as spread sheet) or simulation model exercise.
16. Equipment at local receiving sites should be in full use for other purposes -- such as teaching aid, administrative uses, etc. -- when it is not in use for receiving electronic distance education courses via telecom media. This is especially important in under-served overseas countries, and can only be accomplished with inexpensive desktop videoconferencing systems. On the other hand, satellite downlinking facilities and digital video equipment require a large initial investment with additional high operating costs for their telecom; they are idle while not in use. Also, if the computer is used with Internet, it can retrieve a variety of various databases, Mosaic, Gopher, etc. giving access to libraries throughout the world. This cannot be done with satellite or with switched digital and ISDN.
17. The ultimate goal of the GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A. (GLOSAS/USA) is to establish a Globally Distributed Decision Support System with distributed interactive computer gaming simulation system, for problem analysis, policy formulation, and assessment, to be used for training of would-be decision makers in conflict resolution and negotiation. This is to be done with integrated use of distributed computer conferencing, database and simulation systems among various countries -- globally distributed peace gaming simulation focusing on environmental issues.

Several systems will be interconnected to form a global neural computer network [a term coined by Utsumi in 1981 -- JM] -- a global brain -- in such a way that the total system will act as a single system with parallel processing of those sub-systems in individual countries. Here each game player with his submodel and database corresponds to a neuron, TCP/IP oriented node to a synapsis, and packet-switching Internet the nerves of a global brain.

Brief Evaluation and Comparison of the Following Delivery Systems

• Plain Old Telephone (POT) Units

  There are as yet no advanced telecom networks in most of the Third World countries, particularly those of such a high-tech nature as satellite dish antenna, last mileage of switched 56/64 Kbps or ISDN lines, or TCP/IP oriented Internet. Thus, whenever we conduct GLH type videoconferencing -- particularly with overseas countries -- or global electronic distance education exchange, it is always wise to use a backup delivery system with the almost universally available Plain Old Telephone (POT) line around the world -- usually at lowest telecom costs compared with other telecom media.

  Our well planned GLH in August, 1993, had the misfortune of losing OLYMPUS when it was struck by a meteorite, but the event was saved by the use of a Colorado Video's slow-scan TV unit through POT line, connecting a conference site in Trondheim, Norway, with the studio of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.

  At GLH in Oct. 1993, we also had POT as a back-up which worked, but was not needed since the connection between PictureTel at Fujita Corp. in Tokyo and CLI unit at California State University/Sacramento through Sprint Meeting Channel worked.

  Our last GLH on July 7th was also saved with the successful use of ShareView through POT. They are "fail-safe nets", in a sense.

• Slow-Scan TV Units Without Computer Capability

  Lumaphone (not used during the GLH) is the most inexpensive portable unit, with a small black and white freeze-frame image (although it can be blown up with regular TV monitor for large viewers) which can also be readily printed out. However, while it sends an image, voice will be interrupted. Up to about half a dozen units can be hooked up through an ordinary telephone bridge. No computer capability. Good for small group of K-12 educational community on a global scale.

  Colorado Video's slow-scan TV units (black and white as well as color) (not used during the GLH) are standard, with medium to high price tag (around $4,000 to $10,000). The units' freeze-frame images can appear on a regular TV monitor -- about 30 seconds per frame. About up to a dozen units can be hooked up through an ordinary telephone bridge. No computer capability. Voice is interrupted while image transmission takes place. There are now several units similar to the above from AT&T, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corporation, etc.

• Shareview with Computer Capability

  ShareView units with 2 boards and a camera (for Macintosh IIci up and for IBM compatible with Window 3.1) are priced around $4,000, in addition to the computer platform costs. ShareView gives complete computer capability (data, text, graph, diagram, freeze-frame image, photo, application and simulation programs, whiteboard, etc.).

  A freeze-frame picture sent from Moscow to UTK was superb!! And its transmission took only a few seconds. Its real-time, live video window in color is small, and crude at 10 to 15 fps. However, its freeze-frame image in high resolution can be supplemental to the real-time video, with good audio quality through POT line -- and most important, saving lots of telecom costs. Voice is not interrupted during freeze-frame image transmission or while the application program is interactively executed.

  Disadvantages of ShareView are:

  1. It is still for one-to-one interactive connection, although it is an ideal education methodology, but not feasible from economical viewpoint. There is a need to achieve economy of scale, in which it would be one-to- many.
  2. Its computer capability cannot interface with various databases and Mosaic, etc., via Internet. Its greatest advantage is the use of POT at the low speed of 9.6 to 14.4 Kbps anywhere in the world, usually available at the lowest telecom costs.

  We need to develop a one-to-many system with "Multimedia of America (MMOA)" project via audio subchannel of satellite, and then to develop a many-to- many system via Internet.

• TCP/IP Oriented Internet

  Telecom costs of Internet are usually the lowest (or nil) compared with other media. Accessibility to Internet can provide e-mail for coordination, interaction among instructors and students, and various databases around the world, in addition to the following videoconferencing capabilities.

  • CU-SeeMe

    Software is free of charge for Macintosh (and soon for IBM compatible). Its black and white video in a small window is crude, but good enough for daily conversation. As yet there is no computer capability, thus no accessibility to various databases around Internet during the use of CUSeeMe. Its associated MAVEN for audio conversation through Internet is just being completed, but its voice quality is still crude. Analog satellite can be used for one-way delivery system of regular courses for large numbers of students, while CU-SeeMe can be used occasionally for interaction of a small group of students and instructors.

  • WWW/MOSAIC

    This would be ideal or one-to-many, asynchronous, "just-in-time," individual education on a global scale with all text, data, graph, freeze-frame, audio, video, etc., computer capabilities. Its hypertext enables retrieval from any computers hooked with Internet. However, this requires a highcost workstation and direct connection with TCP/IP oriented Internet, which is not yet readily available in overseas countries. As yet there is no multi-party videoconferencing capability.

  • MBONE

    Color video in large window and voice quality are better than with CUSeeMe. MBONE can also have computer capability (including execution of simulation models) with accessibility to various databases of Internet. However, this requires a high-priced workstation. Multi-party interactive videoconferencing can also be done around the world wherever Internet has been extended with more than 200 Kbps bandwidth.

  • ShowMe

    When ShowMe is available with 3 to 4 Mbps (which is almost equivalent to using spectrum-saver of CLI on a satellite) through Ethernet of Local Area Network (LAN), it gives high resolution video in a large window with near perfect voice quality. It also gives full computer capability. However, it requires Sun Microsystems' SPARC-10 at around $10,000 to 15,000 range. Its performance through Internet is still to be seen.

  • Switched Digital and ISDN

    Telecom costs of these lines are higher than POTS, but less than satellite. High-cost equipment is also needed. Digital video equipment through these lines gives good voice and video quality at near 30 fps. Versions with computer capability are now appearing on the market, but they cannot interconnect with Internet. Although major cities in developed countries have now been equipped with these lines, the so-called "last mileage" problem always exists not only in overseas countries but also even in the U.S. Analog TV monitor for the equipment does not convey the high resolution of a computer screen. As same for satellite, the equipment through these lines is good for "talking-head" type presentation for large number of students, but not for "experiential learning" with computer application or simulation model executions.

• Satellite

  Telecom cost for satellite, especially over oceans, is the highest compared with others, but it gives the best analog quality video, although not suitable for reading a computer screen. Satellite route usually requires large initial investments for satellite segment, up- and down-linking facilities, studio, turnaround services, their scheduling, etc. Satellite is good, especially for one-to-many, "talking-head" type presentations to large number of dispersed viewers. NASA's Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) would give computer capability, although its footprint covers only the North American continent yet.

Readers who would like more details of the Global Lecture Hall that gave rise to the foregoing can contact Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., President, Global University in the U.S.A. (GU/USA), 43-3 Colden Street, Flushing, N.Y. 11355-3998, Phone (718) 939-0928, Fax (718) 939-0656 or E-mail (preferred) utsumi@columbia.edu.

A full report in hard copy (60 pages) is available for $25, and a tape for $55 to $200, depending on one's affiliation.

Mr. John McLeod, P.E. mcleod@sdsc.edu
Founder
The Society for Computer Simulation International (SCSI)
8484 La Jolla Shores Drive
La Jolla, CA 92037

Ed. -- The full report is also available from our FTP site (see 1. About GN above for address). In addition, it can be obtained from a WWW server at the url:

http://chico.rice.edu/armadillo/
[Courtesy of Donald Perkins, dperkins@tenet.edu]

Once there, you can also check out a "very-much-in-development" Distance Education Project Owlink (K-12).

Return to GLOSAS News Contents for this issue.

GLOSAS NEWS was orinally posted to the WWW at URL: http://library.fortlewis.edu/~instruct/glosas/cont.htm by Tina Evans Greenwood, Library Instruction Coordinator, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado 81301, e-mail: greenwood_t@fortlewis.edu, and last updated May 7, 1999. By her permission the whole Website has been archived here at the University of Tennessee server directory of GLOSAS Chair Dr. Takeshi Utsumi from July 10, 2000 by Steve McCarty in Japan.