In phase three, all the remaining upperclasshouses will be networked. If all goes well, Steenpredicts that by next fall, "just about every FASbuilding will be connected."
Forming the backbone of the HSDN are tens ofthousands of feet of fiber optic cables,ultra-thin glass wires which transmit digital datain the form of laser-generated light. "Fiber isthe only vehicle that will support us for the longhaul," says Holmes.
Unlike conventional metal wires, according toHolmes, fiber optic cables are cost-effectivesince they will not rust or break.
Another important technology employed isEthernet, a networking standard originallydeveloped at the famed Xerox Palo Alto ResearchCenter, where the graphical user interface wasalso first conceived.
One major advantage of Ethernet over otheravailable network products is that it ishigh-performanced. In other words, it is fast anddoes well what it is designed to do.
Another advantage is that Ethernet is also themost popular network technology for personalcomputers. "It's good for both Macs and PCs," saysSteen, referring to computers made by Apple andthose first designed by IBM.
Discussions are already underway to extend theHSDN to all parts of the University. Just thispast May, a separate committee, theUniversity-Wide Committee on InformationTechnology, issued its own report to recommendnetworking "all Harvard faculties."
And that, no doubt, should include PresidentRudenstine.