Network Computingwww.networkcomputing.com

Digital Convergence: The Water's Fine

I'm sure some of you have resisted spending time and energy on multimedia technology, which you've viewed as too time consuming and complex and not offering any substantial value. I also felt that way in the past. Now some important developments have turned the tide, and I think it's a good time to reconsider taking the multimedia plunge.

The relative maturity of network infrastructure and server technologies has dovetailed with our hard work, so this portion of our operation is more reliable. Those of you who have upgraded aggressively may have excess bandwidth in your workgroup network. And you may have outsourced portions of the infrastructure to central IT, now well-equipped to monitor and maintain the plumbing.

This is fortunate, since it's clear that workgroup computing is much more than network plumbing, file and print services, and desktop access to basic applications and services. The most effective workgroup technologists are diversifying their efforts by spending more time and effort collaborating with workgroup managers and users. These folks are identifying and implementing an array of new technologies that increase efficiency and effectiveness, enhance internal or external service or generate new revenues. And what sorts of new technologies are being deployed? Digital convergence is quickly moving to the edge of the diving board.

Digital convergence is loosely defined as the rapid evolution and convergence of digital communications technology, computing and digital media technology. This overarching technological phenomenon has given us the Web--the first media-rich, global public computer resource, which continues to evolve as it enables new forms of communication, information sharing and commerce.

But Wait, There's More While the Web is the most prominent result of this evolution, digital convergence is really much more than the Web. Consider some of the state-of-the-art technologies and applications: Internet audio- and videoconferencing applications; media-rich e-mail; 30-frame-per-second ISDN videoconferencing; push technologies; IP multicast applications; Internet telephony; and Internet streaming media.

The effective use of media other than text and numbers is central to most digital convergence technologies and applications. As workgroup technologists, we already understand most of the underlying communications and computing technologies and issues. Now we need to digest the underlying digital media technologies, tools and techniques, then put it all together to leverage digital convergence technologies to enhance the activities of our workgroups.

This is a significant challenge. Typical digital convergence technologies have inherent characteristics that will stretch us and our infrastructure: Many media-rich applications generate enormous amounts of data, creating very interesting technical challenges; the Internet and other packet-switched networks have performance and design characteristics that constrain the effective use of real-time media; and many digital convergence technologies and applications are relatively immature.

But don't let this dissuade you. You can effectively deploy many digital convergence technologies right now to enhance workgroup communication, collaboration and information sharing.

So, I'm diving into multimedia. I've already spent considerable effort getting up to speed on desktop digital video. And I'm adding to my digital media skill set, with Photoshop expertise and a better understanding of Web graphics. If you haven't taken the multimedia plunge, it's time to dive in.

Andy Covell is director of information technology at the Syracuse University School of Management. He can be reached at abcovell@som.syr.edu.