December 31, 2006
Not only is the calendar changing, but so are perceptions of the Pelican State. In the past few years, two completely unforeseeable events have come to pass: Shreveport now is a mecca for the film industry; and Louisiana -- long regarded as a high-tech backwater -- has one of the most powerful networks of supercomputers on the planet. Now there's talk of combining the two by giving production companies access to the ultrahigh-speed network. This connection could transmit daily footage, data for animation or computer graphics, or other "big files" back to Hollywood at a rate literally approaching the speed of light. Though the idea is a bit premature, it highlights the possibilities of what might be accomplished, even down on the bayou, with the massive bandwidth we now possess. The Louisiana Optical Network Initiative (LONI), set to launch in January, is the state's bid to become a major player in the information economy. LONI is a web of supercomputers connected by fiber-optic cable that allows researchers to share enormous datasets among eight member universities, including Louisiana Tech, LSU, Southern University, Tulane and others. Since the state is footing much of the bill, 10 percent of the network's capacity will be available to commercial interests in hopes of attracting high-tech companies to the state. Health care is the industry that jumps to mind. But surely LONI also could be marketed perhaps to defense contractors who might set up shop on and around Barksdale Air Force Base or at the old army ammunition plant acreage in Webster Parish. The film industry is a newer wrinkle in imagining other potential clients. But then a related field of digital media also is showing great promise with the opening of a local office by a company specializing in Web casting and state funds being appropriated for a Shreveport-based studio. Les Guice, Louisiana Tech's vice president for research and development, said, "The state of Louisiana has the most robust and complex fiber optics network in the country right now. We think that it would be the type of thing that would make Louisiana more attractive to the film industry." Unfortunately, to make use of LONI's speed, a computer has to be connected to the network "" and the cost of a fiber-optic cable that stretches from Shreveport to Hollywood would be ridiculously expensive. Barring some revolutionary new technology, LONI will have to be connected to other ultrahigh-speed networks in order to move data across those distances. Regardless, this idea is intriguing and demonstrates the sorts of challenges Louisiana will have to solve as its information economy continues to mature. But this is a good problem to have "" if Baton Rouge can muster the necessary incentives, the state will have a definite edge as it competes against Georgia, Alabama and others hoping to attract high-tech.
Not only is the calendar changing, but so are perceptions of the Pelican State. In the past few years, two completely unforeseeable events have come to pass: Shreveport now is a mecca for the film industry; and Louisiana -- long regarded as a high-tech backwater -- has one of the most powerful networks of supercomputers on the planet. Now there's talk of combining the two by giving production companies access to the ultrahigh-speed network. This connection could transmit daily footage, data for animation or computer graphics, or other "big files" back to Hollywood at a rate literally approaching the speed of light. Though the idea is a bit premature, it highlights the possibilities of what might be accomplished, even down on the bayou, with the massive bandwidth we now possess. The Louisiana Optical Network Initiative (LONI), set to launch in January, is the state's bid to become a major player in the information economy. LONI is a web of supercomputers connected by fiber-optic cable that allows researchers to share enormous datasets among eight member universities, including Louisiana Tech, LSU, Southern University, Tulane and others. Since the state is footing much of the bill, 10 percent of the network's capacity will be available to commercial interests in hopes of attracting high-tech companies to the state. Health care is the industry that jumps to mind. But surely LONI also could be marketed perhaps to defense contractors who might set up shop on and around Barksdale Air Force Base or at the old army ammunition plant acreage in Webster Parish. The film industry is a newer wrinkle in imagining other potential clients. But then a related field of digital media also is showing great promise with the opening of a local office by a company specializing in Web casting and state funds being appropriated for a Shreveport-based studio. Les Guice, Louisiana Tech's vice president for research and development, said, "The state of Louisiana has the most robust and complex fiber optics network in the country right now. We think that it would be the type of thing that would make Louisiana more attractive to the film industry." Unfortunately, to make use of LONI's speed, a computer has to be connected to the network "" and the cost of a fiber-optic cable that stretches from Shreveport to Hollywood would be ridiculously expensive. Barring some revolutionary new technology, LONI will have to be connected to other ultrahigh-speed networks in order to move data across those distances. Regardless, this idea is intriguing and demonstrates the sorts of challenges Louisiana will have to solve as its information economy continues to mature. But this is a good problem to have "" if Baton Rouge can muster the necessary incentives, the state will have a definite edge as it competes against Georgia, Alabama and others hoping to attract high-tech.
Publish Date:
01-02-2007
