Bell provides switch to distance learning: engineering undergrads hear lectures, take tests from afar

Communications News, Feb, 1990 by William Brichta

Mountaintop gives the Franklin/Dovetail dish a natural line of sight.

A signal originating in Packard Lab bound for York College travels over fiber to the Mountaintop Campus, where it is directed to one of the microwave dishes on Building A to go out over the network.

Since its inception two years ago, the network has experienced one outage of about 30 seconds per year due to rain.

The Packard Lab to York College network is a two-way interactive video network, unlike the Bell Laboratories switched network. Both parties can see and speak to one another simultaneously.

The York classroom is equipped with two monitors to view the incoming signal and two cameras set a different angles to transmit classroom motion.

Graphics may also be sent by students via a graphics camera at the York site.

Unlike Bell Labs, when a graphics picture is transmitted to either York or Packard, no incoming motion will be received at the distant end.

Homework assignments are distributed using electronic mail and facsimile.

Utilizing the video network, the students can register for graduate coursework at their workplace, eliminating not only wasted time but long lines and parking difficulties.

Eager Users

The distance-learning program is readily accepted by participating professors and students.

Most agree the ease of transition depended on the individual professor's previous style of instruction.

Instructors have to be aware of others attending via remote sites.

Remarks and questions must be directed to all.

It has been suggested that being a good TV performer is also an aid and that instruction at a much slower pace with added preparation is needed for this type of medium to work.

After the first year, Bell Lab employees were able to save more than 5000 hours of travel time.

The network was invaluable during snowy winter months.