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The Olive Tree |
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The Olive Tree |
For some time before the Collaborative Media Lab was proposed, former Dean of Cultural Affairs & Libraries and current Fogler Fellow for Development Elaine Albright had been considering building a similar space as part of the Library's Media Resource Center. When New Media Program director Bill Kuykendall approached the Library with plans for the Collaborative Media Lab, it was a perfect match. Initially designed and proposed by New Media faculty member Mike Scott, the Lab is now a collaborative endeavor involving Fogler Library, the New Media Program, and Information Technologies. Interim Library Director Joyce Rumery will oversee Fogler's role as the project moves forward.
Located on the first floor of the library, the Collaborative Media Lab will not be a simple container for computers, but a dynamic room where students, staff, and faculty from all disciplines can work and learn together.
The computer backbone of the Lab will be made up of 10 Apple G5 computers. Having these cutting-edge machines is essential for running the advanced software applications that will be utilized in the Lab. One such application is Maya, the core 3D animation technology behind the special effects in all three Lord of the Rings films. The most groundbreaking technology available in the Lab will be an Internet2 access grid. This will allow students and professors to collaborate on advanced projects with colleagues living across the country, or in another part of the world. Since Internet2 is a very new technology its full potential will not be realized until students begin experimenting and pushing the technology to its limits.
Nearly a year in the making, Fogler Library, the New Media Program, and Information Technologies are proud to make the Collaborative Media Lab available to students and faculty.
Home | Olive Tree | Summer 2004