> Andrew suggests, with respect to person-to-person audio:
> >I suggest we consider a Broadcast Server configuration. The user sends
> >control changes via a low bandwidth channel (like the Internet, or a
> >direct modem connection). The Server updates the space on the fly, and
> >broadcasts it via a high bandwidth system like Cable TV. The data is
> >received by the client, and is used to update the display, and provide
> >the audio, just like TV.
>
> In theory, this seems like a win; in practice, I suspect it'll be
> several years before the technology base is there to support it. This
> idea is making some big assumptions about the capabilities of the
> hardware, and while I *do* think that this is where things are heading
> in the long run, it's clearly not the current Internet-based model.
>
> For the time being (that is, the next couple of years), I think we'll
> have to suffer with the limitations of the Internet...
All I was trying to do was to illustrate what will eventually be a
practical solution to the problem of high bandwidth distribution of
updates to a complex VR space. Assuming we must stay within the
boundaries of the present Internet is limiting, and defeatist.
We should be ready to build systems that will take advantage of the
systems to come. Who could have predicted the availability of 18"
satellite dishes, and their ability to compete with Cable TV? Stanley
Hubbard did, so he built the system, and it's working now. If there is a
need for distribution, and there is money to be made, I don't think it's
too far a jump to think that the Cable TV companies will dedicate a
frequency range for it. It's technically simple. All the customer needs
is a box to catch and decode the packets, for use by the computer.
In fact, I am working with a group of people right now, who are providing
information about Internet connection to just such a Cable TV company,
for the purpose of getting them into the Access Provider business. Where
there's a physical method for connecting, there's a way to connect people.
--- Andrew C. Esh mailto:andrew_esh@cnt.com Computer Network Technology andrewes@mtn.org (finger for PGP key) 6500 Wedgwood Road 612.550.8000 (main) Maple Grove MN 55311 612.550.8229 (direct) <A HREF="http://www.mtn.org/~andrewes">ACE Home Page</A>