Video-on-Demand server installed at LEARN facility in Connecticut
USA Video Interactive Corp US
Shares issued 40,907,088 Apr 16 close $0.15
Fri 17 Apr 98 News Release
Mr Anton Drescher reports,
USA Video, a turnkey Video-on-Demand service provider and LEARN are pleased
to announce today the installation of a Video-on-Demand server at LEARN's
main educational service facility located in Old Lyme, Connecticut. This
system is designed to house digital video material, among other
capabilities, and will not only demonstrate the functionality of USA
Video's Video-on-Demand service with LEARN's Networked MultiMedia System,
but it will also provide teachers with a valuable opportunity to experience
first hand its enormous educational applications. The purpose of the
placement will be to test the interoperability and functionality of the
storage unit with the LEARN Networked MultiMedia System. Over the next six
months LEARN will be utilized, by pre-set appointment, for the purpose of
showcasing and demonstrating the storage and Video-on-Demand technology of
USA Video and LEARN's Network MultiMedia System. The cost of this
deployment will be borne by USA Video with neither party being compelled to
any specific terms at this time.
Jean-Paul LeBlanc, LEARN's director of business/finance, stated: "We look
forward to working with you in exploring encoding possibilities and the
enhancement potential to our installed Networked MultiMedia System through
this partnership opportunity.
LEARN's film/video media centre is the largest public school audiovisual
and software resource centre in Connecticut with 14,000 titles available.
This facility provides an extensive collection of resources designed to
support instruction for pre-kindergarten through college. The regional
media centre selects, purchases and distributes instructional resources
that support a wide range of academic and vocational programs and fosters
professional growth.
Video cassettes continue to be the most popular format requested by LEARN's
users, with nearly 1,000 more videos distributed this year than last. The
staff scheduled, packed and delivered 16,000 items to 105 schools, as well
as three public libraries and a college this year. The rapidly increasing
demand for video cassettes is one of the main reasons LEARN began to
explore technological options for this resource, and, in so doing, decided
upon USA Video's state-of-the-art system that will provide storage,
management and access to LEARN's video databases, archives and other
material, the overall goal being to provide LEARN's end users with better
and more effective information.
Edwin Molina, senior vice-president of operations, said: "Once the video
storage unit is in place and is fully functional in LEARN's network, the
practical advantages of a technology-based partnership between USA Video
and LEARN will become even more apparent. USA Video's Video-on-Demand
technology is capable of providing not only video storage, but it can also
allow for interactive video content and user navigation and database
software. These capabilities will become increasingly important as LEARN
continues to expand its technology base at the local, state and
international levels.
LEARN is a key member of the Regional Educational Service Center (RESC)
alliance and has joined with its sister RESCs to promote statewide
opportunities in quality professional development. There are six RESCs
across the state of Connecticut employing more than 2,000 staff members and
budgets totalling over $125 million. Initiatives emanating from this
collaboration include assistance with planning and implementation of
interdistrict grants, Goals 2000 and technology initiatives. LEARN has
assumed a significant role in assisting districts to address the emergence
of technology in public education. In addition to providing training, LEARN
has collaborated with the state of Connecticut in the identification of
teacher skill levels as well as the design and implementation of quality
professional development programs for teachers and district support staff.
In recent months, LEARN was awarded a state Technology Literacy Challenge
grant. These funds will provide opportunities for instructional technology
training for educators; the goal being to provide a variety of training
levels that focus on developing skills and integrating technology into the
curriculum and classroom.
On the international front, LEARN's executive director, Dr Virginia
Seccombe, was invited by the Network for Local and Regional Services
Agencies in the Netherlands to speak at its annual meeting in November. The
service agencies in the Netherlands are similar to RESCs and provide some
of the same services. Dr Seccombe's visit laid the groundwork for future
exchanges.
USA Video is a turnkey Video-on-Demand service provider which designs,
develops, integrates and delivers interactive video solutions and services.
USA Video offers the comprehensive systems integration expertise to provide
end-to-end systems including interactive video content, video compression,
video storage, transmission systems, user navigation software and set-top
boxes to the telecommunications industry and other business customers.
Video-on-Demand and Video Yellow Pages are trademarks of USA Video.
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