NIMA
In March 1996, I visited a web site called the National Media Lab. The National Media Laboratory (NML) was founded in 1987 "to serve as an industry resource supporting the government in the evaluation, development and deployment of advanced storage and recording technology." Back then, there was a lot of info on the latest in storage technology, including Ampex products, as well as "white papers" on topics such as magnetic tape storage and others. Today, the site is much different. For one thing, you now need a password to enter the site. But an overview is given.
NML Mission Statement
To ensure that the U.S. Government leads the world in
information superiority by working with commercial industry
to catalyze, influence, and exploit emerging information
technology and products that satisfy government needs.
A Strategic Alliance was formed in 1997. Alliance Members include: 3M, Ampex, General Dynamics, Imation, Lucent Technologies, Motorola, Space Imaging
Current Projects include: Information Management and Access, Storage and Dissemination, Communications, Advanced Materials, Printing and Imaging.
Ampex appears to be the only member primarily involved in data storage.
Today, the NML is one of three host labs for the National Technology Alliance (NTA).
nta.org
One of the other host labs is the National Center for Applied Technology:
nta.org
The NCAT fosters the cost effective, collaborative
development and evaluation of world class commercial
information technology, imagery and geospatial applications to
focus on and enhance the capabilities of analysts and field
users around the world in their support of the intelligence,
DoD, and civilian/environmental communities.
NCAT Consortium Members: Ampex Data Systems Corporation, Autometric, Inc., Eastman Kodak Company, FORE Systems Federal Division, ImageLinks, Inc., Lockheed Martin, Oracle Corporation, Rochester Institute of Technology Center for Imaging Science, Rochester Institute of Technology Research Corporation, SGI, Sprint Communications Company, University of West Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition
The sponsor of the NTA is the National Imagery & Mapping Agency (NIMA)
nima.mil
NIMA: Guaranteeing the Information Edge
-Our information provides the common reference framework for planning, decisions, and actions.
-Our customers will have ready access to the databases of imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information that we acquire or produce.
-Our information is used to create tailored, customer-specific solutions.
-Our information enables our customers to visualize key aspects of national security problems.
-Our people's expertise is critical to acquiring or creating the information that gives the advantage to our customers.
164.214.2.59
The National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) today joins the ranks of the Department of Defense as the newest combat support agency. Established by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency Act of 1996, NIMA has a global mission and unique responsibilities to manage and provide imagery and geospatial information to national policy makers and military forces in recognition of its unique responsibilities and global mission, NIMA is also established as part of the U.S. Intelligence Community.
NIMA brings together in a single organization the imagery tasking, exploitation, production and dissemination responsibilities, and the mapping, charting and geodetic functions, of separate organizations of the Defense and Intelligence communities. By providing comprehensive management of U.S. imaging and geospatial capabilities, NIMA will improve support to national and military customers alike.
NIMA's mission is to provide timely, relevant, and accurate imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information in support of national security objectives. The agency's vision is to guarantee the information edge -- ready access to the world's imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information.
NIMA incorporates the Defense Mapping Agency, the Central Imagery Office, and the Defense Dissemination Program Office in their entirety; and the mission and functions of the CIA's National Photographic Interpretation Center. These organizations are disestablished effective today. Also included in NIMA are the imagery exploitation, dissemination, and processing elements of the Defense Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, and Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office.
First among NIMA's core values is commitment to the customer. NIMA consolidates activities and functions that will permit NIMA employees to work with some of the latest technological developments in computers, communications, digital imagery and geospatial information. A major early thrust of the agency will be to promote the use of commercial solutions within NIMA while maintaining continued high levels of support to our military forces and national policy makers.
I ask the following question: Now what would be a viable commercial digital data storage solution that would "provide timely, relevant, and accurate imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information ...to guarantee the information edge -- ready access to the world's imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial information."? |
