The objective of this activity is to demonstrate affordable computer infrastructures with direct Internet access which can be funded and supported by a school consortium. The activity is accomplished through low-cost direct Internet connections using voice-grade analog phone lines.
HorizonNet has developed, tested and evaluated an Internet connection model, which uses a single standard analog telephone line, that can sustain acceptable performance for over 20 computers on a single phone line. This method employs high-speed modems with compression in conjunction with intelligent network traffic-caching strategies.
This networking model has been implemented and turned over to the New Horizons Regional Education Center, a consortium representing six school divisions, for support and further expansion into 130 additional school buildings. Over 300 teachers have been trained to use the Internet as part of this effort.
The overall significance of HorizonNet is that it represents a scaleable approach that recognizes the fact that most shools will only be able to implement low-cost Internet connectivity solutions that make use of existing telephone lines. The approach demonstrated in this project greatly enhances the performance that can be experienced when using the Internet with the equipment that is most often found in schools today. Using the Internet thereby becomes a more valuable, satisying and practical experience for many students and teachers.
Current plans call for duplicating this program in the South West portion of Virginia. A larger demonstration scaling the HorizonNet approach is in preliminary planning stages for the whole state of North Carolina.