Press Release
Press Contacts for Starlight Networks:
Stephen Mitchell
V.P., Worldwide Field Operations
Starlight Networks, Inc.
(415)967-2774
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mary Lindsay
Lindsay PR
(408)984-7242
Starlight Networks and Sun Microsystems
Introduce TOD--
Delivering Video-On-Demand Training to the Desktop
via Multimedia Networks
Mountain View, Calif., August 8, 1995 -- Starlight Networks, Inc.
and Sun Microsystems Computer Company have teamed up to introduce TOD(sm),
a bundled video-based Training on Demand solution that creates a multimedia
network to deliver the proven benefits of interactive computer-based training
to users at the desktop.
Starlight and Sun are rolling out TOD with a series of nationwide seminars,
starting August 8, that will present the benefits of video-on-demand technology
coupled with multimedia networks, and how they apply to training and other
applications. The seminars will be held August 8 in the San Francisco Bay
Area; August 10 in Los Angeles; August 15 in Dallas; August 17 in Chicago;
August 22 in New York; and August 24 in Arlington, Virginia.
With TOD, companies can now cost-effectively provide desktop training to
hundreds of users on the network, and take advantage of both video-on-demand
training and multimedia networking with an easy-to-install, pre-packaged
solution. TOD includes a video server based on Starlight's StarWorks(r)
multimedia networking software and Sun Microsystems' SPARC-based servers,
and video courses selected from course vendors such as J3 Learning and ITC.
The StarWorks multimedia networking software and the courseware are pre-loaded
on the server, making it easy to add TOD to the network. TOD can easily
be added to existing network infrastructures to distribute video-based training
courseware to users on Windows and DOS PCs. It can be used with existing
networks and applications in departmental workgroup environments for performance
support training, or serve as the basis for an exclusive training network.
"TOD is an excellent example of an application solution utilizing multimedia
networking technology to deliver video-on-demand over the network to the
desktop," said Anil Gadre, vice president, corporate marketing, Sun
Microsystems Computer Company. "Organizations are realizing that multimedia
is becoming an important datatype within the IT structure, and TOD is an
ideal example of the significant benefits that shared multimedia applications
can deliver."
"Multimedia is the hot technology, but the key question has been, 'how
to apply it and incorporate it into the corporate infrastructure?' Training
is a readily available application that particularly benefits from video-on-demand
delivery, and it's one that represents a major expenditure for corporations,
with over $50 billion spent last year alone. TOD is a customer-specific
solution that can make a major difference with its return on investment
and learning improvements," said Stephen L. Mitchell, vice president
of worldwide field operations, Starlight Networks, Inc.
The Benefits of TOD
TOD delivers the impressive benefits of interactive multimedia training,
which studies have shown to include return on investment (ROI) as high as
400%. This bottom line benefit is a direct result of the dramatic improvements
of interactive computer-based learning over traditional classroom methods,
as well as its cost-effective delivery advantage.
TOD delivers major productivity improvements as a result of its more effective
learning environment: learning gains (understanding content) have been shown
to be 56% higher, content retention as high as 50%, consistency of learning
and learning curve (how quickly the content is learned) as high as 60%.
Video-on-demand training significantly reduces training time, as well as
travel time to training sites; and travel, hotel, instructor, postage, printing
and other expenses associated with live instruction are practically eliminated.
Studies show that interactive training typically has a higher cost of development
and a lower cost of delivery than traditional (instructor) training, which
has a lower cost of development and a higher cost of delivery. Because TOD
is pre-packaged, though, there is no cost of development, giving it this
advantage, as well, over traditional methods. With only the one-time cost
of deployment, the cost per student decreases as more students are trained.
By distributing course content over a multimedia network, companies are
able to better leverage the cost of the video courseware, as well as existing
computer hardware and software. Instead of needing to invest in additional
viewing equipment, TOD can be used with an existing network. Employees don't
have to schedule hours at a time for training away from their desks; they
can work at their convenience right at their desktop. Companies can more
easily gather and tabulate empirical data to measure the effectiveness of
their training program. Employees can receive immediate scoring and feedback,
which further contributes to the learning process. Training courses can
more easily be added and updated to be made immediately available to everyone.
TOD provides an easily upgradeable path to add more users and additional
courses, or to add customized training programs and other multimedia applications,
as well.
Availability
TOD is available through select Starlight StarPartners* that are also authorized
Sun resellers, and is available immediately. The TOD system includes Starlight
Networks' StarWorks for Solaris multimedia networking software pre-loaded
on a Sun Microsystems SPARCserver 20, and a choice of course content from
companies such as J3 Learning and ITC. The customer can select from a variety
of MPEG-based courses for PC desktop applications such as Microsoft Word,
Excel, PowerPoint, Lotus 1-2-3, WordPerfect, Windows, etc. TOD supports
10BaseT Ethernet and 100BaseT Fast Ethernet networks. PC clients on the
network accessing the TOD system need to support MPEG.
About Starlight Networks
Starlight Networks is the leader in providing multimedia services over enterprise
networks with its StarWorks(r) and StarWare(r) multimedia networking server
software products. StarWorks and StarWare provide multimedia storage management
and network delivery management functions to ensure reliable delivery of
video and audio to the desktop over today's networks, including 10BaseT,
100VG, Fast Ethernet, Token- Ring, FDDI and ATM. StarWorks' open systems
approach supports all of the popular video formats and network operating
systems (such as LAN Manager, Banyan VINES, NFS, and NetWare) on PCs and
Macintosh systems, as well as Sun Microsystems' SPARC-based Solaris 2.x
operating environment. StarWare is a Novell NetWare-based video networking
software solution.
Starlight Networks is located at 205 Ravendale Drive, Mountain View, CA
94043; phone 415/967-2774.
About Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems Computer Company (SMCC) is a world leader in the design,
manufacture, and sale of network computing systems and is a division of
Sun Microsystems, Inc. Recognized for quality and innovation, the company's
SPARCstation desktops and multiprocessing SPARCserver systems each hold
the No. 1 UNIX marketshare position. These systems are used primarily by
businesses, educational institutions, and governments worldwide for technical,
commercial, industrial, and software development applications.
# # #
StarWorks and StarWare are registered trademarks, and StarPartner is
a trademark of
of Starlight Networks, Inc. TOD is a service mark of Starlight Networks,
Inc. All other products are trademarks of their respective owners.
Analysts/Users Comments on TOD
"Multimedia networking is a hot topic. People recognize the economic
advantages of it, but the process can be confusing. With TOD, Starlight
Networks and Sun Microsystems have taken care of that process to make it
easy for companies to take advantage of distributed multimedia applications.
TOD makes it obvious that these video training courses, which people think
of for standalone systems, are really multimedia network-ready. I think
TOD is a great idea."
Rockley Miller, Editor and Publisher
Multimedia Monitor
703/241-1799
"It is quite clear that multimedia training on the network is the optimal
solution for training, and companies definitely need to look at providing
this. Organizations need to be moving in this direction. There is currently
a shift from instructor-led to multimedia training, with its cost and time-saving
benefits. Making multimedia available over the network to the desktop enhances
those benefits and brings the advantages of video-on-demand training."
Brandon Hall, Ph.D., Editor and Publisher
Multimedia Training Newsletter
408/736-2335
"Studies show that interactive, computer-based training delivers the
most effective learning experience in the organizational environment in
terms of cost, learning retention, improved productivity, immediate returns,
and on-going maintenance."
Diane Cutler, Principal Consultant
Price Waterhouse
"We provide just-in-time, computer-based video training to thousands
of our railroad employees, and the benefits have been dramatic. With our
networked system, we can assure consistent delivery of course content, we
can offer it at convenient locations for a mobile job force, our employees
learn more quickly and retain more than they did with traditional classroom
methods, they don't have to wait for a scheduled class, and they don't need
to be taken away from work longer than need be. Plus, the cost of only a
few new multimedia training programs has come close to justifying the entire
system implementation."
Dennis Gay
Senior Director, Training & Instructional Design
CSX Corporation
904/359-1413
"The Starlight/Sun TOD solution is a very hot bundle. I can deliver
meaningful content to customers with a clean, turnkey package. They can
start training and see the benefits immediately. We're seeing a lot of large
companies starting to look at how they can implement networked multimedia
applications; training is a key market, and TOD hits both squarely with
a broad appeal. I expect TOD will help to create a market for video-on-demand
training to the desktop."
Bruce Hawkins
Vice President, Sales
StorNet
214/602-0192
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