Test driving Iowa's FDDI superhighway.

Area of Science:

• Telecommunications
• Healthcare Technology
• Educational Technology

Background:

• The Iowa Communications Network (ICN) is a statewide fiber optic infrastructure.
• The ICN aims to revolutionize education and healthcare delivery within Iowa.
• Affiliated nursing programs at five Iowa hospitals will gain direct access to the ICN.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) and its potential impact.
• To highlight the integration of the ICN with hospital-affiliated nursing programs.
• To prepare for a demonstration of educational programming over the ICN.

Main Methods:

• Establishing a statewide fiber optic network (ICN).
• Integrating five Iowa hospitals with the ICN through their nursing programs.
• Preparing components for an ICN educational programming demonstration.

Main Results:

• Direct access to the ICN will be available to users at five Iowa hospitals.
• The ICN is poised to facilitate educational programming, particularly for nursing schools.
• Preparations are underway at Iowa Methodist Medical Center for a demonstration.

Conclusions:

• The ICN represents a significant advancement in Iowa's communication infrastructure.
• The network has the potential to significantly enhance educational and healthcare services.
• The successful implementation of the ICN will improve access to information and resources across the state.