University IT conference to be held on the Coast
1 July, 2005
Three hundred computer networking specialists from around the
world will descend on the Hyatt Coolum next week (July 5 to 8) to
hear about the next generation of the Internet (Internet 2),
discuss issues of IT security, wireless broadband data and the
future of computer networking.
QUESTnet2005, (Queensland Education, Science and Technology
Network) is supported by the University of the Sunshine Coast and
hosted by the Australian Catholic University.
Maureen Klinkert, Executive Director of IT Services at USC, has
been part of this year's organising committee in preparation for
USC hosting the event next year, which will again be held at
Coolum.
"We are proud to be hosting the 2006 conference, which will be
held during USC's tenth anniversary, and being part of this year's
committee will help prepare us for next year's conference," Ms
Klinkert said.
It was strong local links between the University and Telstra
Countrywide that led to an improvement in network bandwidth for
this year's conference.
"Telstra Countrywide arranged and implemented substantial
network bandwidth to cope with the intense technological demands of
the conference," Ms Klinkert said.
At 34Mbit/second the network is many times larger than that used
for CHOGM just three years ago.
QUESTnet began in the mid 80's as a way for Queensland
universities to develop the knowledge and skills of their own staff
in these technologies and has proven so popular it now attracts
delegates from around the world.
The key focus of the event is to provide an opportunity for
delegates to develop their professional and technical knowledge and
gain an appreciation of the key strategic issues for network
development.
The committee has been operating for nearly two decades and
their annual conferences have been managed by Martin Lack, Director
of Martin Lack & Associates since 1999.
"Many people have heard of voice-over IP, this conference will
see implementations of video-over IP which saves considerable money
and reduces the complexity of video-conferencing even in the home,"
Mr Lack said.
"The impact for this group is the greater and more effective
cooperation at a distance that can occur for e-Research.
"We know that today's PC hard drives can typically hold 40GB of
data, but supposing you had a network capable of transferring all
that information in less than five minutes; these are the sort of
demonstrations that will take place at QUESTnet2005.
"It brings profound implications on network use including High
Definition TV for applications such as remote hospital surgery," Mr
Lack said.
About QUESTnet
QUESTnet is a management committee of Queensland university IT
directors who have aggregated their network needs to increase
leverage, reduce costs and improve service. It is the Queensland
component of the Australian Academic and Research Network
(AARNet).
Further information about QUESTnet and a program of this year's
conference speakers available at www.questnet.net.au/questnet2005/program.htm