May has several upcoming events for those interested in learning more about broad band opportunities. May 9, an healthcare video conference will be held with Dr. Ann Bynum, co-director of the center for distance learning at UAMS, and Ken Tillman, rural health coordinator with Arkansas Farm Bureau. The topic will be enhancing health care through technology and innovation. The conference will be at 10:30 a.m. at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope.
Broadband is the term for a high speed internet connection that can bring these services to Hempstead County businesses and homes, according to Dr. Mark Peterson of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
Dr. Peterson said terms such as “e-commerce” can mean allowing citizens to pay licensing fees, citations, taxes, and utilities on-line. It refers to a way of actually doing business from a computer with internet access. It can allow for creating and publicizing public access sites such as banks, mom and pop stores, schools, employers colleges, libraries, government agencies, and community centers according to a power point presentation given by Peterson.
“Telework” is another new term that means an individual can use the internet as a way of producing an income.
“Telemedicine” is a term that is used for video through internet that can allow a physician from a far off location working with another health professional to make a diagnosis. Also, conferences with physicians and even support groups through the internet are a reality with broad band, according to Peterson.
“E-tourism” is a term relating to national parks and recreation centers. This allows access to tours through the internet that may not be possible from a remote location.
Peterson notes that an interested person can almost experience a tour from watching it on a big screen. An example might be a tour of Brisbane, Australia, from a room in Arkansas, or anywhere in the world that has the technology in place, according to Peterson.
“Distance learning” is a term that is becoming more common, he said. This is a broadcast from a teacher or professor to a classroom miles away.
Dave Phillips, director of telecommunications at UACCH, has worked along with many others to get the ball rolling for this project in Hempstead County. Philiips said this project has a goal of making Hempstead County the most connected county.
Other broadband-related events planned for May include a workshop on improving business through e-commerce on the 18th from 9:30 a.m. until noon, presented by Timothy Lee of the UALR Small Business Development Center.
On May 25th at 10:00 a.m., a workshop on e-government opportunities, with speaker Janet Grard, general manager of Information Network of Arkansas, is scheduled.
All events are to be held on the UACCH campus, but exact locations cannot be determined until Phillips has responses to determine the number of guests to expect.
The next full Connected Commmunities Workshop will be held on May 31st at 8 a.m. in rooms 201-203 in the UACCH Student Center. Phillips said he can be reached for more information by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 870-722-8279.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Stephanie Harris Thomas
Quelle/Source: Hope Star, 24.04.2007
