Internet2 Bridging Ancient and Modern
By: Lori Keim Sep 22, 2005
Teri Rofkar looks a a blanket
Sisters and Tlingit weavers Teri Rofkar and Shelly Laws closely scrutinized the Chilkat dance blanket that museum collection keeper Lucy Fowler Williams brought to the table Wednesday….a table 6,000 miles away at the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The technology that made this possible is called Internet2.
Internet2 (I2) is an advanced broadband network consortium whose members include universities and research institutes from all around the globe. At the Fall 2005 members meeting this week, the meeting host UPenn museum joined forces with other consortium members the University of Alaska Anchorage, the University of Delaware, the University of Cairo (Egypt) and the Zagreb (Croatia) Museum in a demonstration of some of the possibilities of the Internet2 technology.
Lucy Fowler Williams, keeper of the Native American collection of the UPenn museum, sat in the archive section of the museum surrounded by some of its Southeast Alaska artifacts: two incredible Chilkat dance blankets immediately identifiable by their distinctive designs, a baby carrier and a large standing basket both made of spruce root, and a large Eulachon (Hooligan) oil press basket. She looked into the monitor in front of her on which she could see Teri and Shelly, likewise surrounded by Tlingit pieces. The differences between the two scenes is that the museum’s pieces are likely 100 or more years old and Teri and Shelly are the craftswoman who created the pieces with them in the UAA/APU Consortium Library using the materials and technology of their ancestors.
Of particular interest to the three women was a Chilkat dance blanket at the museum with a very unusual design. Some of the elements of the design the women, all experts, could not identify. The quality of the Internet2 transmission was such that Shelly, the blanket weaver, could determine the composition of the warp and weft threads, as well as the braids, or fringe, hanging from the sides and bottom of the blanket. There were clues to the age of the blankets in the materials used and the lack of any fur trim around the neck, which was used to protect the neck from chafing during use. The absence of fur at the neck indicated that this Chilkat dance blanket was made post-contact for a collector or to be sold.
All three women agreed that the demonstration was a success, in spite of a few technical glitches early in the three hour session. It was the first use of the Internet2 technology for UAA. The technical team was excited about the opportunities Internet2 will offer for faculty and researchers to collaborate with colleagues or gain access to artifacts or other materials that would otherwise require extensive travel and time.
Rich Whitney, associate vice chancellor for information technology, said that although the technology is in its early stages there may be opportunities for UAA to engage in other demonstrations. He believes that Internet2 technology is three to five years out from being able to support widespread usage.
It is technology worth waiting for.
