U.C. to Bring Interactive TV to Harvard Students

Students will be able to watch course lectures on their own computers by the end of this month, thanks to the Undergraduate Council's Harvard Interactive Television Committee.

Eric M. Silberstein '98, who introduced the resolution officially approved two Sundays ago, said he hopes to broadcast interactive programming over the Internet using a freely distributed video conferencing program called "See You, See Me."

He added that the program would be cost-effective because the committee is using existing HASCS servers and programs. The project will broadcast over computers because there is no closed circuit or cable television available in Harvard dorm rooms.

The project is being financed by a council grant of $200, according to Silberstein.

Initially, the project's programming will be available only on Macintosh computers, but eventually it will also be available on IBMs and IBM compatibles, Silberstein said.

Although interactive programming is the committee's goal, pioneer broadcasts will consist of non-interactive programs such as the Harvard-Radcliffe Television Organization's soap opera "Ivory Tower" and Harvard course lectures.

"A lot of what we're hoping to broadcast initially is lectures," Silberstein said. "Students who miss their lectures in the morning will be able to watch them in the afternoon."

Silberstein said he is also optimistic about the possibility of including local and international news rebroadcasts in the project's programming repertoire.

Although the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) network has refused to allow the committee to rebroadcast its news programs because of copyright laws, Silberstein said he hopes that international networks such as CNN and local public television stations such as WGBH will be willing to participate in the "Harvard TV" program.

The committee plans to broaden the range of broadcast possibilities even more, Silberstein said, but new innovations may have to wait until more students gain access to programming.

"We're still open to lots of ideas," Silberstein said, "but right now we're spending most of our time on technical issues."

Since its formation, the committee has been testing various parts of the program, Silberstein said. He expects students will be able to get "Harvard TV" in their rooms by the end of March.

The connection process will be simple, Silberstein said. Students will log onto the student network from Macintosh computers, and from there will be able to install the software necessary to view "Harvard TV" onto their hard drives.

Some possibilities for future broadcasting include IOP events, Harvard sports events and interactive help sessions with course teaching fellows, Silberstein said.

Professor Henry H. Leitner, the only Harvard faculty member working with the committee, said he found out about the program from a student in his Computer Science 51 course. Leitner said he wants to see how the interactive programming can function as a tool in long-distance education.

"I'm interested in looking at possible distance-learning types of projects," Leitner said.

The committee consists of eight undergraduates, Leitner and micro-computer specialist Andrew McKinney of HASCS, according to Silberstein.

If interactive television becomes a reality at Harvard, the University will be a pioneer of this new technology, he added.

"We're hoping to be the first college to successfully get interactive TV going," Silberstein said. "MIT has some cool stuff, but not quite like this. It's very accessible."