Scholarly Networks
Several companies are offering new online social-networks for scholars. In addition to SSRN and their new Humanities Research Network, now there is Pronetos (the Professor's Network). Much like the other services, Pronetos allows members to post work for their peers to comment on, but Pronetus also offers academics the ability to remix content posted to the site. Pronetus will publish the new content, making sure to pay all parties for their work. Click the link below find out more.

The Future of Bandwidth
Social networks and a plethora of multimedia content are great, but only if you can access them readily. Nemertes, a techology research company, recently released a report that predicts the demand for bandwidth will outpace capacity by 2010. No doubt rising users of streaming video, IP telephony, and file-sharing services are placing huge demands on current infrastructure. Nemertes claims that internet service providers need to invest up to $55 billion in technology upgrades.

Going Global by Staying Home
The Chronicle reports on a new initiative at Champlain College that utilizes techology to connect courses internationally. Using video and online discussion tools, students in the US and at foreign institutions read texts and discuss them online. The pilot courses have been so successful, that beginning in the spring all studedts will take on course a year that includes this kind of component. Follow the link to read more.

Making Multimedia Searchable
Technology Review reports that MIT has over 200 hours of audio and video lectures in their OpenCourseWare project that is now searchable for keywords. Called the Lecture Browser, the online portal allows the public to search lectures for keywords, then access those points in the lecture - click here for Technology Review'sl report. The automated system comes at a time when many universities are recording lectures and could use the techology to offer better access to that data. Follow the link below to see the Lecture Browser.