ARCHIVED: What is Internet2?

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Internet2 is a non-profit consortium led by more than 200 US universities working in partnership with industry and government. The primary goal of Internet2 is to develop advanced computer network applications to facilitate teaching and research. Internet2 is a project of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID).

Internet2 is not a separate physical network, and it will not replace the Internet, but rather will bring new capabilities to the Internet through the collaboration of academia, industry, and government. Applications appropriate for Internet2 include various kinds of cooperative ventures, such as research collaborations, distance education and conferencing in real-time, and shared use (and use from a distance) of one-of-a-kind scientific instruments.

For more information, visit the Internet2 web site and the Internet2 FAQ.

Indiana University was one of the 34 founders of Internet2 and is currently a member of the Internet2 project. An example of an Internet2 application at IU is Variations2, a digital music library system. Variations2 is a joint project of the Cook Music Library and the IU Digital Library Program.