ERIC ED338207: High Definition Information Systems. Hearings before the Subcommittee on Technology and Competitiveness of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Second Congress, First Session (May 14, 2

255 Pages·1991·4.7 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 338 207
IR 015 228
TITLE
High Definition Information Systems. Hearings before
the Subcommittee on Technology and Competitiveness of
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. U.S.
House of Representatives, One Hundred Second
Congress, First Session (May 14, 21, 1991).
Congress of the U.S., Washington, D.C. House
INSTITUTION
Committee on Science and Technology.
PUB DATE
91
NOTE
255p.
AVAILABLE FROM
Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales
Office, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington,
DC 20402.
Legal/Legislative/Regulatory Materials (090)
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Computer Networks; Computer Science; Computer System
DESCRIPTORS
Design; *Digital Computers; Hearings; *Information
Systems; National Programs; Systerim Approach;
*Technological Advancement; Telecommunications
*Computer Industry; Congress 102nd; *High Definition
IDENTIFIERS
Television
ABSTRACT
The report of these two hearings on high definition
information systems begins by noting that they are digital, and that
they are likely to handle computing, telecommunications, home
security, computer imaging, storage, fiber optics networks,
multi-dimensional libraries, and many other local, national, and
international systems. (It is noted that the Office of Science and
Technology's National Critical Technologies Panel recognized the
importance of the components of high definition systems when high
definition imaging and displays, sensors and signaling processing and
data storage and peripherals all made its list of the 22 most
important technologies for future competitiveness and national
security.) This transcript of the hearings includes testimony and
prepared statements by eight witnesses: (1) Robert Kahn, the
Corporation for National Research Initiatives; (2) David Staelin, the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; (3) Clark E. Johnson,
Consultant;
(4) William E. Glenn, Florida Atlantic University;
(5)
Robert Sanderson, Eastman Kodak Company;
(6) Alan R. Blatecky, MCNC;
(7) John W. Lyons, National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST), accompanied by Robert Hebner, NIST, and Thomas P. Stanley,
Federal Communications Commission (FCC); and (8) Michael L. Liebhold,
Apple Computer, Inc., with Kenneth L. Phillips, Committee of
Corporate Telecommunications Users, Gary Demos, Demografx, and David
A. 'leas, Southwestern Bell Technology Resources. (DB)
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SUBCOMMITTEE ON
TECHNOLOGY AND COMPETITIVENESS
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED SECOND CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
MAY 14, 21, 1991
[No. 19]
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technolow'
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1991
44-674 ts
For iale by the Superintendent of Documente, Congressional Soles Offioe
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402
2
A
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY
GEORGE E. BROWN, JR., California, Chairman
ROBERT S. WALKER, Pennsylvania'
JAMES H. SCHEUER, New York
P. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.,
MARILYN LLOYD, Tennessee
Wisconsin
DAN GLICKMAN, Kansas
SHERWOOD L. BOEHLERT, New York
HAROLD L. VOLKMER. Missouri
TOM LEWIS, Florida
HOWARD WOLPE, Michigan
DON RITTER, Pennsylvania
RALPH M. HALL, Texas
SID MORRISON, Washington
DAVE McCURDY, Oklahoma
RON PACKARD, California
NORMAN Y. MINETA, California
PAUL B. HENRY, Michigan
TIM VALENTINE, North Carolina
HARRIS W. FAWELL, Illinois
ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, New Jersey
D. FRENCH SLAUGHTER, JR., Virginia
RICK BOUCHER, Virginia
LAMAR SMITH, Texas
TERRY L. BRUCE, Illinois
CONSTANCE A. MORELLA, Maryland
RICHARD H. STALLINGS, Idaho
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR., Ohio
STEVEN H. SCHIFF, New Mexico
HENRY J. NOWAK, New York
TOM CAMPBELL, California
CARL C. PERKINS, Kentucky
JOHN J. RHODES, III, Arizona
TOM McMILLEN, Maryland
JOE BARTON, Texas
DAVID R. NAGLE, Iowa
DICK ZIMMER, New Jersey
JIMMY HAYES, Louisiana
WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland
JERRY F. COSTELLO, Illinois
JOHN TANNER, Tennessee
GLEN BROWDER, Alabama
PETE GEREN, Texas
RAY THORNTON, Arkansas
JIM BACCHUS, Florida
TIM ROEMER, Indiana
BUD CRAMER, Alabama
DICK swim, New Hampshire
MICHAEL J. KOPETSKI, Oregon
JOAN KELLY HORN, Missouri
RADFORD BYERLy, JR., Chief of Staff
MICHAEL RODEMETER, Chief Counsel
CAROLYN C. GBEENVELD, Chief Clerk
DAVID D. CLEMENT, Republican Chief of Staff
SUBCOMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY AND COMPETITIVENESS
TIM VALENTINE, North Carolina, Chairman
TOM LEWIS, Florida
DAN GLICKMAN, Kansas
DON RITTER, Pennsylvania
NORMAN Y. MINETA, California
PAUL B. HENRY, Michigan
ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, New Jersey
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
RAY THORNTON, Arkansas
TOM CAMPBELL, California
TIM ROEMER, Indiana
WAYNE GILCHREST, Maryland
JOAN KELLY HORN, Missouri
CONSTANCE A. MORELLA, Maryland
RICK BOUCHER, Virginia
JOHN TANNER, Tennessee
JIM BACCHUS, Florida
DICK SWETT, New Hampshire
'Ranking Republican Member.
(ID
3
CONTENTS
WITNESSES
May 14, 1991:
Page
Dr. Robert Kahn, President, Corporation for National
Research Initia-
tives
11
Dr. David Staelin, Professor, Electrical Engineering, MIT
15
Clark E. Johnson, Consultant, Denver, Colorado
48
Dr. William E. Glenn, Professor, Electrical Engineering
Imaging Systems
Laboratory, Florida Atlantic University
61
Dr. Robert Sanderson, Technology Assistant to the Director,
Eastman
Kodak Company
69
Alan R. Blatecky, Vice President, Communications, MCNC
108
May 21, 1991:
Dr. John W. Lyons, Director, NIST; accompanied by Dr. Robert
Hebner,
Deputy Director, Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Laboratory,
NIST; and Dr. Thomas P. Stanley, Chief Engineer, FCC
131
Michael L. Liebhold, Manager, Media Architecture Research,
Advanced
Technology Group, Apple Computer, Inc.; Kenneth L. Phi Him, Science
Advisor and Chairman for Legislative Affairs, Committee of
Corporate
Telecommunications Users; Gary Demos, President and CEO, Demo-
grafx; and David A. Deas, Director, Technology Planning,
Southwestern
Bell Technology Resources
163
HIGH DEFINITION INFORMATION SYSTEMS
TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1991
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY AND COMPETITIVENESS,
Washington, D.C.
The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 1:35
p.m. in room
2318, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Tim Valentine [chair-
man of the subcommittee] presiding.
Mr. VALENTINE. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome
to the Subcommittee on Technology and Competitiveness.
Our topic this afternoon is high definition information systems.
We want to explore high definitions capabilities
as a total system.
These systems are likely to handle home entertainmentthat is, in
the futurecomputing, communications, home security and much
more.
The Office of Science and Technology's National Critical Tech-
nologies Panel recognized the importance of the components of
high definition systems when high definition imaging and displays,
sensors and signaling processing and data storage and peripherals
all made its list of the 22 most important technologies for future
competitiveness and national security.
Many companies and research organizations
are looking at the
component parts of the system. However, developing a vision of
how these components will work together as a total system is
equally important. This expansion will impact other industries
such as computer imaging, storage and fiber optics networks, for
example.
These systems also could devour a large percentage of the
com-
puter chips manufactured in the early part of the 21st century.
How could high resolution information systems affect our daily
lives? Sensors attached to the system could watch
your house for
thieves and fires, supervise a roast in the oven or turn off lights
when rooms are not occupied. The system could provide an elec-
tronic vision of newspaper edited according to
your particular
needs. Its advanced video communications features could be used to
transmit medical images such as x-rays, CAT scans, or high resolu-
tion color pictures to other experts for diagnosis.
Eventually, these systems could become multidimensional librar-
ies where you could stroll through
storage record of an ancient
city displaying the desired audio and video signals in response to
your direction or downloading books or passages needed by stu-
dents in your household.
(1)
t)
2
Because these systems are digital, like our computers, they give
the United States an opportunity to regain
a market share of the
consumer electronics manufacturing. This provides a needed oppor-
tunity to be competitive once again if we can successfully integrate
all components and develop a methodology for concurrent develop-
ment in engineering. This technology will contribute greatly to
en-
abling this as one of our national strategic goals. Not having
capa-
bilities in these areas would be a catastrophe.
This is the first of two hearings on high definition systems.
Today we want to hear from our witnesses
on the vision of these
systems into the future and how the United States can participate
in these technologies.
In the second hearing on May 21, we want to discuss possible
ar-
chitecture and the implementation and standards of these systems.
Again, I welcome you here today. We are honored by the
pres-
ence of the Chairman of the full committee, Mr. Brown but before
recognizing him, I want to call on our good friend, the distin-
guished ranking member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from
Florida, Mr. Tom Lewis.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Valentine followsd
f;
3
OPENING STATEMENT
CHAIRMAN TIM VALENTINE
Subcommittee on Technology & Competitiveness
Critical Technologies:
High Density Systems
May 14, 1991
Good morning and welcome to the Subcommittee on
this
topic
Our
Competitiveness.
Technology
and
high definition information systems.
morning is
We
want to explore high definition's capabilities as a total
that go far beyond the
"system,"
next
capabilities
These systems are likely to
generation of televisions.
computing,
entertainment,
home
handle
communications, home security and much more.
of
Technology's National
Office
The
and
Science
Critical Technologies Panel recognized the importance
of the components of high definition systems when
sensors
definition
and
displays,
imaging
high
and
7
4
signal processing, and data storage and peripherals all
made, its list of the 22 most important technologies for
future competitiveness and national security.
Many companies and research organization are looking
the component parts
at
of
system.
the
However,
for how these components will
vision
developing
a
work together as a total system is equally important.
This expansion will impact other industries such as
computer imaging, storage, and fiber optics networks,
These systems also could devour a large
for example.
percentage of the computer chips manufactured in the
early part of the 21st century.
How could high resolution information systems affect
our daily lives?
Sensors attached to the system could watch your
supervise a roast in the
house for thieves and fires,
oven, or turn off lights when rooms are not occupied.
-- The system
could provide an electronic version of a
5
newspaper edited according to your particular needs.
--
Its advanced video communications features could
be used to transmit medical images such
as x-rays,
CAT scans or high resolution color pictures to other
experts for diagnosis.
--
Eventually
these
systems
could
become
multidimensional
"stroll"
libraries
where
you
can
through a stored record of
an ancient city displaying
the desired audio and video signals in
response to your
direction, or downloading books or
passages needed by
students in your household.
Because these systems are digital like
our computers,
they give the U.S. an opportunity to regain
a market
share of the consumer electronics manufacturing.
This
provides a needed opportunity to be competitive
once
again, if we can successfully integrate all components
and develop a methodology for concurrent development
This
will
and
engineering.
technology
contribute
9
6
greatly to enabling this as one of our national strategic
Not having capabilites in these areas would be
goals.
catastrophic.
first of two hearing on high definition
This
the
is
Today, we want to hear from our witnesses
systems.
future and how
on a vision for these systems into the
In the
the U.S. can participate in these technologies.
we want
May 21,
to
discuss
hearing
second
on
implementation
the
architecture
and
possible
and
standards for these systems.
look forward to
Again welcome to the hearings!
I
hearing your testimony.
f) 0