DOCSIS 3.0 is my Friend

I upgraded my cable modem to the Motorola SB6120. It tripled my speed and "DOCSIS 3.0" is to thanks. Comcast recently adopted DOCSIS 3.0 which bonds multiple channels together. And this modem supports it as well. Check out the results:

New Technology Makes Fiber Optics 10 Times Faster

Between mid-2008 and mid-2009, international internet traffic grew by 79 percent. That is putting even more of a strain on trans-oceanic fiber optic cables. Alcatel has discovered a way to increase the speed 10 times using the existing fiber lines (Lawson, 2009).

Alcatel is the first to achieve the blazing speed of 15.5 Terabits per second steadily over 7,000 kilometers. That is roughly the distance between Paris and Chicago. They went on to explain that “carrier networks” require speed to be maintained over long distances. The fastest network speeds are best possible over the shorter distances. Carrier networks carry an unbelievably heavy load of data because they aggregate the “traffic from entire countries and regions for transport around the world.”

The researchers for Alcatel attained these speeds by using 155 lasers that each blasted data at the rate 100 Gbps using different wave-lengths. The reason why they were able to transmit at such a speed using so many lasers was because they used digital signal processors (DSPs) in conjunction with their newly developed technology called “coherent detection” versus the current technology called “direct detection”. Coherent detection allows DSPs to “look at more properties of light” allowing them stuff more lasers on a single fiber and still be able distinguish the different wavelengths at the end of the cable.

Alcatel did not use more repeaters to attain this steady speed over 7,000 kilometers, in fact, they used 20% less repeaters. This is despite the fact that optical noise tends to increase parallel to the speed.

Trans-oceanic lines are the main benefactor of this technology because they must runs thousands of kilometers. In addition to running long distances they must aggregate massive amounts data. This upgrade in speed by a factor of 10 is quite the achievement. By reaching 15.5 Tbps over 7,000 kilometers in one fiber pipe, the health of the internet is prolonged. Research such as this is vitally important to the internet across the world. The nodes at the ends of these fiber lines must be consistently upgraded with newer technology or they cannot keep up with the exponential increase in traffic around the world. If technology isn’t upgraded then more fiber lines must be laid which is not economically feasible. This new technology couldn’t have come at a better time.

References

Lawson, Stephen, “Alcatel claims new optical network speed” On-line IT Journal, The IDG Network, 28 Sep 2009, retrieved from http://www.infoworld.com/d/networking/alcatel-claims-new-optical-network-speed-574, September 2009

BYU Marriott School of Management - Information Systems - Denied!

I must once again report that I was denied -- This time from the Information Systems major. If you look back to my post where I was denied from the BYU Media Arts major you'll see my cynicism toward the decision. I felt I really deserved to get into that major. That was a year ago. My disappointment was quickly over when I discovered the Information Systems major (ISYS) at the Marriott School of Management (BYU). I fell in love with that idea and was eventually was even relieved I didn't go down that film road because now I see that would've been a disaster and definitely not the best decision for me.

I never thought I'd be one of those people who've changed majors multiple times. But sometimes you just have to bear with it. This denial from the Information Systems major was a bit different though. This time I was able to sit down and talk with one of my previous professors, Gary Hansen, and he explained to me that my GPA just isn't competitive. This was surprising to me as I have a good GPA. I like the guy and I tried to convince him that I was the right stuff for the major but he wouldn't budge. Information Technology... here I come!

Imminence of a Technological Paradigm Shift

We are currently undergoing a paradigm shift. Comcast relies too heavily on the existing infrastructure of coaxial cabling. This crumbling foundation will not survive what is to come. The public knows that digital is a growing necessity and analog is out. Coaxial TV cabling is not only an aging infrastructure; it is one of the few non-digital technologies still in existence. This form of telecommunication will become a thing of the past in less than 10 years. Digital is the new wave –or rather Tsunami coming to crush any companies unprepared or unwilling to embrace the new paradigm. Instead of being crushed by this wave, why not ride it?

Some companies already do. Verizon, for example, has started “Fiber to the Home” or FTTH. As you can see in Figure 1, other countries, such as Japan, France, and Korea to name a few, have embraced this technology and are reaping the benefits. Across Western Europe, 1.4 percent of broadband users are connecting by fiber optics. In Sweden that rose to over 27 percent of its 2.5 million users (ispreview). A big reason for this expansion in other countries is the fact that their governments offer tax breaks to companies who do so (nytimes). As you can see in Figure 2, the United States Government will soon do the same. Good news for those smart enough and willing enough to invest in it.

FTTH is revolutionizing the internet as we know it. Even more, this paradigm shift is encroaching on Comcast’s territory here in the United States. Verizon has monitored what these other countries are doing and has initiated a strategic move in that direction. This means that Verizon will soon offer the United States internet speeds that are much faster and cheaper than Comcast’s. Not only that; they will offer television and telephone entirely bundled together with it. Not just regular TV and telephone: High-Definition TV and free long-distance telephone (in some cases, free international calls). Telephone lines and televisions are quickly becoming superseded by this form of communication and entertainment. Cable cannot handle the bandwidth of all of the digital content now offered. According to Verizon, the United

States now uses one one-hundredth of the bandwidth we did 10 years ago. As such, fiber will soon replace the need for a cable TV jack or Satellite Dish alike. For households, digital jacks will soon take the market. Comcast must invest in its future by embracing and exploit the current paradigm shift for future mass profits. Fiber Optic lines will turn into a cash cow for whoever is willing to put the money down now.

Based on extensive research conducted regarding the telecommunications market and the current Comcast business practices and strategies then, the existence FTTH will prove most detrimental to Comcast’s profitability and growth if nothing is done. What exactly is Comcast doing? Comcast is trying to squeeze everything little bit of speed and profitability out coaxial physically possible. It is somewhat successful.

But as you can see in Figure 3, the max speed of coaxial is hundreds of times slower than fiber. Comcast’s current coaxial can only go short distances in comparison to fiber. Also, as shown in Figure 2, there are additional drawbacks of Comcast’s current coaxial infrastructure. With internet bandwidth requirements increasing exponentially in neighborhoods, businesses are no longer the largest consumer of bandwidth. Coaxial will just not suffice for the coming years even with technology upgrades to the current coaxial infrastructure. Comcast can no longer sit on its cable lines and hope it stays afloat. For our subscribers right now, the fastest and most expensive plans offered are exceeded by even the entry-level speeds offered by fiber optic internet service providers such as Verizon and AT&T. If Comcast does nothing right now, within the next 10 years its customers will have been snatched –neighborhood for neighborhood by these companies who have been willing to invest in this new technology.

Fiber Optic lines are the gift that keeps on giving. Whereas phone lines, cable lines, and Satellite (especially satellite), have little to no room for upgrades. “Fiber to the Home” will take off. As you can see in Figure 4, Asia/Pacific has already taken off in terms of market penetration of FTTH. North America is in its very beginnings. The market penetration for North America will follow Asia/Pacific increasing exponentially. The United States is an untapped resource. Comcast must change its strategy.

Recycle the outdated cable lines and instead offer blazing internet, HDTV, and global telephone service bundled into one. Comcast has the rights and infrastructure to deliver thousands of channels already. It also has access to much of the internet’s speed that is available. With such a huge subscriber base, Comcast could pull this off. Of all the corporations out there, Comcast has the best chance of taking over the market for the long foreseeable future if they invest in FTTH. Installing it in neighborhoods will be relatively seamless for the current subscribers and they will experience dramatic improvements.

Ken Belson. 2009. Unlike U.S., Japan Pushes Fiber Over Profit.  The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. http://query.nytimes.com/ (accessed April 12, 2009).

Brad Reed. 2009. Stimulating broadband with fiber. Network World, March 16, 12-13.  http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed April 11, 2009).

"EU Tops 1m Fibre (FTTH) Broadband Connections : ISPreview UK News." ISPreview UK - Independent Internet Service Provider Information Source. http://www.ispreview.co.uk/news/EEZkZuppykQJDzGsHM.html (accessed April 11, 2009).

Verizon; Verizon's Fiber-Optic Expertise Is Key Resource at National Fiber Engineering Conference. 2009. Network Business Weekly, April 6, 80.  http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed April 4, 2009).

Verizon: A New Way for Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Customers to Reach Verizon Now Available in Three More States: Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania; High-Speed Video Connection Enables Customers to Communicate Directly With Verizon Representatives Proficient in American Sign Language, and Enhances Video Conference Clarity. 2009. M2 Presswire

April 8 http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed April 4, 2009).

Loring Wirbel.  2008. Broadband gets a wakeup call. Electronic Engineering Times, February 4, 2.  http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed April 4, 2009).

Cyber Warfare

So I've been hearing a lot about cyber warfare lately. I was just wondering what that is...

...but I get it now.

MormonArtist Magazine by Ben Crowder

A friend of mine, Ben Crowder, the editor and brains behind the exciting new MormonArtist magazine, was kind of enough to allow me in his first issue. His magazine was published just today through MagCloud.com. And he interviewed me about my experience working in TV and Film (which is relatively limited) However, the magazine focuses, in part, on emerging mormon artists. Crowder is sure to make an impression on many lives with this MormonArtist undertaking. This magazine can and will go places. He has already done an excellent job taking in there with this first issue.

You can either buy your fresh own copy or take a free look at the entire magazine. All I can say is I'm very impressed and I highly recommend getting a copy of this first ever issue! Hats off to Ben Crowder.

Link to my interview:

http://mormonartist.net/issue-1/aaron-martin/

Mormon Leadership in Online New Media

“From the Printing Press to YouTube”

March 27, 2008

The Internet has given religion what no other medium has: a globalized dimension to the world. It is truly the universal source of information. We now live in a world of cyberspace: online breaking news, podcasts and RSS feeds, blogs and wikis, hand-helds and text messaging, video sharing sites such as YouTube and social networks like Facebook; all such tools and devices have been coined as ‘New Media.’ Terry Flew, Associate Professor of Media and Communication at the Queensland University of Technology, has done extensive research in this area and describes ‘New Media’ as capturing “both the development of unique forms of digital media, and the remaking of more traditional media forms to adopt and adapt to the new media technologies” (Flew, 11). Combined with ‘New Media’ or more likely, because of it, the internet has grown at unbelievable rates, multiplying in size of over 265% since 2000. In December 2007, it was estimated that 1.3 billion people use the internet. That is 20% of the human population (internetworldstats.com).

The internet and media alike has always been a two-edged sword for the LDS Church; there is much that cultivates understanding and is very informative, but there is just as much, if not more negativity. This has always stood as a barrier for Mormonism in cyberspace: misinformation. With ever increasing amounts of people accessing the internet, what is the LDS Church doing to counter this literal attack on its values, doctrines, beliefs, and standards?

In a recent discourse given by a member of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the second highest governing body of the LDS Church, Elder M. Russell Ballard, at the BYU-Hawaii Graduation Ceremony, urged all his fellow saints to use “New Media” as a means of supporting the work of the LDS Church. He said that God has influenced people to invent tools that assist in spreading the gospel. He also said that “the [LDS] Church has adopted and embraced those tools, including print, broadcast media, and now the Internet.” They have their course and goals well defined. “The emergence of New Media is facilitating a world-wide conversation on almost every subject including religion, and nearly everyone can participate,” Ballard said. He also pushed for participation in this worldwide conversation:

"That word ‘conversation’ is important. There are conversations going on about the [LDS] Church constantly. Those conversations will continue whether or not we choose to participate in them. But we cannot stand on the sidelines while others, including our critics, attempt to define what the [LDS] Church teaches. While some conversations have audiences in the thousands or even millions, most are much, much smaller. But all conversations have an impact on those who participate in them. Perceptions of the [LDS] Church are established one conversation at a time.”

This comes in response to the many negative and disrespectful ‘conversations’ ensuing on the internet about the LDS Church. It couldn’t have come at a better time in its history, receiving more attention from the news media and on the Internet than it ever has before. These once unnoticed ‘conversations’ have started to define the LDS Church without much input from the Mormons themselves. Ballard’s discourse proves that the worldwide conversation of the LDS Church has reached the point where the LDS Leadership has asked its members to intervene. Or rather, they have been asked to contribute because it will continue on with or without them. Misinformation and misunderstanding are two key hindrances to any organization and the LDS Church is no exception. Ballard went on to tell them to not be afraid of sharing your experiences as Mormons and Christians and that sharing them can help “demystify the church.” This is why this discourse was intended to be more than just a simple encouragement to stick up for themselves and their beliefs; it is a groundbreaking initiative, on part of the LDS Church to bring itself out of obscurity and cultivate understanding of an often misunderstood religion. The only way of effectively achieving that is through reaching the masses. As stated, the use of New Media is the means by which the masses can be reached.

This two-edged sword called New Media is increasingly being used by the LDS Church to turn the tides. Because of their newfound interest in New Media, most especially YouTube, they are paving the way for increased acceptance and understanding. The video sharing website YouTube.com, just celebrated its third birthday in February and continues to grow at phenomenal rates. YouTube allows anyone to upload their own personal videos. The audience is the world and most importantly: it’s free. In fact, YouTube does not make any profits (Yen). This is what drives much of the New Media. In an article by PCWorld in March 2008, Brian Cusack, a YouTube sales team manager said that every day, hundreds of thousands of clips are uploaded and hundreds of millions are viewed. Every month, the site has about 68.5 million unique visitors and 3.7 billion page views. Users spend an average of 54 minutes on the site monthly. And for those that think just college students use YouTube: Cusack said that visitors are spread out fairly evenly among all age groups (PCWorld). The LDS Church is just starting to get its reigns on this media.

Directly before Ballard’s discourse, the LDS Church’s Public Affairs Department, posted eight short dissertations by Ballard, each about one minute long. They focus on simple doctrines. They are much in response to worldwide conversations that have been taking place. Each video’s subject matter is posed in the form of a question as the video title. They have the raw YouTube feel but with much more elegance than usual. The first of which, called “Are Mormons Christians?” shows Ballard sitting in a brown leather chair with a black background speaking shortly of the simple fact that Jesus Christ is the focal point of the LDS Church and that Mormons truly are Christians. This video received an amazing 33,000 views and rising. Others include, “Why Do People Say Mormonism is a Cult?”, “How Do Mormons Differ From Other Christians?”, “How Are Mormon Beliefs Simliar to Other Christians?”, “Does the Church Support Political Candidates?”, “Is There Scientific Proof Authenticating The Book of Mormon?”, “Do Mormons Worship Jesus?”, and “Are Prophets Necessary Today?”. In addition to the eight Ballard videos, six one-minute commercial segments, entitled “Truth Restored” were posted not too long after. Shot in black and white, they have a raw yet elegant feel to them as well, They are regular Mormons converts who are talk shortly about their beliefs in certain topics such as: Conversion, Family, Marriage, and Heaven. Since Ballard’s discourse, more than twenty videos were uploaded by the Public Affairs Department. In terms of length, they range from 18 seconds to 10 minutes. The longest of which, entitled “Mormon Myths and Reality” has received almost 16,000 views. The most recent video, post three days ago, called “Mormon Leader Appeals to Media, to Make Polygamy Distiction”. This has already received almost 3,000 views. There It isn’t just the Mormon Church posting informative material about itself, the members themselves have been posting videos as well. The YouTube username lds9999 has almost 200 Mormon Videos posted, one of which has almost 100,000 views. All of lds9999’s videos have received almost a half-million views. As important as that is, the more interesting thing about these videos is not the content or view count, it is the dates in which they were posted. Username lds9999 joined YouTube 3 months ago, directly after Ballard’s speech. It seems, Ballard’s message really is catching on and affecting hundreds of thousands.

The LDS Church is on track in bringing itself out of obscurity. Whether they be Mormon Parodies or discourses on its doctrines, the Mormons have proven themselves as nothing other than good human beings. So what’s next for the LDS Church and new media? That answer may best be found at MormonWebTV.com.
Ballard, M. Russell. “Using New Media to Support the Work of the Church”. Brigham Young University-Hawaii’s graduation ceremony, 15 December 2007.
Flew, Terry (2002) New Media: an Introduction, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, pg.11
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,143074-c,onlineentertainment/article.html
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
Yen, Yi-Wyn. “YouTube looks for the money clip.” CNN Money.com. March 25, 2008.