Welcome from the Executive Director of ARE-ON…..

February 2009 marks the official transition of the United States to an all digital citizen of the global community.  Several years ago the higher education community took a bold step to create and artfully utilize a nationwide web of optical networks referred to as Regional Optical Networks (RONs).  Each year the leadership in more and more states is realizing the tremendous economic development potential that evolves when the research community is empowered with advanced cyber infrastructure, and the teaching faculty are enabled with significant increases in affordable bandwidth.  The Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network(ARE-ON) is the state of Arkansas’ entry into the ever-expanding RON family.

ARE-ON is a significant step forward for the state of Arkansas. Once a traditional agricultural state with fertile land provided by the meandering of massive rivers, and significant productivity provided by the hands and hearts of a rugged, yet gracious citizenry, Arkansas has embarked upon a digital age built around a river of information that has created multiple electronic “islands of opportunity”.  These islands will be bridged by a dynamic and forward-looking cyber infrastructure strategy that will continue to deploy appropriate technologies, and  leverage collaborative efforts of both research and teaching institutions. The common mission of all ARE-ON member institutions is to positively impact  economic development and opportunity for all citizens of the Natural State.

ARE-ON will remain on target, on task, and leaning forward to success as an important asset for the State of Arkansas. The best is yet to come.

ARE-ON and “Connecting the Dots” in Arkansas
or
The Key to Success is Not the Technology.
The Key is How You Use It !

I recently attended our son’s graduation from the Texas A&M doctoral program in Pharmacy, and was treated to one of the best explanations of why we need high-speed Internet connectivity (ARE-ON) that I have ever heard. A Texas Legislator, who is also a pharmacist, and a person with a clear vision for the future, presented the graduation address. The central message of her speech was that our collective mission in today’s complex world is to “connect the dots.” Needless to say, I was expecting a simple comparison to the children’ s coloring books that required drawing logical lines between dots to reveal a “hidden” image. The actual presentation was not only completely different, but also an inspiring treatise on the challenges we all face in the 21st Century Global Economy.

In today ‘s world, we need to concern ourselves with connecting a completely new set of dot categories, or domains, that may be connected in an endless number of patterns. Each pattern is unique to the personality and personal goals of the individual citizen, and is also directly tied to the way each of us views our relationship to those around us.

Four of the currently popular “dots “ requiring connection are:

The image of “dot connecting” now takes on a more global perspective. In this context we must learn how to connect the dot edu domain in our lives that provides us with the social skills, content knowledge, and ability to learn beyond formal education, to the dot org domain that will involve us in relationships, social organizations, cultural activities, religious activities that represent all aspects of our evolving personal contributions to society as a whole.

Next we must connect our dot edu, and dot org experiences to the dot com domain in order to apply the learned skills and behavior to a pursuit (or multiple pursuits) resulting in employment, wealth creation (by whatever definition you choose), and the ability to make a positive contribution to society. Through our individual and collective contributions to our society( taxes) we will continue to generate public assets.

The final dot we must connect resides in the dot gov domain. As contributing citizens to the 21st Century Global Economy, we must make this final connection in order to create, maintain, and sustain the type of home, city, region, state, and nation we want for our families and ourselves. The dot gov domain provides the environment that encourages and facilitates the dot connecting process.


So there you have it. ARE-ON is your tool for connecting the dots that both define and empower us to leverage the four ARE-ON Core Agendas. Each of our agendas
(Research, Academic, Telemedicine / telehealth, and Emergency Preparedness) connect and reconnect these core “dots” at the speed of light in order to empower of faculty, students, and researchers in their vital quest for new knowledge. This knowledge will transform the world of today into the world of tomorrow bringing forth the “hidden image” that we all strive to see.

In summary, the “dots” of yesterday produce a predetermined image that is the same to every person who elected to pick up a pen and connect them. The result is wholly predictable. Connecting our new “dots” will produce an “image” that is totally individual and rapidly changing. I challenge you to log-on to your ARE-ON resources and get busy “connecting the dots”! The outcome is completely up to you.