Implementing Change at Columbia University Libraries

Columbia University Libraries has selected Sun's Storage Archive Manager (SAM) solution to expand its digital library. The Libraries is combining the SAM management software with Sun servers and storage and tape technologies to enable a coherent and comprehensive technology infrastructure that will ensure the survival and continued accessibility of its vast collection of materials. Columbia's Libraries consists of 22 libraries, with over 10 million volumes, 100,000 current journals and serials, and an extensive collection of electronic resources, microforms and other non-print materials, as well as rare manuscripts and books, some dating to the early 19th century.

"We are at a time of extraordinary technological and social change, when we need to implement systems and services capable of supporting 21st century teaching, learning, research and scholarship. Our goal was to find the right technology vendor to help us build a cost-effective and expandable system to support Columbia's growing digital collections," said Robert Cartolano, Director, Library Info Tech Office. "Sun Microsystems provided everything we needed in one place. We were very impressed with their technology model, their commitment to open source and open systems, and their extensive experience in large-scale storage."

Columbia's integration of the SAM technology, a combination of StorEdge (TM) 6140, 4500 and L500 tape storage media technologies, along with Fedora Commons Repository Software from duraspace.org (an open source project) allows it to remotely locate and manage digital artifacts on three tiers of storage in geographically disparate locations for long-term content preservation. The system was designed with the ability to grow to half a petabyte (500,000,000,000,000 bytes) of information. Columbia is initially using the system to support its institutional repository, located at academiccommons.columbia.edu, and preservation of digital files from existing and upcoming digital library projects.

Making ShanghAI Lectures a Reality with Project Wonderland

Sun and Virtual Learning Labs supported the University of Zurich's ambitious ShanghAI Lectures in building a 3D virtual learning world based on the Project Wonderland open source toolkit. The lectures take place in a mixed reality setting, combining video streaming and virtual worlds, to enable students worldwide to actively participate in presentations and lectures on embodied intelligence and biologically inspired robotics.

"We used the open source Project Wonderland toolkit to develop a virtual 3D environment, and it has proven to be ideal for our purposes," said Professor Rolf Pfeifer, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the University of Zurich. "Students and faculty from almost 40 universities worldwide are now able to meet and mingle in our virtual classroom and share cutting-edge research on natural and artificial intelligence through our virtual classroom."

The ShanghAI Lectures on embodied intelligence are being broadcast by videoconference from Jiao Tong University in Shanghai to universities across the planet, complemented by 3D collaborative virtual environments and other community-building activities to promote interaction and cooperation among the participants. The lecture series began on October 15 and runs until December 17, 2009. Sun and Virtual Learning Labs provided consultancy on the use of project Wonderland to support the ShanghAI events, and also, together with a number of teams from various institutions (including the universities of Zurich, Lugano, and Bern) and companies such as Munich-based architect Henn Architekten designed and implemented the ShanghAI Lectures 3D world.

The University of Zurich is a member of the Sun Immersion Special Interest Group--a Sun Microsystems Inc.-sponsored community dedicated to advancing the state of open source technology and content for virtual worlds and gaming in education based on Sun's open source Project Wonderland, Project Darkstar and SunSPOT technologies. This group is open to institutions, commercial organizations, faculty and students interested in working with Sun, in learning and in sharing practical experiences in new 3-D Web environments.

For more information about Sun and its open, interoperable solutions for the education community, please visit: Sun.com/education or booth #415 at Educause.

About Columbia University Libraries/Information Services

Columbia University Libraries/Information Services is one of the top five academic research library systems in North America. The collections include over 10 million volumes, over 100,000 journals and serials, as well as extensive electronic resources, manuscripts, rare books, microforms, maps, graphic and audio-visual materials. The services and collections are organized into 22 libraries and various academic technology centers. The Libraries employs more than 550 professional and support staff. The website of the Libraries at www.columbia.edu/library/ is the gateway to its services and resources.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Sun Microsystems develops the technologies that power the global marketplace. Guided by a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer" -- Sun drives network participation through shared innovation, community development, and open source leadership. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the Web at http://sun.com.

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, StorEdge, OpenSolaris, and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the US and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.

SOURCE: Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Sun Microsystems, Inc. 
Rebecca Lui, 650-786-8365 
rebecca.lui@sun.com

Java Store Beta Payment Mechanism Powered by PayPal

Sun now supports for-fee applications submitted by developers for distribution in the Java Store Beta. Developers can price their offering anywhere from $1.99 to $200.00 (USD) and select the license rights they wish to apply to their application. Developers will receive 70 percent of any for-fee application sold through the Java Store Beta. Utilizing the new Adaptive Payment API from PayPal, consumers can authorize the Java Store Beta to bill against their PayPal account so they can simply click the "Buy" button and never have to leave the store. In addition, when a customer makes a payment in the Java Store Beta, the application owner also gets paid at the time of the purchase. This way, the developer immediately receives the revenue and knows exactly how many people have purchased their application.

"PayPal and Sun are unlocking huge potential for developers around the world to make money for building Java applications," said Bedier. "Sun is leveraging our Adaptive Payments APIs in the Java Store beta to provide real-time payments to developers when their applications are purchased, and a streamlined single-click purchase experience for consumers."

New Java Store Beta User Interface

The latest version of the Java Store Beta delivers an improved look and feel, simplifying navigation throughout the store and enhancing the consumer's ability to find applications of interest. The Java Store Beta continues to provide consumers with the unique ability to easily preview (or try) applications before deciding whether or not to purchase or install the application. The Java Store Beta also makes it extremely easy for consumers to acquire new applications by simply dragging them directly onto their computer.

The Java Store is currently available at no cost for U.S. residents as part of the Java Store Beta program. Developers can submit Java Platform Standard Edition (Java SE) and JavaFX-based applications to the Java Warehouse for distribution in the Java Store Beta. Consumers can visit http://store.java.com to participate in the Java Store Beta program and developers can visit http://java.sun.com/warehouse to submit applications for the Java Warehouse.

Sun Participation at PayPal X Innovate 2009

PayPal X Innovate 2009 is PayPal's first dedicated developer conference, November 3-4, 2009, in San Francisco at the Concourse Exhibition Center. As a Platinum Sponsor of the event, Sun will be showcasing the latest Java Store Beta, which uses PayPal's adaptive payment services. Eric Klein, Sun vice president of Java Marketing, will demonstrate the Java Store Beta at the PayPal Innovate opening day keynote with PayPal Vice President of Platform and Emerging Technology, Osama Bedier. Sun will also be showcasing the Java Store Beta and Java Warehouse Developer Portal beta in booth #1 of the Innovate exhibition area throughout the two day event.

About the Java Store

The Java Store, created in JavaFX, will allow more than 800 million worldwide desktop Java users to easily and securely discover and purchase compelling Java applications and content. The Java Store contains personal productivity, business, social graph and entertainment software organized in a simple and intuitive user interface. Innovative features of the Java Store include the ability for consumers to first preview applications inside the Java Store, prior to installing them, and then to safely install applications by simply dragging them from the Java Store directly onto their computer desktop. Users can install Java applications knowing that these applications run within the strong security frameworks associated with the Java runtime, allowing consumers to enjoy fun, innovative desktop experiences without fear of malicious software.

About Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Sun Microsystems develops the technologies that power the global marketplace. Guided by a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer"(TM) -- Sun drives network participation through shared innovation, community development and open source leadership. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the Web at http://sun.com.

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Java, JavaOne, JavaFX and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

* All prices quoted are in U.S. Dollars

SOURCE: Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Sun Microsystems 
Jacki DeCoster, 415-294-4482 
jacki.decoster@sun.com