Military and technology heroes...

Jack Taub was a visionary.

Besides The Source, he wrote a book about The Education Utility because he wanted to use technology to help his son learn more effectively.

The Education Utility was piloted in numerous states, including Arizona, Utah, and Florida, among others.

It also was pursued in Iowa, Oregon, and other states.

The Education Utility's software metering system for 24 x 7 x 52 uses desktop computers (workstations) in schools, libraries, National Guard armories, city halls, and chambers of commerce was revolutionary in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In 1993, Vince DaRago, Jim Cary, Jeff Joseph, Bill Pierce, Sam Wyman, and LTG Clarence McKnight, with support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Booz Allen & Hamilton, pursued Federal funding for the national Community Learning and Information Network (CLIN) from the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA).

CLIN incorporated the best elements of The Education Utility with the Department of Defense's state-of-the-art videoconferencing solutions.

The goal was to establish a CLIN site for children, youth, and adults in every community in America.

Gov. Bill Clinton and Sen. Al Gore supported the CLIN proposal through the review process.

Due to a last-second dispute between the White House and U.S. Chamber, the $100M project was tabled indefinitely.

While there have been several attempts to revive CLIN through the Digital-Vending Services International (D-VSI) and others, given the advances in hardware, software, connectivity, and content during the last 25+ years, especially with GPS, mobility, local, digital, the need for community learning and information sites has shifted to the need for broadband wireless, at the speed of fiber optics.

Metering of proprietary IP is still an issue being addressed in the courts, notably with patents that CLIN then and D-VSI owned before they joined the public domain.

Jack was a visionary and pioneer.

We're indebted to his brother and him for creating The Source.?And then, Jack founded The Education Utility.

They changed history.

On June 6, 1994, the Oregon Community Learning and Information Network's Workshop Pioneering Pathways...Oregon Trail to the Global Information Superhighway was held at then George Fox College in Newberg, OR.

More than 500 people from around Oregon came to learn about then state-of-the-art technology and telecommunications. Veterans from D-Day were honored. The keynote speaker was Pat Gelsinger, then Intel's first CTO (current CEO). Other speakers included Phil Kiesling, secretary of state, Gen. Alec Burgin, asst. adjutant general, Oregon National Guard, Ruth Hewett, chair, State Board of Education, Rob Dill, president, Newberg Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Bill Pierce, vice president, national CLIN.

The technology included an ImageWall from ImageTel International in Louisville, KY. Mike Dunbar, then CEO, helped demonstrate it with the audience in numerous sessions, including Ralph Shaw, the Northwest's preeminent venture capitalist then, Shaw Ventures.

Suffice it to say, the world has changed dramatically during the last 25 years. And, it's hard to believe that we'll be honoring the Allied Forces who fought in Normandy as well as in the Battle of Saipan the following week 75 years ago.

We owe a debt of gratitude to our military and technology veterans, including Jack, plus LTG McKnight.

Where were you on 06.06.94?

Your thoughts?

Greg