Press Releases

February 5, 1999
New Technology Center Brings Hollywood-Caliber Animation to Southampton

College Unveils a $325K Comprehensive Computer Technology Facility

Contact:
Jane Finalborgo
Joe Dionisio
(516) 287 8313
Fax: (516) 283 4081

Southampton, NY -- A newly opened Technology Center at Southampton College of Long Island University is bringing high-end computer facilities and Hollywood-caliber animation capabilities to Eastern Long Island. The Technology Center was founded by several nationally recognized Southampton College professors, some of whom recently organized a computer study think tank-- the Theoretical and Computational Studies Group (TCSG)-- to examine subjects such as the theory of relativity. The center will allow faculty to do research in cosmology, black holes, oceanographic modeling, and other fields. An open house to unveil The Technology Center is planned for later this February. The facility's centerpiece is "The Island Room," a state-of-the-art, multi-disciplinary computer room with technologies identical to those used for movie animation and special effects, and for virtual reality displays such as those involving NASA's Explorer mission to Mars. Located in the Geology Building, it serves as a classroom, as a project area for students and faculty, and offers 24-hour-a-day remote access. "Very few small colleges in the nation have a facility as advanced or as accessible to its students," said Dr. Arvind Borde, director of the center. "It will serve as an umbrella for a variety of high-end computer activities and give students a significant edge in their post-college careers. We specifically intend to emphasize web design and program skills." TCSG is comprised of Borde, a Mathematics professor whose work is described by The New York Times as "innovative;" Steve Liebling, the Assistant Director of the Technology Center; Eric Hirschmann, who made his name in the scientific community when he helped disprove a Stephen Hawking conjecture; and John Moisan, a professor of Physical Oceanography who works on mathematical models of the biological and physical aspects of the ocean. Because the College has one of the nation's largest relativity research groups, research activities at The Technology Center will also include computer studies in the theory of relativity. After recently adding Liebling and Hirschmann to a Natural Science faculty that includes Borde, the College was described as possessing "a truly formidable relativity group-- ranking with the best in North America."

The web site for the center can be visited at TechCenter.southampton.liu.edu. The center also houses studios for the College's web site (www.southampton.liu.edu), and offices and facilities for the TCSG. Features in "The Island Room" include 20 powerful Silicon Graphics workstations, a dedicated Silicon Graphics Origin200 Server, and a rich array of peripheral devices-- scanners, VCRs, printers, and software for 3-D modeling, image editing, graphics manipulation, web development, video editing, symbolic mathematics and scientific visualization. At TCSG's disposal are three powerful Silicon Graphics Octane workstations, an Indigo2, a Linux workstation, a RAID array and other devices. These systems communicate with each other via a fast ethernet network, which operates 10 times quicker than standard networks. Other faculty are associated with the Tech Center as well. These include Roy Nicholson, a Fine Arts professor who is teaching an innovative course, "Color and the Computer." Terry O'Daly, also a professor of Fine Arts, is teaching "Advanced Computer Image Manipulation." Southampton College will soon announce an array of additional courses, particularly ones focusing on web design, that will take advantage of the new facilities.

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