The Australian Centre for Jini
		     Technologies: Summary

Introduction

Jini is a new distributed technology from Sun Microsystems based on the
Java programming language. It gives ``network plug and work'', where
hardware and software services can join a network, announce their presence
and be immediately usable. Jini allows software and hardware to be written
that is ``Jini aware'', and to capture and bridge between non-Jini
applications, hardware and software services. This allows new and existing
systems to be built or brought into a Jini environment. 

Demonstration laboratory

A major project under this proposal is to set up a ``demonstrator
laboratory''. This will include a variety of heterogeneous hardware, running
many different operating sytems: Unix, Linux, Windows (several varieties)
and Macintosh computers for workstations; digital cameras, other office
equipment, and scientific equipment associated with engineering and the
hard sciences. 

The laboratory will be used to demonstrate on a local scale how Jini can be
used in office, home and scientific environments. In addition, since Jini is a
distributed network system, the services will be available across the Internet
as a demonstrator laboratory for Australian and world use. 

Participants

The participant organisations in this will initially be 

    University of Canberra 
    Distributed Systems Technology CRC (DSTC) 
    Telstra Research Laboratories (TRL) 
    Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) 
    Compaq 

Support Facilities

Space for the Centre will be supplied for the publically accessible resources
by a laboratory at the University of Canberra. A restricted access laboratory
may be located at DSTC, at Fern Hill adjacent to the University of
Canberra. 

Dr Newmarch will act as director of the Centre as part of his research
activities at the University of Canberra. There will also be the need for a
full-time research assistant at a suitable level. The roles of this assistant will
be administration of the Jini networks, work on some of the research
projects, training and consulting, and management of the Centre's Web
site. 

Benefits

The Centre will provide a single point-of-call for Jini-related technologies
in Australia. This will avoid the fragmentation of efforts which are
beginning to occur as individual organisations set up work groups which are
just covering the same ground. It will also form a Australian registration
centre for Jini activities. 

Organisations around the world are looking at Jini technologies. Various
mechanisms are being proposed to coordinate activities on a global scale.
An Australian Centre will allow Australian industries to have an effective
voice in the emerging global bodies.