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INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAYS

The idea of a national information infratructure (Nil) was proposed in the United
States by the Clinton administration in 1993. Via Nil, information such as images,
pictures, videos, and speeches can be transmitted efficiently and effectively at a
low cost. Through the introduction of Nil, information can be exchanged freely
and new business can evolve, for example, telecommuting, video on demand,
virtual university, and teleshopping. In the past the construction of railways al-
lowed such heavy industries as steel and ship building to evolve. Through the
construction of highways, the automobile industry and express delivery services
evolved.
The introduction of information superhighways can ensure the development
of a new industry. Currently, television programs are broadcast to every home and
viewers' choices are limited to what is already scheduled. However, when we have
156-Mbps subscriber lines, viewers will be able to receive video through the com-
munication links in real time and access the TV station by phone to request a video
program. This is what is known as video on demand. Similarly, we will be able to
order 3D product information from a department store or request lectures to be
transmitted from a university. We will access a travel agent for 3D interactive
travel information. In this way teleshopping, tele-education, or telettavel can be ac-
complished. These applications are described in Chapter 11. In place of optical fibers

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