Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP)

Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP) is the central computing and telecommunications organization for the West Lafayette campus. The office was established in 2001 and consolidates a wide variety of IT services including computing, network connections, telephone service, audiovisual services, video production, teleconferencing, and repair services for University-owned computer equipment.

Instructional Computing
ITaP maintains more than 50 instructional computing laboratories in classroom buildings and University residences. More than 2,000 machines (PC, Mac, and Unix) are available in these laboratories, which are open for general student use when not reserved for classes. Laptops are also available as mobile laboratories for use in other classroom areas. Basic applications and class-specific applications are available through the campus network. ITaP also assists faculty in the use of software and the development of learning resources via consulting and training.

Research Computing
High-performance and data-intensive computing resources available to researchers include an IBM SP supercomputer, PC clusters, distributed computing solutions, and mass data storage. The clusters and SP provide an aggregate computational capacity of 15 teraflops. Researchers at Purdue can also connect to the National Science Foundation’s TeraGrid high-speed network, which links a dozen of the nation’s top high-performance computing institutions.

Network Connections
A modern campus backbone provides 100 Mbps+ switched connection capability from the desktop with gigabit connectivity from buildings to the backbone. High-speed optical fiber links Purdue, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, and Indiana University at Bloomington. The Purdue Air Link (PAL) offers 802.11b wireless access to the network throughout the campus.

Videoconferencing
Support for learning and collaboration is facilitated by various videoconferencing facilities, including mobile services, that can be used in many classrooms. The Purdue Access Grid node, with its gigabit access to the Abilene advanced research network, links Purdue to domestic and international research sites at major universities, government research institutions, and private sector sites. A portable version also is available.

Visualization and Perceptualization
Envision, the Center for Data Perceptualization, is supported both by Purdue and the National Science Foundation. The facility provides researchers access to world-class resources networked at gigabit+ speeds with large-scale data handling capabilities. These resources include immersive environments, scalable wall display technologies, a volumetric 3D display, image-based rendering capability, and a sensing and haptic research area.

Audiovisual Services
ITaP services include scheduling, maintaining, and repairing audiovisual equipment. All West Lafayette campus classrooms are equipped with at least one overhead projector, and most also contain large-screen data projectors. Other audio-visual equipment, such as video-laserdisc players or slide projectors, may be scheduled for classroom use. Arrangements can also be made for ITaP personnel to handle projection or display for a class.

Broadcast Production Services
ITaP offers full-service video and multimedia production facilities, including a fully equipped broadcast studio, two distance learning classroom studios, remote production capability, and two digital editing suites. The unit also can create 3D animations, digitize video, and create and duplicate audiotape, videotape, CDs, and DVDs.

Additional information about information technology can be found on the Web site at www.purdue.edu/ITaP. Personnel also are available to answer your questions at 49-44000.