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Bruin Online expands Internet access

New user-friendly service to replace 'IZZY' mail system

By Patrick Kerkstra

Does "IZZY" make you dizzy? Bruins sent spinning in circles by UCLA's perplexing electronic mail and Internet access system may soon regain their balance.

The Office of Academic Computing (OAC) is replacing the old "IZZY" electronic mail accounts with a new service, entitled "Bruin Online."

Beginning May 1, Bruin Online will offer students complete Internet service including world wide web access, an entirely new electronic mail system and file transfer protocol (FTP) that lets users download information from one computer to another over the Internet.

In contrast, current Internet access through UCLA is limited to e-mail and newsgroup or electronic bulletin boards for most students.

Compared to the IZZY accounts, Bruin Online is remarkably easy to use.

Part of the reason for the system's easy interface is that Bruin Online uses commercial and public domain software, instead of a mainframe or central computer to operate. In addition, patrons will work in a windows-based system, similar to any word processing program in a current computer.

The Office of Academic Computing and the university decided to upgrade UCLA's Internet service after noticing an explosion of student interest and the relative difficulty of the older accounts.

"There has been an increase in demand for student mainframe accounts over the past year that is unprecedented in our experience. We went from 4,000 accounts this time last year to just over 12,000 this month, and more students asking for accounts every day," said Don Worth, Bruin Online Project Leader.

"The mainframe (the IZZY accounts ran on) is not well suited to providing e-mail and internet access these days ­ what's really needed is a true graphical user interface."

Students and account holders were enthusiastic and relieved by the prospect of a new system.

"It's hard to do anything on the Internet now. I'd love it if it was easier to use," said Vicki Manning, a third-year biology student.

Users of Bruin Online will be able to choose their electronic address, officials said. In addition, addresses will also be shortened to "yourchoice@ucla.edu."

There are several computer hardware requirements necessary to use Bruin Online. Users will need either an IBM or IBM-compatible computer that runs Windows, or a Macintosh with system software of 7.0 or later.

Students using computers off-campus should use a high speed modem, officials said. Slower speed modems can be used, but are likely to try users' patience because of their slower response time.

A software package will be available in the student store when the system is complete, but the cost of the package is still undetermined.

"We want to keep the price as low as possible to make it affordable to as many students as possible. (However) there will be no charge for Bruin Online services themselves," Worth said.

On-campus housing residents will not need a modem to access Bruin Online, officials said. A new high speed fiberoptic network will connect the dormitories directly to other campus information systems.

"We're in the process of installing wire and cable for all of the residence halls, and we're working to bring that up for the fall quarter (1995)," said Michael Schilling, director of information services for UCLA business enterprises.

"This will give all students in the residence halls full capability to use any system on campus for which they have an account or access rights ­ including Bruin Online," he continued.

Students directly plugged into the campus system will have access to Bruin Online at rates six to 10 times as fast as off campus users.

In addition to new Internet access, computers in the academic computing terminal room will eventually be replaced with MacIntosh computers and Windows run systems later this year.

Since officials expect that Bruin Online will attract more students to the internet, the new system is designed to handle many more users than the IZZY system was.

"I don't even use my account now, but I definitely would if it was easier," said Aleen Plahm, a second-year art student.

The basis of Bruin Online's easy-use characteristic is its dependence on desktop computers instead of a mainframe or central computer.

The IZZY accounts ran on a mainframe built when the standard computer used a black screen monitor with green typeface, and the IZZY interface reflects that, Worth said.