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.