Oct. 20, 2003 - A University of Akron research project has been named as a recipient of an Ohio Third Frontier Commission grant.
An $800,000 Action Fund grant has been awarded to a research team including The University of Akron to design a secure computer network. UA's Division of Information Technology Services is collaborating with Westlake, Ohio-based Western DataCom and San Jose, Calif.-based Cisco Systems Inc. on the project, which is intended to create a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) modem to support high-speed, secure communications.
CDMA is a wireless technology based on mathematical algorithms that facilitates faster and more reliable data transmission. The initial target market for this modem is federal law enforcement, intelligence and military agencies, and state and local government first responders.
The development of the new modem represents a major step forward for critical communications, according to Dr. Thomas Gaylord, UA vice president and chief information officer, and one of the principal collaborators on the grant.
The $1.6 billion Third Frontier Project was established by Gov. Bob Taft to create high-tech, high-paying jobs in Ohio.