Introducing our New Website and Blog: ORIONxchange
By: Darin Graham Ph.D
President and CEO, ORION
Welcome to the new ORION website and blog!
Preparations for today’s launch of our new web platform have been a work in progress for quite some time. We welcome you to explore the new ORION, as we continue to provide the leadership and critical infrastructure to help take Ontario’s modern knowledge-based economy to new levels.
I am incredibly excited to share our new site with you, which represents an entirely updated face for ORION’s online presence. I feel extremely proud of what is unfolding here. This has been a collaborative effort by our dedicated staff who contributed enormously to this web project. We also benefitted greatly from the valuable input of our stakeholders. All of these people exemplify the best of what ORION truly is: dedicated, enthusiastic, and forward-looking. I thank and congratulate them all on a job well done!
We set out to refresh our appearance, hoping to bring you a website that you can easily navigate and regularly visit. And we think we’ve done just that. It has meant literally re-building what was already a complex and in-depth website and setting the stage for a brand new, multi-media and user-friendly platform. It is our hope that this site is one you will want to visit and one you will want to take with you on your smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
“New but the same,” this is what we set out to achieve. The new site continues to provide all of the information and helpful tools previously accessible. You will still find all of the usual ORION website staples – our connected institutions, NOC procedures, and technical documents. Additionally, there is an array of new features: things like information on the ORION Nebula, insight about our strategic partners, and a continually updated list of industry events – just to name a few.
One section that I am particularly excited about is our new blog. ORIONxchange will be a vehicle for insight and advice from a range of thought-leaders. ORION staff, myself, and invited guests from the greater research and education community will contribute regularly to see that it is. The name “ORIONxchange” represents a connection point similar to one of our points of presence where a provider (us, here at ORION) meets a subscriber (you, our members and readers) to exchange information. The blog will focus on technology, networking, innovation, education, and collaboration. We plan to make our content timely, peer-relevant, and useful to you on an ongoing basis.
You will also notice ORION becoming more actively relevant with social media broadcasting via our Twitter account: @ORIONNetwork. We already support over two million teachers, students, researchers and scientists – individuals who use our ultra-high speed technology every day to collaboratively achieve personal, organizational, and research goals. Most of these stakeholders are active on social media. ORION has set out to publish everything you told us was important to you, and us, via twitter and on our site. Our team is committed to reaching out and engaging with all our communities in mutually beneficial two-way communication.
ORION’s vision to create the world’s fastest Research and Education (R&E) network – right here in Ontario – was realized 11 years ago. But like any industry, keeping the title of fastest R&E network requires constant improvement and upgrades. In 2011 ORION implemented the world’s first fully operational 100 gigabyte R&E network enabling our users to connect to a world of possibilities. This forward thinking goal has put us where we are today. ORION has grown, evolved, overcome obstacles, and has remained passionate about who we are and what we do – I hope that this journey is reflected in our new site by showcasing where we are today, 11 years after ORION’s creation.
ORION is indeed a physical network made up of thousands of kilometers of cable. It’s an ultra-fast network and an incredibly helpful and reliable technology solution. As Ontario’s Backbone of Innovation we have a commitment to serve all of our members and stakeholders both here in Ontario and collaboratively around the world. I sincerely hope that our new website, blog, and social media channels allow us to better serve you – our valued members.
Thank you to all of our supporters and members for your strong and continuing faith and backing. You make it happen, and you make us successful! We look forward to your feedback on our new site, and on behalf of the entire ORION team I’d like to thank you for your time and welcome you to our new online home!
