[MUSIC] Welcome to module 2 of implementing the digital thread. In other courses of the specialization we learned about the components of the digital thread and how the digital thread fits into the vision of digital manufacturing and design. In this module, we'll explore the information technology components that make the digital thread possible, and ask ourselves the question how do we actually put all of these digital manufacturing and digital thread concepts into practice? [MUSIC] In this lesson, we're going to focus on implementing the digital thread and accounting for the realities of the physical equipment necessary to make that thread possible. Afterwards, you'll be able to state a generic definition of the term cyberinfrastructure and relate it to other terms like IT and digital thread. Basically, the goal of this lesson and of the module is to prepare you for conversations with IT folks about the digital thread. In computer technologies terms frequently shift, but they're often being used to describe similar concepts. Cyberinfastructure was introduced in 2003, so you've likely already interacted with it in some form, but possibly by another name. Advances in computing and related technologies like processing speeds, networking, graphics, and storage have transformed our ability to respond to complex questions and have changed how we live our lives. Banking, shopping, and entertainment have all clearly been impacted by advances in computer performance. Healthcare and education are now also undergoing this transformation. Consider this course, for example. A few years ago it was not possible to offer global open education. All of these areas have been impacted by changes in technology. So let's ask ourselves the question why not design and manufacturing? It's unlikely in our world today that any real task in business can be accomplished by a single person sitting in a single place. This is especially true when it comes to design and manufacturing. For example, if we take a look at product development, is usually a team effort with multiple people involved in a project passing back and forth large amounts of data and information. In order to share this information effectively, it's important that these people and their information sources are well connected and provided with the right tools to process large amounts of data quickly, accurately, and efficiently. Cyberinfrastructure is the technology solution that makes this connection possible. In 2003, the National Science Foundation formalized the definition as quote Cyberinfrastructure integrates hardware for computing, data and networks, digitally enabled sensors, observatories and experimental facilities, and an interoperable suite of software and middleware services and tools, unquote. I have found it to be a useful label for everything IT related. How does cyber infrastructure come into play? We start off with a user community that has a question that needs to be answered. Consider a scenario in which we want to understand the status of production across our entire company. We have multiple sensors in different manufacturing sites spread across the country, and can capture a large set of data. This data, once captured, is retained in some storage device for use in the design process. Then computing devices come in to play as they convert the data into information. All of these resources are then connected through some form of networking. And finally, with visualization, processed information is strategically presented to enhance usability for a specific purpose and then presented back to the original community. So cyber infrastructure is the bridge that brings the process from one step to the next and ultimately makes the entire cycle possible. Cyber infrastructure doesn't just apply to large organizations. It can also benefit smaller firms by connecting results from instrumented testing facilities right back to the design process, helping engineers to understand the real world implications of their designs, like how heat transfer is impacted by design changes.