Technology takes an Iditarod turn

IDITAROD TRAIL — GCI has sponsored the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race since 1994, but not as a major contributor. This year, however, the company is diving in with some innovative communications technology.

Nikolai, McGrath, Unalakleet, White Mountain and Nome are all getting Iditarod wireless Internet connections for the first time ever during this year's Iditarod race.

That means instead of relaying information to phone, fax, or radios, the race information from those locations will be sent by local laptops using wireless interface cards for direct input onto the Iditarod Web site, eliminating the need for multiple transmissions and minimizing mistakes.

Race fans from all over the world will be able to view trail events seconds after they happen.

Iditarod veterinarians will also benefit from some experimental technology taking place this year.

Iditarod veterinarians are able to take a picture of an injured dog from a remote checkpoint, and immediately consult with experts in Anchorage over the Internet for an evaluation.

Although the project is still being tested, the outlook for providing advanced care for canine athletes on the trail is just around the corner.

This year, according to GCI's rural network manager Clyde Raymer, GCI has provided Iditarod vets with digital cameras in order to experiment with wireless remote communications so dog doctors can provide more immediate diagnoses.

New advances in communications can also help conserve resources.

"Last year I used 1,847 sheets of paper at McGrath during the Iditarod," Raymer said. "I swore this year I wouldn't kill that many trees."

Raymer is also experimenting with direct video coverage of the Iditarod for Internet viewing.

It would be nothing to post a camera on a deck overlooking Front Street and have a live broadcast of the finish over the Internet, he said.

Palm Pilots are being used in Nome and Unalakleet to e-mail race information as it happens.

GCI provides mushers with free calling cards so they can talk to their families on the trail. It won't be long, according to Raymer, perhaps as soon as next year, that mushers will be able to talk to their loved ones free over the Internet.