Person: D. R. Tooomey

Abstract

Since 1981, Robert Ballard has envisioned a concept of ocean exploration with multiple ships collecting video and data from the depths of the world ocean and broadcasting discoveries in real time through ship-to-shore satellite technology. In 1989, the telepresence vision was realized when the first Jason Project broadcasts employed ROV technology developed by the Deep Submergence Laboratory at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). Those early telepresence-enabled broadcasts delivered live educational programming to vast audiences who could participate in the exploration as it was happening.