It is with great sorrow that Michael Wellings passing has passed away on 28th August 2008.  He has been  collaborator, and friend for many years and his contribution to UWTV, ResearchChannel, iHDTV, UW Technology, and  to pioneering progress in interactive and streaming media for the entire Internet, is incalculable.

Michael bridged the huge divide between the Internet and television and brought to life the first Internet HDTV.  His unfailing good humor, optimism and abiding respect for others enabled him to lead the original effort as well as build the relationships that helped create multiway, extremely low latency videoconferencing.  Michael was a world class digital television engineer and thinker with the deepest understooding of both analog and digital aaudio and video.  Mike integrated Internet streaming video with traditional broadcast operations long before others in the industry even imagined it.  Because of his tremendous expertise and vision Mike was able to look into the future and build an infrastructure that is invaluable to the University of Washington, and to the entire Research and Education, Internet2 and global ResearchChannel communities.

Mike played a pioneering and pivotal role at KEXP 90.3FM. He oversaw the building of its state-of-the-art facility, launched the world's first uncompressed stream for radio, and led the effort to create KEXP's Real-Time Playlist, a first-ever online technology which enabled thousands upon thousands of people to discover new artists and which enabled KEXP to win prestigous international awrds such as its 'Webbie'. He was tireless, brilliant and a fearless champion of technology that mattered worldwide.

Michael truly cared about people.  He built an outstanding engineering organization, hiring other engineers who reflected his own strengths.  Mike looked for professionals with very solid technical skills who also have a deep interest in monitoring industry trends to see what is changing and where we should go from here.  Michael represented the University as co-chair of the APAN High Definition Working Group; he was a respected leader in the Internet2 ResearchChannel /Big Video Working Group; a collaborator with those in the worlwide Cinegrid effort; and a leader and participant in numerous global demonstrations and events which have helped move forward international understanding of Internet-based high definition video distribution.

Michael organized innumerable, very complicated, and often pioneering technology demonstrations and events that inspired technologists, policy makers and others worldwide.  These events built international relationships and relationshsips with sponsoring agencies that support the work of some of UW's most visionary faculty members.  These  demonstrations were  seen by experts in the field as enormously difficult high wire acts, but not a single one of them ever failed.  Michael always made sure that we were successful. 

A memorial website has been set up for Mike at –

http://www.researchchannel.org/mikewellings

 You are welcome to share your memories in the guestbook or contribute photos of Mike to the Flickr pool.