High-speed Internet access is the new superhighway, and like the Interstate highways, this new superhighway is critically important to Michigan's economic future. On June 1 at the Michigan State Capitol, Merit Network and Internet2 sponsored Legislative Day to showcase research and education applications that depend upon the high-speed Internet.

Featured at Legislative Day was the project "Haptic Remote Control of Robots" between Michigan State University (MSU) and Michigan Technological University (MTU). Visitors at Legislative Day were able to remotely control robots at MTU over the internet. Prof. Matt Mutka's (CSE) and Prof. Ning Xi's (ECE) research on haptic interfaces will enable users to not just see and hear over the internet, but also to experience touch.

ABC53 news covered the event.