The FireStream Media Distribution System was born out of a shared vision between David Cassanova of DC-Digital and the Directors of Aura Technologies, Grayson Alert and Neil Rhule to develop a system that would facilitate the distribution of voice, video and data across multiple delivery channels across a network. The FireStream Media Distribution System also known as FSMDS aims at building Jamaica's future knowledge society today by making information more accessible and more easily distributable. The system enables applications on many fronts, such as television broadcasting, distance education, enterprise broadcasting and training, digital signage networks and web based delivery of content and data.

FireStream Media Distribution System (FSMDS) is the recipient of the prestigious Commerce, Science and Technology Minister's award for Innovation in Science and Technology. Minister Paulwell (right) makes the presentation to the overall prize winners of the Innovation in Science and Technology Awards.  From (l-r) are: Grayson Alert, Neil Rhule (Aura Technologies) and David Cassanova (DC-Digital) .

FireStream was the result of two years worth of research and development between DC- Digital and Aura Technologies. Through this time there were many demonstrations and tests of the technology. FireStream now serves the Jamaica News Network (JNN) in the area of cable broadcasting where it provides both video and data to television subscribers as part of its broadcast news service. It will also see application in the area of Distance Education in the coming year as University College of the Caribbean will be using it to provide distance education course across the island. Two Degree courses will be offered via the system in collaboration with Cable and Wireless who will provide support for classroom via cell phone and CVM television.

The future of the FireStream system is in the emerging reality of Convergent media. FireStream is a product of this future reality and is aimed at becoming a standard means of managing media and data both here and in the Caribbean within the next 3- 5 years. The future of FireStream will see content being sent to cell phones, centrally managed outdoor advertising networks, real time user interaction with television and other visual mediums such as interactive television. Knowledge, information and entertainment will be more widely accessible to more people than ever before.