d5.3.2 collaboration report v1.0

7/27/2019 D5.3.2 Collaboration Report v1.0

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This deliverable describes the collaboration activities undertaken by the project during the

2nd year, including the Future Internet Assembly, collaboration with STEER and 3D Live

and the FIRE Architecture Board.

D5.3.2

Collaboration Report

2013-10-10

Athanasios Voulodimos (ICCS), Michael Boniface (IT Innovation)

www.experimedia.eu


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EXPERIMEDIA Dissemination level: PU

Copyright ICCS and other members of the EXPERIMEDIA consortium 2013 1

Project acronym EXPERIMEDIA

Full title Experiments in live social and networked media experiences

Grant agreement number 287966

Funding scheme Large-scale Integrating Project (IP)

Work programme topic Objective ICT-2011.1.6 Future Internet Research andExperimentation (FIRE)

Project start date 2011-10-01

Project duration 36 months

Activity 5 Legal, sustainability and promotion

Workpackage 5.3 Collaboration

Deliverable lead organisation ICCS

Authors Athanasios Voulodimos (ICCS)

Michael Boniface (IT Innovation)

Reviewers Stephen C. Phillips (IT Innovation)

Version 1.0

Status Final

Dissemination level PU: Public

Due date PM24 (2013-09-30)

Delivery date 2013-10-10


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Table of Contents

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 3

2. EXPERIMEDIA at the Future Internet Assembly ...................................................................... 4

2.1. Workshop: Linking user populations to novel networks in Future Internet

research programmes ................................................................................................................ 4

2.2. Booth: Hands on FIRE ............................................................................................................ 5

3. EXPERIMEDIAs collaboration with other projects .................................................................. 7

3.1. 3D Live ....................................................................................................................................... 8

3.1.1. Overview ................................................................................................................................ 8

3.1.2. EXPERIMEDIAs contribution to 3D Live .................................................................... 8

3.1.3. 3D Lives contribution to EXPERIMEDIA .................................................................... 9

3.2. STEER ...................................................................................................................................... 10

3.2.1. Overview .............................................................................................................................. 10

3.2.2. EXPERIMEDIAs contribution to STEER................................................................... 10

3.2.3. STEERs contribution to EXPERIMEDIA................................................................... 11

4. FIRE Architecture Board and its evolution ................................................................................. 13

5. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 15


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1. IntroductionThe deliverable describes the activities performed in the context of work-package 5.3

Collaboration during the second reporting period (Year 2). Work-package 5.3 deals with

promoting the collaboration between EXPERIMEDIA and other FIRE projects as well ascontributing to the development of the overall FIRE technical strategy.

Work-package 5.3 is framed in Activity 5, which is devoted to Legal, sustainability and

promotion issues and is fully described in Annex I - Description of Work. The objective of this

document is to provide account of the collaboration activities within FIRE developed during

Year 2 of the project. In these first twelve months, EXPERIMEDIA has successfully established

awareness within the FIRE community and among the ecosystem of the partners. Dissemination

activities undertaken are reported in D5.2.3 First Dissemination Report and will not be

repeated here.

This Collaboration Report is structured as follows: Section 2 describes the participation of

EXPERIMEDIA at the Future Internet Assembly in Dublin in May 2013. Section 3 records the

on-going discussions on a closer collaboration with 3D Live and STEER projects. Section 4

describes the involvement of EXPERIMEDIA in FIRE Architecture Board meetings and in the

discussions about the Architecture Boards evolution towards a FIRE Forum and a Fire Board.

Finally, Section 5 concludes the deliverable.


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2. EXPERIMEDIA at the Future Internet AssemblyEXPERIMEDIA had a strong presence in this years Future Internet Assembly (FIA) held in

Dublin, Ireland in May 2013. The participation of EXPERIMEDIA was twofold:

A workshop on Linking user populations to novel networks in Future Internet researchprogrammes collaborating with FI-Content, 3D Live and STEER, and

A booth at the Hands on FIRE exhibition collaborating with 3D Live and STEER2.1. Workshop: Linking user populations to novel networks in Future

Internet research programmes

The session addressed a diverse audience ranging from individuals, SMEs, to EC project

members who can bring ground breaking ideas and advanced Internet technologies. The major

emphasis was on understanding and promoting benefits of user-centricity and user-centred

innovation in industries. For example, since games are emerging as innovation platforms it is

important to gain a better understanding of how such platforms can be leveraged to help in rapid

transition of products and/or services from opportunity assessment through to industrialization.

Information and Communication Technology novelties are bringing new capacity for creation

and sharing digital content. On one hand new simple technologies allowing media creation are

disseminated to a new profile of users who are not technologically aware. On the other hand the

context of the enormous increase in interactive displays and smart appliances are modifying the

way users consume digital content towards increasing demands for sharing and interaction in real

time. The consequence is that large populations of users both online and in the real-world arenow deeply and dynamically connected to the network and service structures that support them.

The interactivity offered by these media can build a bottom-up approach where different

stakeholders are partners and where the user is at the centre of concerns. This new approach is

transforming the value chain and traditional business models with an offer that is towards

instant custom for the consumer on the one hand, and an allocation of value between

institutional and private. Therefore classic approach of business analysis is not sufficient

anymore to handle consumer behaviour within todays innovative networks. This has a major

impact on the value expectation of users and can be a barrier to product/service success.

Future Internet research projects must now increasingly address the challenge of bringing

together advanced infrastructures, innovative applications and populations of users to validate

results in realistic target environments. This is a critical success factor for programs such as the

FI-PPP and FIRE which must progress research, as well as develop and validate complex

Internet systems with real users. At the same time, they must provide environments where SMEs

can introduce and test technology within a broader technological framework. This is not just a

living lab approach (although some lessons can be learnt) but a complex endeavour requiring

deeper technology integration, business models with broader range of stakeholders and user

populations with socio-economic diversity representing communities across Europe and beyond.

The session addressed the following topics:


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How to engage users in research and development? What approaches exist to engageusers?

How do these approaches achieve their outcomes? Whats applicable considering thevariety of situations?

How does user participation change at different phases of the RTD lifecycle? How toscale user participation from trials to industrialization and what this means for qualitativeand quantitative assessment?

How is user participation is being addressed in the FIRE and FI-PPP programmes andwhat can be done to improve it?

2.2. Booth: Hands on FIRE

Figure 1. The booth shared by EXPERIMEDIA, 3DLive and STEER at the FIA Dublin

As far as the Hands on FIRE participation is concerned, EXPERIMEDIA shared a large

booth with 3DLive and STEER projects. The concept was to create a consistent message across

FIRE projects working on the Future Media Internet. This was encapsulated in two postersrepresenting aspects of all projects:

Figure 2. EXPERIMEDIA posters for the FIA

EXPERIMEDIA created a demonstration based on 3D Media in Sports experiments. Thedemonstration was named FI Athletics. When lifting our (very light) weights participants were


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tracked in 3D and given a score for the leaderboard which was then tweeted for friends to

enjoy (if consent was given). Meanwhile the score, Quality of Service data from the 3D tracking,

the participants emotional feedback and analysis of social network activity was all fed into the

Experiment Content Component demonstrating how the project helps an experimenter

understand the usage and impact of their system. This was a fun extension of an experiment

being undertaken at CAR, the high-performance athletics training facility in Barcelona,

combining the Experiment Content Component, Social Analytics Dashboard and 3D Content

Component. Instant feedback was provided to the athletes and coach regarding the speed

and balance of a lift and it also provoked discussion about the pros and cons of sharing training

performance data online with an athletes social circle.


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3. EXPERIMEDIAs collaboration with other projectsEXPERIMEDIA has developed collaborative relationships within the FIRE programme as

shown in Figure 3. EXPERIMEDIA provides a hub for experiments in the Future Media

Internet. Two STREP projects 3D Live and STEER started in 2012 that aim to use theEXPERIMEDIA Facility. Smart Venue partners (Schladming and CAR) provided letters of

support during the proposal stage although access to resources is subject to negotiation. The

general model is that the STREPs perform a set of advanced experiments using resources from

the EXPERIMEDIA facility. The experiments present novel examples of Future Media Internet

systems and therefore provide driving requirements for facility features. In some cases

technology developed in the STREPs may be incorporated into the facility should sufficient

generic applicability be identified. EXPERIMEDIA provides a set of resources to the STREPs

for experimentation. The resources can consist of software for managing experiments, FMI

enabling technologies and access to real-world locations for performing trials.

Figure 3. The primary collaborative relationships with EXPERIMEDIA within the FIRE programme

The specific details of each collaboration are given in the following sections. Note that the

statements on collaboration are replicated in associated collaboration deliverables from 3D Live

and STEER. Both projects are promoted prominently on the EXPERIMEDIA website and have

associated pages describing specifically the nature of the collaboration.


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Figure 4. Screenshot of the collaborative experiments page from EXPERIMEDIAs website

3.1. 3D Live3.1.1. Overview3D Live and EXPERIMEDIA are EU projects that share significant overlap in their ambitions

to push forward the frontiers of Future Media Internet (FMI) technologies and user experiences.

In each case, a variety of stakeholders have come together to imagine, assemble, integrate and

evaluate innovative technologies that will offer new, interactive and engaging experiences for

users taking part in novel, venue based activities. What do these two projects offer each other

and how can these offerings provide mutual benefit? How are these offers exchanged through

collaboration?

The concept of the Twilight Zone, where experiences can be created through interactive

immersive environments linked to real-locations, advances the state-of-the-art in content

production and will create new forms of user experience. By mixing content from real-time

environment and human sensors indoors and outdoors virtual and augmented environments will

be created supporting use cases such as skiing, running and golf. Participation in such

environments requires significant investigation due to new modalities of interaction being

facilitated.

3.1.2. EXPERIMEDIAs contribution to 3D LiveEXPERIMEDIA will offer access to Schladming (through negotiation with the venue

representatives, Schladming2030) as a prestigious skiing venue for 3D Live experimentation. The

Schladming venue has an international reputation and hosts high profile skiing events and

competitions (most recently, the 2013 FIS Alpine World Skiing championships). Additionally,

the venue enjoys a strong and vibrant skiing community in and around the area as well as

attracting many thousands of visitors annually. To date, EXPERIMEDIA consortium members


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have made significant progress in developing Schladming for the realization of 3D Lives skiing

scenario, namely:

Disseminating 3D Live project ideas to Schladming2030 Collaboration with Schladming2030 to arrange appropriate access to a physical slope for

experimental runs

Providing access to 3D model data for the virtual reconstruction of the physical worldskiing slope

Collaboration with Schladming2030 to arrange experimentation with users from the localcommunity

The Schladming2030 group offers positive and active support (in conjunction EXPERIMEDIA

coordination) for the 3D Live project and related EXPERIMEDIA experimentation within their

skiing venue.

EXPERIMEDIA is already actively engaged in FMI based experimentation in a number of

venues and with a variety of technical partners. EXPERIMEDIAs experiences and

understanding of managing highly interactive, venue-based experiments is a valuable asset for the

3D Live project with respect to developing an experimental design and mapping it to an

observational infrastructure.

A significant challenge that the EXPERIMEDIA project is currently addressing is the

coordination of a wide range of experimental observation data including quality of service (QoS),

quality of experience (QoE) and quality of community (QoC) metrics. In a FMI venue based

scenario, experimenters need to be able to marshal these different observations (originating frompotentially many different technical platforms and applications) within a unified experimental

process and data framework. To this end, a core component of the EXPERIMEDIA baseline

technology set, called the Experiment Content Component (or ECC), has been provided for

use within 3D Live. In brief, the ECC provides the 3D Live experimenter with an experimental

monitoring system that manages experiments and collects metric data from systems

instrumented using its API. The 3D Live system architecture will include the development of

ECC clients to provide metric data for each of its three experimental scenarios.

3.1.3. 3D Lives contribution to EXPERIMEDIAThe 3D Live project explores three game orientated mixed reality scenarios in which

geographically separated users are connected via virtual and augmented reality interactive systems

(some outdoors, some indoors). Each scenario has been crafted to deliver a physical/gaming

experience that is shared by all users achieved only through the unique integration of sensors,

interaction devices and VR/AR technologies that the 3D Live project is developing. This rich

experimental context provides EXPERIMEDIA with a unique opportunity to further explore

the development of cutting edge FMI systems and also to enhance experimental methodologies

to provide insight into their application within FMI supporting venues.

User engagement in 3D Live is multi-faceted users are not just expected to take part in

experimental runs, but also contribute to the overall design process. Within the 3D Live user


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experience (UX) design process, individuals from related venues and online communities are

expected to be engaged in design discussions using scenario-based foci. Their output will provide

valuable feedback on the concepts and realization of the mixed reality experience the project

expects to deliver. EXPERIMEDIA will significantly benefit from the understanding and

application of the specific UX driven design methodology proposed by the 3D Live project

(WP1) since it adds highly relevant knowledge to the FMI development process as a whole.

Finally, and unique to 3D Live, the project offers an exciting opportunity to explore real-time,

mixed reality technologies in an experimental context. The rich array of sensors, reconstruction

systems and VR technology that is brought together under one roof represents a bold step

forward for the state-of-the-art in immersive environments; the technical innovations created

here will be of significant value to both projects and may be of significant value for future

exploitation.

3.2.

STEER

3.2.1. OverviewSTEERs objective is to make significant advances in Social Telemedia research and practices,

and engineer an operational Social Telemedia environment customized to support various

innovative experiments. STEER envisages a community-centric digitally-based ecosystem which

it refers to as Social Telemedia, as a cross-breeding of social networks and networked media.

STEER contributes new technology enablers such as overlay network components, media

synchronization, metadata extraction and bandwidth monitoring. STEER will develop a Social-

Aware Media Enabled Cloud architecture and integrate with FIRE facilities such as OpenLab

and EXPERIMEDIA. The two main scenarios being considered are mobile community-basedcontent sharing at live events and on demand story telling.

3.2.2. EXPERIMEDIAs contribution to STEERSTEER requires four distinct things from the EXPERIMEDIA facility: a) social network

extraction and analysis of data, b) management of the experiment and collection of monitoring

data, c) audio-visual streaming, and d) experimenting at real venues.

The STEER uses cases build on the concept of three interlinked graphs in order to facilitate the

capturing of important information generated by each one of these graphs and make it available

to each other, aiming at a flow of combined information that could be exploited by STEER

content services. One important graph is the social graph comprised of actual users potential

members of STEER communities that already have a social presence through various social

networks e.g. Facebook, Twitter etc. This source of raw data could serve as either the primary or

a complementary source of information that should be gathered and analysed in order to feed

some of the STEER mechanisms e.g. recommendation engines. Such capability gives rise to our

first requirement. STEER focuses on advanced analysis mechanisms for inferring fine grained

and accurate user preferences. To this end, using an existing functionality that readily gathers and

provides access to social network user data frees STEER from building such functionality and

allows STEER to experiment with more sophisticated analysis tools. STEER will use


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EXPERIMEDIAs SCC and deploying customized plugins for collecting and analysing social

network information.

STEER uses cases have a dynamic nature and are expected to generate a wealth of data. Various

system components include specific monitoring capabilities that generate and communicate

various data. Each one of them uses their own APIs which makes it difficult to manage them

and manipulate them in a homogeneous manner, especially when an experiment is running.

EXPERIMEDIA provides an observation and monitoring framework as part of the Experiment

Content Component (ECC) that supports exchange of monitoring data between client and

server in the EXPERIMEDIA experimental facility. The ECC will provide ways for STEER

components to be observed live at runtime and allows STEER-based metrics to be introduced

and studied as part of experiments. For instance, STEER could observe as a metric the number

of duplicate video blocks during the P2P distribution as a function of the overlay graph.

Both the ECC and SCC appear in the STEER architecture.

EXPERIMEDIA will offer access to Schladming (through negotiation with the venue

representatives, Schladming2030) as a prestigious skiing venue for STEER experimentation. The

Schladming venue has an international reputation and hosts high profile skiing events and

competitions (most recently, the 2013 FIS Alpine World Skiing championships). The specific

experiments to be conducted at Schladming are currently being defined by the STEER

consortium. One of the more difficult and complex issues is activating a community of users to

participate in experiments. EXPERIMEDIA is working with STEER to understand the benefits

of the system and how to market and engage with target user groups.

3.2.3. STEERs contribution to EXPERIMEDIASTEER has defined two use case scenarios based on a ski holiday in Schladming. The scenarios

focus on the relationship between visitors, multimedia content and FMI infrastructures both

during live events and afterwards. The scenarios are well aligned with experiments conducted at

Schladming and offer some interesting additions. Firstly, the scenario considers how to

synchronize broadcast and user generated content delivered to mobile users. This is a new

experiment scenario and, although getting access to broadcast rights may not be possible at all

Schladming events, STEER can demonstrate technical feasibility of the approach and use the

results to engage wider broadcasters in the conversation. Secondly, STEERs P2P media caching

strategies, which include the use of peers such as home-gateways, provide mechanisms that canadapt content delivery to varying levels of infrastructure QoS. Adapting applications and

services to the available network performance is an important aspect for system operations to

maintain level of UX but also in experimentation to understand the relationship between QoS

and UX. Such mechanisms may lead to exemplars on how to control experiments conducted at

EXPERIMEDIA. Finally, STEER is developing social analytic plugins for the SCC. The

advanced usage of the SAD will contribute to enrichment and has the potential to provide new

algorithms that are available for future experiments at Schladming.


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Figure 5. EXPERIMEDIASTEER collaboration


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4. FIRE Architecture Board and its evolutionUp to the present, the main purpose of the FIRE Architecture Board has been to support the

decision process when selecting activities to extend the experimental facilities, as well as find

ways to homogenize access to heterogeneous facilities and paths for collaboration ondevelopments similar among the facilities.

Among the key issues discussed during the latest FIRE Architecture Board meetings were:

International cooperation with US (GENI), Japan, Korea FIRE vision FIRE and KPIs The presence of FIRE at the Future Internet Assembly Measurement tools and dataset, and finally Evolution of the FIRE Architecture Board

The latter has been a focal point of discussion among FIRE Architecture Board members. The

evolution of the FIRE landscape brings more and more players and stakeholders that could

benefit from the interactions and discussions held in the Architecture Board. In this context,

three major driving forces have been specified:

the need for FIRE to reposition itself among other initiatives (FI-PPP, Smart Cities,Living Labs, EIT ICT Labs, GENI, etc.),

the need for better coordination among research projects, and

the new landscape of projects with coordination and support activities (AmpliFIRE,Fed4FIRE, FUSION)

Taking into consideration the above, it has been decided that the Architecture Board needs to

evolve so as to comprehend the requirements of all stakeholders involved, better support the

projects and initiatives undertaken and more efficiently interact with other activities.

It has therefore been proposed that two new bodies should replace the FIRE Architecture

Board, as is described in detail in the white paper Evolution from FIRE Architecture Board to

FIRE Forum:

a FIRE Forum. The FIRE Forum will offer the FIRE Community to gather andexchange information within a broaden community.The FIRE Forum is meant to

include all stakeholders from all FIRE related initiatives, as well as all other interested

parties and project representatives. The objective is to have a place where all stakeholders

can interact and exchange information, and possibly find out to strengthen common

work. Stakeholders involved will include all FIRE projects (IP, STREP, CSA),

representatives from projects outside FIRE (FI-PPP, CIP Smart Cities, EIT ICT Labs,

Living Labs, etc.), and others (DAIR, GENI, AsiaFI, etc.). The FIRE Forum would

organize in principle an annual meeting (more if relevant) that could be co-located withannual FIRE EngineeringWorkshops.


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a FIRE Board: The FIRE Board will be in charge of steering FIRE and relatedinitiatives towards H2020. The FIRE Board would include, in addition to the FIRE

representatives and representatives of the EC Experimental Platforms Unitwhenever

relevant, 1 or 2 representatives of each other initiative which is deemed relevant to

interact with FIRE and extend its reach, in terms of expanding both the offer and thepotential users. FIRE Board meetings will be held 2 or 3 times per year and could be co-

located with meetings of AmpliFIRE, Fed4FIRE, FUSION, and CI-FIRE or other

relevant events.

Focusing on the latter, the main objectives of a newly formed FIRE Board would briefly be

the following:

Define and continuously refine the FI and FIRE Vision towards H2020. Expand the involvement of other stakeholders of the Future Internet community: FIRE

STREPs, FI-PPP, EIT ICT Labs, CIP Smart Cities, Living Labs, National Labs. Continue to discuss common topics of interest in this wider community, such as

sustainability, business models, federation and governance.

Maintain the FIRE portfolio and capability analysis activities, and FIRE service offerportfolio.

Further develop an adequate web-based portal to facilitate user access and search,containing an overview of facilities with links to the respective websites containing the

details, hence raising the visibility of the latter.

Encourage more involvement of research projects inside and outside FIRE with theFIRE facilities.

The first FIRE Forum and FIRE Board meetings are scheduled for October 2013 in Ghent. The

third years Collaboration Report will include an evaluation of the Forums and Boards first year

of existence in such a form.


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5. ConclusionThis deliverable provides a record of the collaboration activities undertaken during the second

year of the EXPERIMEDIA project. EXPERIMEDIA has been actively involved in the FIRE

environment. It had a strong presence at the Future Internet Assembly held in Dublin in May2013 through a demonstration based on 3D Media in Sports experiments and a workshop about

linking user populations to novel networks in Future Internet research programmes, in

collaboration with FI-Content, 3D Live and STEER. EXPERIMEDIA is also collaborating with

3D Live and STEER STREP projects. Finally, we have been actively participating in the

discussions held within the FIRE Architecture Board, including the conversation on the

evolution of the latter towards a FIRE Forum and a FIRE Board, effective October 2013.

d5.3.2 collaboration report v1.0

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