national and international collaboration over internet2 jennifer teig von hoffman scientific...
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National and International National and International Collaboration over Internet2 Collaboration over Internet2
Jennifer Teig von HoffmanJennifer Teig von HoffmanScientific Computing and Scientific Computing and
VisualizationVisualizationBoston UniversityBoston University
OverviewOverview
IntroductionIntroduction Distributed Virtual RealityDistributed Virtual Reality Access Grid™Access Grid™ Case studies:Case studies:
• SC Global, 2003SC Global, 2003• Student Interviews, 2001-ongoingStudent Interviews, 2001-ongoing
Collaboration and ChangeCollaboration and Change
Much has been said about the Much has been said about the technical obstacles we face, and how technical obstacles we face, and how even as they fade, new ones appeareven as they fade, new ones appear
Instead, I find it interesting to focus Instead, I find it interesting to focus on collaboration, and what sorts of on collaboration, and what sorts of change they require in our work and change they require in our work and assumptionsassumptions
Addressing the ObstaclesAddressing the Obstacles
Technology often takes a heavy rap Technology often takes a heavy rap for the challenges it presents. But it for the challenges it presents. But it is often not the sole factor!is often not the sole factor!• Is the technology hard?Is the technology hard?• Is the collaboration hard?Is the collaboration hard?• Is the change hard?Is the change hard?
Without separating out these issues, Without separating out these issues, opportunities to transform our work opportunities to transform our work with technology can seem dauntingwith technology can seem daunting
Broader than Internet2Broader than Internet2
Internet2’s Abilene network is one Internet2’s Abilene network is one way, but not the only way. For way, but not the only way. For example:example:• National Labs use ESNETNational Labs use ESNET• China uses CERNETChina uses CERNET
Lessons learned from using new Lessons learned from using new technologies often applicable technologies often applicable elsewhereelsewhere
Distributed Virtual RealityDistributed Virtual Reality
Multi-person, multi-site shared virtual Multi-person, multi-site shared virtual spacespace• NavigationNavigation• Avatar representationAvatar representation• TelephonyTelephony
DAFFIE EnviromentDAFFIE Enviroment
DDistributed istributed AApplications pplications FFramework ramework FFor or IImmersive mmersive EEnvironmentsnvironments
Developed at Boston University for Developed at Boston University for use in both scientific and artistic use in both scientific and artistic settingssettings
Used with multiple display Used with multiple display technologiestechnologies
FOR MORE INFO...
http://scv.bu.edu/DAFFIEhttp://scv.bu.edu/DAFFIE
ImmersaDeskImmersaDesk
Large, semi-Large, semi-immersive,immersive,multi-observer multi-observer display display
4-foot by 5-foot 4-foot by 5-foot rear-projected rear-projected screenscreen
Deep Vision Display WallDeep Vision Display Wall
High Resolution: High Resolution: 3072 x 1536 stereo3072 x 1536 stereo
Commodity: PCs, Commodity: PCs, Linux, NEC Linux, NEC projectors projectors
Large Scale: 15'W Large Scale: 15'W x 8'H x 8'H • 4x3 stereo array4x3 stereo array
Relatively low-cost, Relatively low-cost, scalablescalable
Spirited Ruins, 1999Spirited Ruins, 1999
Showcase of visual Showcase of visual and auditory works and auditory works created by invited created by invited artistsartists
Relationships Relationships among virtual and among virtual and physical objectsphysical objects
Multi-person, multi-Multi-person, multi-site shared site shared environmentenvironment
Spirited RuinsSpirited Ruins
Access GridAccess Grid
What is the Access Grid?What is the Access Grid?
An ensemble of An ensemble of resources includingresources including• multimedia large-multimedia large-
format displaysformat displays• presentation and presentation and
interactive interactive environmentsenvironments
• interfaces to Grid interfaces to Grid middleware and to middleware and to visualization visualization environmentsenvironmentsFOR MORE INFO...
http://www.accessgrid.org/http://www.accessgrid.org/
What is Grid Computing?What is Grid Computing?
““Applying the resources of many Applying the resources of many computers in a network to a single computers in a network to a single problem at the same time - usually to problem at the same time - usually to a scientific or technical problem that a scientific or technical problem that requires a great number of computer requires a great number of computer processing cycles or access to large processing cycles or access to large amounts of data.”amounts of data.”• Definition courtesy of searchCIO.comDefinition courtesy of searchCIO.com
Application SteeringApplication Steeringby HLRS, University of Stuttgartby HLRS, University of Stuttgart
40 Participating AG 40 Participating AG sites, including:sites, including:• Boston UniversityBoston University• British Telecom, UKBritish Telecom, UK• Brown UniversityBrown University• Research Centre Julich, Research Centre Julich,
GermanyGermany• SC03, Phoenix Civic SC03, Phoenix Civic
PlazaPlaza• University of University of
Manchester, UKManchester, UK• University of Stuttgart, University of Stuttgart,
GermanyGermany Video courtesy of Internet2 Commonsmms://winmedia.internet2.edu/VB-on-Demand/AppSteering.asf
Karaoke GridKaraoke Gridby AIST, XING, Inc, and Waseda Uby AIST, XING, Inc, and Waseda U
Many participating Many participating sites, including:sites, including:• Boston UniversityBoston University• SC03, Phoenix Civic SC03, Phoenix Civic
PlazaPlaza• Warabi, JapanWarabi, Japan• Waseda University, Waseda University,
JapanJapan• Winston-Salem Winston-Salem
State UniversityState UniversityVideo courtesy of Internet2 Commonsmms://winmedia.internet2.edu/VB-on-Demand/KaraokeGrid.asf
VR/AG Bridging in BU’s DAFFIEVR/AG Bridging in BU’s DAFFIE
Interconnect virtual reality and Interconnect virtual reality and Access Grid spacesAccess Grid spaces• VR image display over AGVR image display over AG• Bridge audio in both directionsBridge audio in both directions• Provide interactivity for AG participantsProvide interactivity for AG participants
AG navigationAG navigation AG interaction toolsAG interaction tools
““Soft, Fluffy, and Virtual”Soft, Fluffy, and Virtual”by Cindy Ludlamby Cindy Ludlam
BostonBoston
CyberartsCyberarts
FestivalFestival
SC GlobalSC Global20012001
FOR MORE INFO...
http://scv.bu.edu/hipart/GoGrid/http://scv.bu.edu/hipart/GoGrid/
Collaboration Case Study:Collaboration Case Study:SC Global, 2003SC Global, 2003
What is SC Global?What is SC Global?
The AG-enabled The AG-enabled component of the component of the annual annual Supercomputing Supercomputing ConferenceConference• SC is the International SC is the International
Conference for High Conference for High Performance Computing Performance Computing and Communicationsand Communications
FOR MORE INFO...
http://www.sc-conference.org/sc2004/scglobal.htmlhttp://www.sc-conference.org/sc2004/scglobal.html
A Truly Distributed EventA Truly Distributed Event
At least 80 Participating Sites (AG + other)At least 80 Participating Sites (AG + other)• 57 live connections to AG nodes, 24 of which 57 live connections to AG nodes, 24 of which
were giving presentationswere giving presentations Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea,
Spain, Thailand, US (incl. 4 MSIs), UKSpain, Thailand, US (incl. 4 MSIs), UK
• 5 other AG nodes in recorded session played 5 other AG nodes in recorded session played back during conferenceback during conference
From US-based native tribal nationsFrom US-based native tribal nations
• At least 18 unique viewers of live Windows At least 18 unique viewers of live Windows Media and VBrick streams, courtesy of Media and VBrick streams, courtesy of Internet2 CommonsInternet2 Commons
The ProblemThe Problem
To organize a globally-distributed To organize a globally-distributed event, you need a globally-event, you need a globally-distributed committeedistributed committee• In this case, a core committee of In this case, a core committee of
volunteersvolunteers spanning 5 time zones and 4 spanning 5 time zones and 4 countriescountries
Japan, Germany, UK, USJapan, Germany, UK, US Time and money constraints made Time and money constraints made
face-to-face meetings impossible, face-to-face meetings impossible, and conference calls impracticaland conference calls impractical
The SolutionThe Solution
Use a broad range of Use a broad range of communications technologies to communications technologies to facilitate the committee’s workfacilitate the committee’s work• E-mailE-mail• Access GridAccess Grid• IntranetIntranet• PhonePhone• MOOMOO
Access GridAccess Grid
Sub-group of key people met twice a Sub-group of key people met twice a month on the AGmonth on the AG
Additional small ad-hoc meetings Additional small ad-hoc meetings over the AG were easy and seemed over the AG were easy and seemed very effectivevery effective• Hard to quantify impact of greater sense Hard to quantify impact of greater sense
of presence on group cohesion, bondingof presence on group cohesion, bonding• Most key people had personal AG Most key people had personal AG
installations at their workstationsinstallations at their workstations
E-mailE-mail
E-mail was primary tool when the E-mail was primary tool when the whole group’s input was neededwhole group’s input was needed
Time zone constraints, combined Time zone constraints, combined with the volunteer nature of the with the volunteer nature of the committee, made asynchronous committee, made asynchronous communication essentialcommunication essential
SC03 Committee decision-makers SC03 Committee decision-makers were kept up to speed on our were kept up to speed on our progress through mailing listprogress through mailing list
IntranetIntranet
Committee web site allowed for Committee web site allowed for sharing filessharing files
Many people on committee had their Many people on committee had their own web spaces as wellown web spaces as well
AG Venues have file storage capacity AG Venues have file storage capacity which provided similar capacitieswhich provided similar capacities
PhonePhone
Phone calls were occasionally Phone calls were occasionally bridged into committee meetings on bridged into committee meetings on AG for people who could not be at an AG for people who could not be at an AG nodeAG node• Including myself when I was travelingIncluding myself when I was traveling
Occasionally phone calls were Occasionally phone calls were quicker way for brief quicker way for brief communications, or when email was communications, or when email was not enough and AG was not availablenot enough and AG was not available
MOOMOO
Text chat “hangout room”Text chat “hangout room” Used originally by this group for Used originally by this group for
behind-the-scenes troubleshootingbehind-the-scenes troubleshooting Now serves as a virtual water cooler Now serves as a virtual water cooler
as well, strengthening social bondsas well, strengthening social bonds• ““How was your weekend?”How was your weekend?”• ““Is your daughter’s ear infection gone?”Is your daughter’s ear infection gone?”• ““Hey, now that I ran into you, I wanted Hey, now that I ran into you, I wanted
to mention . . .”to mention . . .”
Obstacles to CollaborationObstacles to Collaboration
Time zones were often much harder Time zones were often much harder than technologythan technology• Scheduling committee meetings across Scheduling committee meetings across
so many time zones is a nightmare!so many time zones is a nightmare!• We benefited from scheduling the full We benefited from scheduling the full
year of meetings in advanceyear of meetings in advance Culture barriers can be harder than Culture barriers can be harder than
language barrierslanguage barriers• And where there’s one, there’s often the And where there’s one, there’s often the
otherother
Change:Change:New Communication SkillsNew Communication Skills
All committee members were already All committee members were already accustomed to the AG – were they not, we accustomed to the AG – were they not, we would have needed more time to would have needed more time to (informally) adapt our communications (informally) adapt our communications stylestyle• Subconscious changes: Saying a person’s Subconscious changes: Saying a person’s
name rather than using eye contact, learning name rather than using eye contact, learning how to make small talk before meetings, how to make small talk before meetings, different experience of body languagedifferent experience of body language
Remember all those email ettiquitte Remember all those email ettiquitte guides in the late 90’s?guides in the late 90’s?
Collaboration Case Study:Collaboration Case Study:Student Interviews, 2001-ongoingStudent Interviews, 2001-ongoing
The ProblemThe Problem
Graduate student Graduate student applicants from applicants from China need to be China need to be evaluated for evaluated for spoken English spoken English competency – but competency – but travel to/from travel to/from China is expensive China is expensive and often and often impossibleimpossible
The SolutionThe Solution
Arrange series of interviews over Arrange series of interviews over Access GridAccess Grid
Students travel to the closest Students travel to the closest participating siteparticipating site• Beijing University of Aeronautics and Beijing University of Aeronautics and
AstronauticsAstronautics• Shanghai Jiaotong UniversityShanghai Jiaotong University• University of Science and Technology of University of Science and Technology of
China (Heifei)China (Heifei)
Collaboration Requires EffortCollaboration Requires Effort
Relationships were established, Relationships were established, developed, and maintained at sites in developed, and maintained at sites in China which were asked to host China which were asked to host student intervieweesstudent interviewees• Organizational and financial issuesOrganizational and financial issues
Language, cultural, time zone, Language, cultural, time zone, vacation schedule barriers were vacation schedule barriers were overcomeovercome
Technology is Easy, NowTechnology is Easy, Now
Technical test sessions were held in Technical test sessions were held in preparation for each year’s series of preparation for each year’s series of interviewsinterviews• Problems were easily identified and Problems were easily identified and
(mostly) addressed before interviews(mostly) addressed before interviews Far more testing was necessary in Far more testing was necessary in
2001 than in 20032001 than in 2003
Nobody Likes Time ZonesNobody Likes Time Zones
Interviews and test Interviews and test sessions were held sessions were held at 7:00 AM EST, at 7:00 AM EST, 8:00 PM in China8:00 PM in China
Technical staff Technical staff needed to be there needed to be there 30-60 minutes 30-60 minutes earlierearlier
Change? Not So HardChange? Not So Hard
Interviewers and interviewees were Interviewers and interviewees were generally enthusiastic about the generally enthusiastic about the opportunity to conduct interviews this wayopportunity to conduct interviews this way• This despite the fact that students had to This despite the fact that students had to
travel to get to AG nodestravel to get to AG nodes Small technical and logistical glitches were Small technical and logistical glitches were
generally well-acceptedgenerally well-accepted• Perhaps in large part because everyone knew Perhaps in large part because everyone knew
the interviews were otherwise impossiblethe interviews were otherwise impossible
Lessons LearnedLessons Learned
Cold calls can work – host sites in China Cold calls can work – host sites in China were extremely receptive to working with were extremely receptive to working with usus
Non-tech staff can develop collaborations Non-tech staff can develop collaborations highly reliant on techhighly reliant on tech
Technical and non-technical staff need to Technical and non-technical staff need to communicate clearlycommunicate clearly• ““They’re on the network” may mean they have They’re on the network” may mean they have
an AG node, or it may mean they have the an AG node, or it may mean they have the equivalent of Internet2 – a big difference to equivalent of Internet2 – a big difference to tech staff!tech staff!
Recommended ReadingRecommended Reading
Virtual Teams: People Working Virtual Teams: People Working Across Boundaries with TechnologyAcross Boundaries with Technology; ; Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey StampsJessica Lipnack and Jeffrey Stamps
The Grid: Blueprint for a New The Grid: Blueprint for a New Computing InfrastructureComputing Infrastructure; Ian Foster ; Ian Foster and Carl Kesselman, ed.and Carl Kesselman, ed.