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.