National and International Collaboration over Internet2 Jennifer Teig von Hoffman Scientific Computing and Visualization Boston University

Overview Introduction Introduction Distributed Virtual Reality Distributed Virtual Reality Access Grid™ Access Grid™ Case studies: Case studies: SC Global, 2003SC Global, 2003 Student Interviews, 2001-ongoingStudent Interviews, 2001-ongoing

Collaboration and Change Much has been said about the technical obstacles we face, and how even as they fade, new ones appear Much has been said about the technical obstacles we face, and how even as they fade, new ones appear Instead, I find it interesting to focus on collaboration, and what sorts of change they require in our work and assumptions Instead, I find it interesting to focus on collaboration, and what sorts of change they require in our work and assumptions

Addressing the Obstacles Technology often takes a heavy rap for the challenges it presents. But it is often not the sole factor! Technology often takes a heavy rap for the challenges it presents. But it 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, opportunities to transform our work with technology can seem daunting Without separating out these issues, opportunities to transform our work with technology can seem daunting

Broader than Internet2 Internet2’s Abilene network is one way, but not the only way. For example: Internet2’s Abilene network is one way, but not the only way. For example: National Labs use ESNETNational Labs use ESNET China uses CERNETChina uses CERNET Lessons learned from using new technologies often applicable elsewhere Lessons learned from using new technologies often applicable elsewhere

Distributed Virtual Reality Multi-person, multi-site shared virtual space Multi-person, multi-site shared virtual space NavigationNavigation Avatar representationAvatar representation TelephonyTelephony

DAFFIE Enviroment Distributed Applications Framework For Immersive Environments Developed at Boston University for use in both scientific and artistic settings Developed at Boston University for use in both scientific and artistic settings Used with multiple display technologies Used with multiple display technologies FOR MORE INFO...

ImmersaDesk Large, semi- immersive, multi-observer display Large, semi- immersive, multi-observer display 4-foot by 5-foot rear-projected screen 4-foot by 5-foot rear-projected screen

Deep Vision Display Wall High Resolution: 3072 x 1536 stereo High Resolution: 3072 x 1536 stereo Commodity: PCs, Linux, NEC projectors Commodity: PCs, Linux, NEC projectors Large Scale: 15'W x 8'H Large Scale: 15'W x 8'H 4x3 stereo array Relatively low-cost, scalable Relatively low-cost, scalable

Spirited Ruins, 1999 Showcase of visual and auditory works created by invited artists Showcase of visual and auditory works created by invited artists Relationships among virtual and physical objects Relationships among virtual and physical objects Multi-person, multi-site shared environment Multi-person, multi-site shared environment

Spirited Ruins

Access Grid

What is the Access Grid? An ensemble of resources including An ensemble of resources including multimedia large- format displays presentation and interactive environments interfaces to Grid middleware and to visualization environments FOR MORE INFO...

What is Grid Computing? “Applying the resources of many computers in a network to a single problem at the same time - usually to a scientific or technical problem that requires a great number of computer processing cycles or access to large amounts of data.” “Applying the resources of many computers in a network to a single problem at the same time - usually to a scientific or technical problem that requires a great number of computer processing cycles or access to large amounts of data.” Definition courtesy of searchCIO.comDefinition courtesy of searchCIO.com

Application Steering by HLRS, University of Stuttgart 40 Participating AG sites, including: 40 Participating AG sites, including: Boston UniversityBoston University British Telecom, UKBritish Telecom, UK Brown UniversityBrown University Research Centre Julich, GermanyResearch Centre Julich, Germany SC03, Phoenix Civic PlazaSC03, Phoenix Civic Plaza University of Manchester, UKUniversity of Manchester, UK University of Stuttgart, GermanyUniversity of Stuttgart, Germany Video courtesy of Internet2 Commons mms://winmedia.internet2.edu/VB-on- Demand/AppSteering.asf mms://winmedia.internet2.edu/VB-on- Demand/AppSteering.asf

Karaoke Grid by AIST, XING, Inc, and Waseda U Many participating sites, including: Many participating sites, including: Boston University SC03, Phoenix Civic Plaza Warabi, Japan Waseda University, Japan Winston-Salem State University Video courtesy of Internet2 Commons mms://winmedia.internet2.edu/VB-on- Demand/KaraokeGrid.asf mms://winmedia.internet2.edu/VB-on- Demand/KaraokeGrid.asf

VR/AG Bridging in BU’s DAFFIE Interconnect virtual reality and Access Grid spaces Interconnect virtual reality and Access 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 navigation AG navigation AG interaction tools AG interaction tools

“Soft, Fluffy, and Virtual” by Cindy Ludlam BostonCyberartsFestival SC Global 2001 FOR MORE INFO...

Collaboration Case Study: SC Global, 2003

What is SC Global? The AG-enabled component of the annual Supercomputing Conference The AG-enabled component of the annual Supercomputing Conference SC is the International Conference for High Performance Computing and CommunicationsSC is the International Conference for High Performance Computing and Communications FOR MORE INFO...

A 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 were giving presentations57 live connections to AG nodes, 24 of which were giving presentations Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea, Spain, Thailand, US (incl. 4 MSIs), UK Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea, Spain, Thailand, US (incl. 4 MSIs), UK 5 other AG nodes in recorded session played back during conference5 other AG nodes in recorded session played back during conference From US-based native tribal nations From US-based native tribal nations At least 18 unique viewers of live Windows Media and VBrick streams, courtesy of Internet2 CommonsAt least 18 unique viewers of live Windows Media and VBrick streams, courtesy of Internet2 Commons

The Problem To organize a globally-distributed event, you need a globally- distributed committee To organize a globally-distributed event, you need a globally- distributed committee In this case, a core committee of volunteers spanning 5 time zones and 4 countriesIn this case, a core committee of volunteers spanning 5 time zones and 4 countries Japan, Germany, UK, US Japan, Germany, UK, US Time and money constraints made face-to-face meetings impossible, and conference calls impractical Time and money constraints made face-to-face meetings impossible, and conference calls impractical

The Solution Use a broad range of communications technologies to facilitate the committee’s work Use a broad range of communications technologies to facilitate the committee’s work Access GridAccess Grid IntranetIntranet PhonePhone MOOMOO

Access Grid Sub-group of key people met twice a month on the AG Sub-group of key people met twice a month on the AG Additional small ad-hoc meetings over the AG were easy and seemed very effective Additional small ad-hoc meetings over the AG were easy and seemed very effective Hard to quantify impact of greater sense of presence on group cohesion, bondingHard to quantify impact of greater sense of presence on group cohesion, bonding Most key people had personal AG installations at their workstationsMost key people had personal AG installations at their workstations

was primary tool when the whole group’s input was needed was primary tool when the whole group’s input was needed Time zone constraints, combined with the volunteer nature of the committee, made asynchronous communication essential Time zone constraints, combined with the volunteer nature of the committee, made asynchronous communication essential SC03 Committee decision-makers were kept up to speed on our progress through mailing list SC03 Committee decision-makers were kept up to speed on our progress through mailing list

Intranet Committee web site allowed for sharing files Committee web site allowed for sharing files Many people on committee had their own web spaces as well Many people on committee had their own web spaces as well AG Venues have file storage capacity which provided similar capacities AG Venues have file storage capacity which provided similar capacities

Phone Phone calls were occasionally bridged into committee meetings on AG for people who could not be at an AG node Phone calls were occasionally bridged into committee meetings on AG for people who could not be at an AG node Including myself when I was travelingIncluding myself when I was traveling Occasionally phone calls were quicker way for brief communications, or when was not enough and AG was not available Occasionally phone calls were quicker way for brief communications, or when was not enough and AG was not available

MOO Text chat “hangout room” Text chat “hangout room” Used originally by this group for behind-the-scenes troubleshooting Used originally by this group for behind-the-scenes troubleshooting Now serves as a virtual water cooler as well, strengthening social bonds Now serves as a virtual water cooler as 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 to mention...”“Hey, now that I ran into you, I wanted to mention...”

Obstacles to Collaboration Time zones were often much harder than technology Time zones were often much harder than technology Scheduling committee meetings across so many time zones is a nightmare!Scheduling committee meetings across so many time zones is a nightmare! We benefited from scheduling the full year of meetings in advanceWe benefited from scheduling the full year of meetings in advance Culture barriers can be harder than language barriers Culture barriers can be harder than language barriers And where there’s one, there’s often the otherAnd where there’s one, there’s often the other

Change: New Communication Skills All committee members were already accustomed to the AG – were they not, we would have needed more time to (informally) adapt our communications style All committee members were already accustomed to the AG – were they not, we would have needed more time to (informally) adapt our communications style Subconscious changes: Saying a person’s name rather than using eye contact, learning how to make small talk before meetings, different experience of body languageSubconscious changes: Saying a person’s name rather than using eye contact, learning how to make small talk before meetings, different experience of body language Remember all those ettiquitte guides in the late 90’s? Remember all those ettiquitte guides in the late 90’s?

Collaboration Case Study: Student Interviews, 2001-ongoing

The Problem Graduate student applicants from China need to be evaluated for spoken English competency – but travel to/from China is expensive and often impossible Graduate student applicants from China need to be evaluated for spoken English competency – but travel to/from China is expensive and often impossible

The Solution Arrange series of interviews over Access Grid Arrange series of interviews over Access Grid Students travel to the closest participating site Students travel to the closest participating site Beijing University of Aeronautics and AstronauticsBeijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Shanghai Jiaotong UniversityShanghai Jiaotong University University of Science and Technology of China (Heifei)University of Science and Technology of China (Heifei)

Collaboration Requires Effort Relationships were established, developed, and maintained at sites in China which were asked to host student interviewees Relationships were established, developed, and maintained at sites in China which were asked to host student interviewees Organizational and financial issuesOrganizational and financial issues Language, cultural, time zone, vacation schedule barriers were overcome Language, cultural, time zone, vacation schedule barriers were overcome

Technology is Easy, Now Technical test sessions were held in preparation for each year’s series of interviews Technical test sessions were held in preparation for each year’s series of interviews Problems were easily identified and (mostly) addressed before interviewsProblems were easily identified and (mostly) addressed before interviews Far more testing was necessary in 2001 than in 2003 Far more testing was necessary in 2001 than in 2003

Nobody Likes Time Zones Interviews and test sessions were held at 7:00 AM EST, 8:00 PM in China Interviews and test sessions were held at 7:00 AM EST, 8:00 PM in China Technical staff needed to be there minutes earlier Technical staff needed to be there minutes earlier

Change? Not So Hard Interviewers and interviewees were generally enthusiastic about the opportunity to conduct interviews this way Interviewers and interviewees were generally enthusiastic about the opportunity to conduct interviews this way This despite the fact that students had to travel to get to AG nodesThis despite the fact that students had to travel to get to AG nodes Small technical and logistical glitches were generally well-accepted Small technical and logistical glitches were generally well-accepted Perhaps in large part because everyone knew the interviews were otherwise impossiblePerhaps in large part because everyone knew the interviews were otherwise impossible

Lessons Learned Cold calls can work – host sites in China were extremely receptive to working with us Cold calls can work – host sites in China were extremely receptive to working with us Non-tech staff can develop collaborations highly reliant on tech Non-tech staff can develop collaborations highly reliant on tech Technical and non-technical staff need to communicate clearly Technical and non-technical staff need to communicate clearly “They’re on the network” may mean they have an AG node, or it may mean they have the equivalent of Internet2 – a big difference to tech staff!“They’re on the network” may mean they have an AG node, or it may mean they have the equivalent of Internet2 – a big difference to tech staff!

Recommended Reading Virtual Teams: People Working Across Boundaries with Technology; Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey Stamps Virtual Teams: People Working Across Boundaries with Technology; Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey Stamps The Grid: Blueprint for a New Computing Infrastructure; Ian Foster and Carl Kesselman, ed. The Grid: Blueprint for a New Computing Infrastructure; Ian Foster and Carl Kesselman, ed.