1 Introduction to Collaboration Technologies Brian Corrie Collaboration and Visualization Coordinator WestGrid/IRMACS Simon Fraser University

2 WestGrid Collaboration HowTo December 14 th, 2005 What is collaboration? The process of working together to accomplish a task Synchronous collaboration Working together at the same time Working together at the same time Distributed collaboration Working with collaborators at a distance Working with collaborators at a distance Primarily focused on IP network-based collaboration Primarily focused on IP network-based collaboration

3 WestGrid Collaboration HowTo December 14 th, 2005 Why collaboration? More effective research Communicate with distant colleagues Communicate with distant colleagues Create more effective research groups Create more effective research groups Build new research relationships Build new research relationships

4 WestGrid Collaboration HowTo December 14 th, 2005 Teleconferencing Instant messaging Video conferencing Desktop video conferencing Desktop video conferencing Video conferencing rooms Video conferencing rooms Application sharing Integrated collaboration tools Levels of collaboration Increasing Complexity Increasing Presence Use the right tool for the task!

5 WestGrid Collaboration HowTo December 14 th, 2005 Teleconferencing Phone colleague… and collaborate Surprisingly effective - Don’t dismiss it! Multi-point teleconferencing Easy and it works Easy and it works Can cost money Can cost money

6 WestGrid Collaboration HowTo December 14 th, 2005 Instant messaging Instant communication with short text messages + Rapid exchange of information + Rapid exchange of information + Feeling of presence + Feeling of presence + Spontaneous communication + Spontaneous communication - Extended communications not effective - Extended communications not effective Free services MSN, ICQ, AIM… MSN, ICQ, AIM…Clients Wide range of free clients Wide range of free clients

7 WestGrid Collaboration HowTo December 14 th, 2005 Video conferencing Uses video/audio to communicate Provides more rich collaboration Desktop video conferencing Webcam and headset Webcam and headset Video conferencing appliances Video conferencing appliances + Spontaneous, casual + Spontaneous, casual - Typically point to point - Typically point to point - Interoperability - InteroperabilityTools NetMeeting, MS Messenger, iChat, ohPhone NetMeeting, MS Messenger, iChat, ohPhone

8 WestGrid Collaboration HowTo December 14 th, 2005 Video conferencing (continued) Video conferencing rooms Rooms designed for collaboration Rooms designed for collaboration Projectors, microphones, comfortable environment Typically H323 based technologies Typically H323 based technologies Reasonable quality audio and video codecs Interoperability (Polycom, Tandberg, …) Using a room… Using a room… Need to make reservations, need to go to the room Technical support

9 WestGrid Collaboration HowTo December 14 th, 2005 Application sharing Ability to share what you are working on… Desktop application sharing Shares entire desktop or specific applications Shares entire desktop or specific applications “Pixel scraping”, requires reasonable bandwidth “Pixel scraping”, requires reasonable bandwidth NetMeeting, MS Messenger, VNC, … NetMeeting, MS Messenger, VNC, … Collaborative applications Designed for collaboration Designed for collaboration Shared whiteboards, editors, powerpoint, visualization… Shared whiteboards, editors, powerpoint, visualization…

10 WestGrid Collaboration HowTo December 14 th, 2005 Integrated collaboration tools Commercial products MS Messenger, iChat, … MS Messenger, iChat, … IM, presence, voice, video, documents, apps, … WebEx, Groove, Polycom Office WebEx, Groove, Polycom Office Hosted collaboration suites: IM, voice, video, documents Research efforts VRVS VRVS Web based, IM, voice, video, app sharing, … Widely used in some scientific communities

11 WestGrid Collaboration HowTo December 14 th, 2005 Questions…