Access Grids

Access Grids


The Access Grid is considered an advanced video conferencing application that uses video and audio tools serving as a highly developed collaboration environment supporting major distributed communications and interactions across the internet. The AG consists of a collection of resources, technologies and tools that bring people together in real time–dispersed in any city or country, providing they have access to AG nodes. (Note that AG software is Open Source). Participants meet in virtual venues, which are shared rooms over the internet similar to virtual meeting rooms (resembling a face to face environment). In these virtual venues participants can see and speak to each other in real-time, use online chat, share applications and multimedia display presentations.

What is the Access Grid (AG)?
AG facilities are called nodes and there are 3 distinct nodes:

1. Dedicated rooms: usually whole wall for display (see image above). These rooms are setup as a suite of hardware, software and tools to facilitate human interactions and communications. Hardware usually consists of video, audio and display tools, such as: Cameras , Video capture cards , Webcams , Microphones, Sound cards , Echo Cancellation devices , Speakers , Display cards , Projectors and so on.


2. Office: These usually come as dedicated pc’s with multiple monitor display.


3. Desktop/PIG (Personal Interface to the Grid): PIG is a single machine (desktop/laptop) that runs the Access Grid software and allows a single user to meet with other users with access to an Access Grid. (requires webcam, headset and mic.)

How can the Access Grid be used?
The AG nodes are ideal for any size of meeting as a huge number of sites can be connected simultaneously, with all participants able to hear and see everyone, along with supporting a whole range of multimedia possibilities and interfaces to the environments. In particular, the AG can be used for:

• Large scale distributed meetings, Research collaborations, Data collection too


• Seminars, Conferences, Interviews/discussions


• Lectures, Tutorials, Web based exhibitions, Remote Training


• Distance Education: delivering teaching to learners at remote sites

Who is using AG?

See a compiled map of Institutions with Access Grid nodes: http://www.accessgrid.org/map_standalone.php


Useful Links

• Introductory videos to the AG: http://www.ja.net/services/video/agsc/AGSCHome/introductionmovies.html


• Access grid support centre: http://www.ja.net/services/video/agsc/AGSCHome/


• PAG: Portlet Access Grid: http://www.rcs.manchester.ac.uk/research/PAG


• Main Access Grid : http://www.accessgrid.org/


• Access Grid Toolkit: http://www-new.mcs.anl.gov/fl/research/accessgrid/index.html


• Access Grid presentation and support files http://www.ja.net/services/video/agsc/events/workshops.html


• Troubleshooting documentation http://www.ja.net/services/video/agsc/AGSCHome/documentation.html