Great Western Research
using Access Grid technology to promote research and learning in the South West of England
The GWR initiative is a 5-year, £14m investment which aims to catalyse cutting-edge research collaboration and training in the South West of England. GWR are using the Access Grid to enable Students and Academics to view and interact with research seminars and formal lectures.
What is the Access Grid (AG)?
AG enables collaborative working via networks and the internet.
It is primarily seen as a research tool, allowing individuals or groups to collaborate with colleagues at other institutions in furthering their work. Sessions can be informal or formal, and can take the form of meetings, seminars, lectures, or just work sessions. It is similar to video-conferencing, but allows more interaction as it is easier to involve a larger number of locations.
Why use AG?
Whatever form the sessions take, it is possible to exchange information or data via PowerPoint presentations, slide shows or Whiteboard connections. Unlike standard video conferencing, it is easy to link to several venues, having the capacity to connect 40 different locations if required. The venues can be national and international in origin as AG can link to anywhere that has the AG installed.
Unlike video conferencing, which relies on telephone links and costs, the AG uses the existing computer broadband network.
How does it work?
AG (developed in the USA at the Argonne National Laboratories (ANL)) uses Servers at ANL, IOCOM in Chicago or at the Access Grid Support Centre, based in Manchester. A number of virtual venues have been created, with each meeting having its own venue. Meetings are held in these virtual venues. For the most part, security is not an issue, however, it is possible to encrypt a meeting if required.
What does AG look like?
The AG works well with both individuals and groups. For individuals, there is a Personal Interface to the Grid, or PIG. This merely consists of a computer with AG software plus webcam and headsets, and can be used in any room with good network connections.
The PIG is ideal for one person, and can work well with two people. It also allows more freedom in use. Meetings can be arranged at much shorter notice, particularly if it is a one-to-one meeting. There is also no need to book a dedicated room.
You can also use a dedicated room which can accommodate a group (or an individual). There are many institutions worldwide which have dedicated access grid facilities. Click here for a list of nodes by country which research/HE institutions operate these facilities. GWR has invested in seven dedicated AG nodes - three at Bristol University, two at Bath University and two at Exeter University. In addition, each institution in the South West involved in the GWR project has received a license for PIG.
How do you co-ordinate with other AG nodes?
When setting up a meeting involving several AG locations, be aware that a certain amount of co-ordination is required. You need to find a time and date which is convenient to all participants involved at each location and ensure they know where to go. As well as booking your institution’s facility, concurrent bookings should be made to use the AG at each of the other venues involved.
You will need to advise the proposed time, date, other AG venues involved in the session, and lead contact names for the person/group at each participating venue. Make sure that you specifically ask to use the AG which is different to videoconferencing.
Can the AG be linked to videoconferencing systems?
There seem to be compatibility problems currently. For the present, sites with video-conferencing facilities would need to use access grid software to link with access grids.
Contact the GWR team for further information