Access Grid

The University of Newcastle Access Grid (AG) is a collaborative tool which permits geographically distributed groups to interact in real time. The equipment includes computers, cameras, projectors, microphones (echo cancellation hardware) and SmartBoards.

This technology provides Access Grid participants the ability to hear and see each other, as well as share documents, in real time without delays. This provides an opportunity to work together when convenient, rather than having to travel to meetings or conferences around Australia and the world.

The software is Open Source and was originally developed by the Futures Laboratory at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in Chicago. The AG software is currently used in over 50 countries. For more information on the world of Access Grids, visit  http://www.accessgrid.org.

The basic software is supplemented by applications from various sources to permit sharing of PowerPoint presentations, desktops, browsers and drawing surfaces to name a few.

In the context of the University, this tool will provide benefit in the area of high-level teaching (honours level and above) as well as academic collaborative work (brain-storming) sessions. It will also prove to have relevance in seminars, tutorials, training and large-scale distributed meetings.

Booking an Access Grid Session

To book an Access Grid session, please complete the form Access Grid - Booking Form, then either

Note that when you are booking the Access Grid you should specify the information detailed in the “Meeting Details” section below.

The following e-mail contact can be used to obtain further information about Access Grids located within The University of Newcastle - AGR@Newcastle.edu.au

For contacts to schedule an external Access Grid session, please visit the (global AG node listing) to obtain the contact details for the various external AGs.

Meeting Details

To assist with the Access Grid meeting, please supply the following information (example information provided in italics).

Sample of information required
Room/Facility required:	V206
Date:	21 March 2010
Time:	1pm - 3pm (Remember other sites may be in a different time zone)
On-going booking:	Semester 1
AG Version:	AG3
AG Venue:	UNewcastle Venue (This is the AG Virtual Venue used for meeting)
Purpose/Course Name:	AG1010 - Person xyz will be providing a presentation to external sites
Sites:	“USyd AG Node", “UoW AG Node", "QUT AG Node" and "UQ AG node"
Contacts:	Bill Smith (W.Smith@Uni.ed.au)
Extras:	There will be a PowerPoint presentation from UWS, and therefore, we will need to use VenueVNC to receive the presentation to the remote sites. (If you are not sure of the technologies requires, simply stating that there will be presentations from site X will be very useful.

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Access Grid Nodes

V206 – Callaghan Campus Room Structure (Equipment used)
Projectors	3 x NEC WT610 Data Projectors are used to create a 6 metre x 1.5 Screen display.??? These projectors are currently running a screen ratio of 4:3 which provides a virtual screen size of 3072 x 768 pixels. 1 x Mitsubishi X9490U projector for corner projection screen.  1 x NEC WT610 Data Projectors for projection on the rear wall.
Cameras	4 cameras are employed: 3 x 1 x tripod mounted and therefore relocatable
Microphones	1 x AKG GN 30 ESP gooseneck  microphone for the session manager 2 x table boundary microphones to provide high quality voice definition of the participants. 1 x lapel style mobile microphone for the presenter feeding through a MIPRO ACT7075E single channel wireless receiver.
Echo Cancellation	A Clearone XAP800 is employed to provide the room with echo cancellation capability.
Sound	2 x speakers are ceiling mounted to provide sound dispersion throughout the AccessGrid room. The speakers are powered using an Australian Monitor AV2.2P amplifier.
Wireless	A Wireless Access Point is installed in this room.
SmartBoards	3 x Smartboards are aligned on the front wall and are controllable from all the computers. This provides a 3072 x 768 pixel display surface (with visible bezels between boards)
AV Controller	1 x AMX controller screen feeding to a NetLinx NI-4100 Integrated controller. This permits, convenient, control of the 5 projectors, the 3 fixed cameras, light dimming and audio volume control.
Switch	1 x Kramer Electronics VP-8x8A switch to allow quick switching of control computer in case of primary unit’s failure

 

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Mathematics Staff Notebook - Callaghan Campus Room Structure (Computers Used)
Projectors	1 x Portable Data Projectors from the Mathematics Office (V123)
Cameras	1 x USB Webcam
Microphones	1 x Duet USB Speakerphone model MT202/PCO
Echo Cancellation	Via the USB DUET
Sound	Speaker is in the Duet mentioned above

 

Procedures and General Information

Useful Documents

• Access Grid Installation Guide for Fedora 8
• Access Grid 3 All in one Installer for Windows
• Access Grid Global Quality Assurance Program
• Improving your Access Grid in Preparation for a Quality Assurance Test

Useful Links

For any additional information, you may wish to visit the following websites:

The Asia Pacific AccessGrid Website (APAG)

International AccessGrid Website ( www.accessgrid.org)

Access Grid Documentation (AG-Doc)

Access Grid Documentation (AG-Projects)

International List of Access Grids (AG Nodes)