Shared Applications for Access Grid™ Toolkit 2.x

Shared Applications for Access Grid™ Toolkit 2.x An Overview for Users http://scv.bu.edu/~jtvh/talks/shared-apps.ppt Jennifer Teig von Hoffman Boston University The Access Grid is a product of Argonne National Laboratory

What is the Access Grid? • An ensemble of resourcesincluding multimedia large-format displays, presentation and interactive environments, and interfaces to Grid middleware and to visualization environments. • Access Grid Toolkit is developed by the Futures Laboratory, at Argonne National Laboratory

Works in Progress! • What you’ll see today is a sampling of applications available for the AG Toolkit 2.1.2b release • ANL has announced an alpha of the next version AG Toolkit is imminent, with many improvements and changes • Including, but not limited to, improvements in shared apps • I am an expert on exactly none of these!

Not an Exhaustive List! • More shared applications are out there! • Sampling for today determined by completely unscientific method of mailingag-tech • Time at the end of today’s talk for anybody who wants to mention other apps

Play Along, or Watch on VNC • If you have 2.1.2b and the appropriate applications installed, you can participate in the demos • If not, you can watch the demos on VNC • Bear in mind, this will sometimes end up being a demonstration of why we don’t use VNC much these days!

AG 1.x Shared Applications • Distributed PowerPoint • Created as stop-gap for Alliance Chautauqua 1999, then became primary shared application for first five years of AG • VNC • Still a useful tool, but security issues loom • Piping streams to vic and rat • Frequently done to bridge VR environments into the AG, but low video resolution frustrates users

AG 2.x Venue Client • A shift from the old paradigm • Instead of navigating through web browser, Venue Client is basic interface

PARTICIPANTS • Shows current Venue contents: • Participants • Data • Services • Applications APPS

AG 2.x Venue Client • Usually, applications are started from “File” menu in Venue Client • Usually, applications are joined by right-clicking on them in the Applications list, and selecting “Open”

Shared Presentation • Developed by Futures Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory • Currently in use for this presentation • Distributed in AG Toolkit 2.1.2 and higher

Shared Presentation • Substantially reduces burden on node ops • Put slides on web, presenter points app at them, and go! • Slides do need to be on the web, but do not need to be downloaded by non-presenting sites • Slide control managed by presenter through GUI

Shared Presentation • To start a new presentation: • Check “Take control. . .” • Enter URL for slides in “Slides” • Press “Enter” or “Return” on your keyboard

Shared Browser • By Futures Laboratory, ANL • For collaborative browsing of web sites • Many of us AG 1.x users wanted this! • Distributed in AG Toolkit 2.1.2 and higher • Known limitations with regard to cookies, pop-ups, and banner ads

Shared Browser Demo • If you’re running AG 2.1.2b, please open the shared browser in this venue, and we’ll all share control • Other sites can watch the demonstration through the VNC window from NCSA

Shared Movie Player • By Futures Laboratory, ANL • Requires Windows Media Player • . . . And therefore plays any/all types of videos which WMP can handle • Plays video and sound on same machine • Download from: • http://www-unix.mcs.anl.gov/fl/research/accessgrid/wiki/moin.cgi/ContributedSoftware • Run installer program, while logged in as user who will need access to the application

Shared Movie Player Demo • If you have the Movie Player installed, please open the Movie Player in this venue • We’ll watch a short movie from ANL • Other sites can view the demo in the VNC window from NCSA • Sadly, VNC doesn’t do this well, but you’ll get the gist of how the player works

Basic Image • By Dave Semeraro, NCSA • For sharing image files of many formats • jpeg, gif, png, pnm, tiff, pcx, xpm, ico, cur, and ani are all known to be supported • Also permits annotation, and can be used as very simple whiteboard • Download and install information: • http://cherokee.ncsa.uiuc.edu/~semeraro/Stupid_AG_Tricks/default.htm

Basic Image Demo • If you have Basic Image installed, please open Basic Image in this venue • Other sites can view the demo in the VNC window from NCSA

Shared Rasmol • Developed by Futures Lab, ANL • Based on RasMol by University of Edinburgh's Biocomputing Research Unit and the Biomolecular Structure Department at Glaxo Research and Development • Visualization tool for proteins, nucleis acids, and small molecules • Download: • http://www-unix.mcs.anl.gov/~turam/AG/SharedRasmol.html

Shared Rasmol Demo • If you have Shared Rasmol installed, please open the Shared Rasmol in this venue • Other sites can view the demo in the VNC window from NCSA

SCView • Shared 3D visualization application developed by Dr. Putchong Uthayopas and Jakkrit Srimalanont of Kasetsart University • Detailed information at: • http://gass.cpe.ku.ac.th/~kong/scview/

Coming Soon: More Shared Apps • I’ll mention a few more just as a sampler • This is absolutely not a complete list! • This list is based on replies to a single email sent to ag-tech • Additional apps are no doubt in progress – if you’ve got one to mention, there will be time at the end

In Development:Shared Immersaview • Shared 3D model viewer • In development by Alan Spale of EVL, University of Illinois at Chicago • Detailed info at:http://www.evl.uic.edu/cavern/rg/20031022_spale/

In Development :Shared VR Juggler • Shared 3D model viewer • In development by Dioseling Gonzalez, Purdue University • Detailed information at:http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~dagonzal/tech519v/

Anybody Want to MentionOther Apps?

Document in Development • Users’ Guide to Shared Applications for AG Toolkit currently in AGDP review process • To receive announcements of new AGDP docs and tutorials, send mail to majordomo@accessgrid.org , with message body:subscribe agdp-announce

Resources for Developers • AG2 design and architecture docs • http://www-unix.mcs.anl.gov/fl/research/accessgrid/documentation • Developers’ Getting Started page on AG2 web site • http://www-unix.mcs.anl.gov/fl/research/accessgrid/software/developers

Resources for Developers • Dave Semararo’s description of Basic Image code • http://cherokee.ncsa.uiuc.edu/~semeraro/Stupid_AG_Tricks/default.htm

AG Community Resources • ag-tech mailing list • http://www.accessgrid.org/documentation/mailinglists.html • AG Retreat • http://www-unix.mcs.anl.gov/fl/flevents/ag/agr04/ • AG Wiki • http://www-unix.mcs.anl.gov/fl/research/accessgrid/wiki/moin.cgi/

AG Community Resources • The Meadow on Venues MOO • Details on how to connect at: http://www.accessgrid.org/agdp/howto/use-venues-moo.html • More of a virtual water cooler than a help desk, but lots of help to be found here • Good place to look if you want to find people to try shared apps with

Shared Applications for Access Grid™ Toolkit 2.x