[AG-TECH] Operator-Less AGs

[Tom Coffin]

The integrated chat tool can be useful. It is especially
handy if node operators do not use other tools. I had to
use it just the other day. But, the primary reason I prefer a
separate application and machine for backchannel communications
is that it is independent from the multicast networking
requirements that the venue client operates in and this
almost ensures communications with the other node ops
should something go wrong with my ag node.

For me, collaborating (as a meeting participant or node
operator) remotely over cyberinfrasturture involves being
able to easily use multiple applications. Actually, this is simply
how I funciton day to day as I am locked into cyberspace.
I use email, web browsers, file management interfaces (explorer),
vnc, dreamweaver, MS office products (word powerpoint excel),
adobe and several different chatting tools (aim, yahoo, jabber).
I find it much easier to manage a node using multiple applications from
my personal laptop than that which is handling the video/audio
display or capture.

With these tools and the integrated A/V system at NCSA ACCESS, we
can essentially operate any size AG node from a remote location.



_________________________________________
At 11:43 AM 4/22/2005, John Hodrien wrote:
>On Thu, 21 Apr 2005, John I Quebedeaux Jr wrote:
>
>>Lately I've had sites that were operator-less (user knew enough or didn't 
>>know enough but was running it anyway) and as a result the users were not 
>>in Jabber or relied on the Venue Client Chat (which will sometimes lag or 
>>not respond occasionally or even worse, we're in different venues or 
>>something wrong so we can't chat anyway during troubleshooting).
>>
>>If you are setting up your users to run your AG themselves, please get 
>>them setup with Jabber and impress on them they should use it to 
>>communicate about the setup. Not to mention that they should show up 
>>early to do that audio check, etc. PRIOR to the meeting.
>>
>>So, I'm getting more and more requests by users that want to run the AG 
>>at their desktop or run it themselves. I'll be curious to know if this is 
>>the case at other sites.
>
>I'd really like to see the opposite...  I do use the AG2 Venue Client Chat.
>It lags, and doesn't respond sometimes.  And nobody uses it 'cos they just sod
>off into Jabber.  So it is often just me talking to myself...  What's the
>point of having an integrated tool if nobody uses it?
>
>AccessGrid users shouldn't have to start two applications, and it creates the
>problem of which room within Jabber you should be meeting in.
>
>I think more consideration needs to be put in by the users as to what we all
>expect from side-band communications with AccessGrid.
>
>jh
>
>--
>"I think it is well also for the man in the street to realise that there is no
>  power on earth that will protect him from being bombed.  Whatever people may
>  tell him, the bomber will always get through.  The only defence is in 
> offence
>  which means you have to kill more women and children more quickly than the
>  enemy if you want to save yourselves."              -- Stanley Baldwin


___________________________________________________________
Tom Coffin .......................... tcoffin at ncsa.uiuc.edu

    NCSA-ACCESS                         cel: 703-477-5948
    901 North Stuart Street, #800       tel: 703-248-0105
    Arlington, Virginia 22203           fax: 703-248-0100

_________________________ http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/~tcoffin