Access grid

Image shows the main wall during a recent Symposium on Engineering Mathematics Education hosted by RMIT which had about 15 other sites joined in to the grid. In conjunction with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, a work environment has been been developed that allows the interconnection of a high number of geographically distributed groups to video conference at the same time they share applications.

What is an Access Grid?

The Access Grid is an ensemble of resources including multimedia large-format displays, presentation and interactive environments, interfaces to Grid middleware and to visualization environments. These resources are used to support group-to-group interactions across the Grid.

When did La Trobe get their access grid?

The Access Grid room was installed at La Trobe during the period late 2005/early 2006 and was made possible by an initial successful grant application to ICE-EM (AMSI) for $70,000. Realization of the project was enabled by additional funding by La Trobe ICT, the Faculty of Science Technology and Engineering, and the School of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences.

What is it used for?

The room is principally used to share seminars and honours level classes with other AG-equipped Mathematics departments around Australia, although there have been a number of collaborative meetings with locations in the US, Canada and the UK.

What equipment makes up the access grid?

Main AG computers: 2 stealth audio systems In room presenter PC: Dell OptiPlex GX620 Mitsubishi EX100 data projectors (3) Sony EVI-D100 PTZ video cameras (4) Polycom Vortex EF2280 Echo Canceller Crown PCC170 desk top microphones Genelec HT205 powered speakers AMX-NI-4000 integrated control system AMX NXT-CV7 Modero tilt screen with video Mimio whiteboard.

Access and registration

Costs include a technician to manage the technology in the room during conferences. 

Costs:

$50 setup and $50/hour.

Booking is essential but cannot be guaranteed due to high teaching loads. La Trobe researchers without funding may be granted access to the room depending on technician and room availability.

Make a booking

Contact Dr Darren Condon
Computer Sytems Officer
T: (03) 9479 1459
E: d.condon@latrobe.edu.au

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