Full HTML for

Scripted foilset Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions

Given by Geoffrey C. Fox, Marek Podgorny at MAPINT97 Workshop on 16-18 June 97. Foils prepared 27 June 97
Outside Index Summary of Material

We first review web based collaboration systems and the choices made in the core TANGO system including some refinements of the TANGO2 release
We survey applications of TANGO including command and control, education and video on demand
We relate TANGO capabilities to those identified for multidisciplinary applications and see that it fulfills some but certainly not all of them
We compare TANGO and WebFlow application interfaces

Table of Contents for full HTML of Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions

 Denote Foils where Image Critical
Denote Foils where HTML is sufficient
1 TANGO and its Application to Multidisciplinary Applications MAPINT 97 Dayton 18 June 97
2 Abstract of TANGO Presentation for Multidisciplinary Applications
3 Tango Screen: Talking Heads and White Board
4 TANGO2 Guiding Principles
5 TANGO Collaboration Model
6 Computing Services at 3 levels
7 Role of Collaboratory Systems
8 Architecture of WebWisdom Education Delivery System
9 Typical Web Collaboration Architecture
10 The TANGOsim C2 Application
11 Command and Control Screen with Multimedia Message
12 A demo of animated objects controlled by simulation engine of Tango collaborative system - III
13 Collaboratory systems: Taxonomy I
14 Collaboratory systems: Taxonomy II
15 Collaboratory systems: Taxonomy III
16 Collaboration Transparency
17 Event Broadcasting: con and pro
18 TANGO Collaboratory
19 TANGO: Highlights
20 TANGO: Highlights II
21 TANGO: Control Application
22 TANGO: application control
23 TANGO Applications
24 New Tango white Board in Collaborative Mode
25 Graphics in the New Tango white Board
26 Importing Images in the New Tango white Board
27 SGI Page linking to NPAC 3D Visible Human
28 Collection of Shared Applications (incl 3D Visible Human) in the New Tango
29 TANGO: Status
30 TANGO Applications with their participants
31 WebWisdom: Current Capabilities
32 WebWisdom: Current Capabilities II
33 HTML Pure Text Version of a Foil on HPF for Laplace Example
34 Contrasted with Imported Persuasion Version of Same Material
35 TANGO/Wisdom
36 Tango Screen: Physics Applets -- Cross Product, Planets and Neural Network
37 Video on Demand: Features
38 Video on Demand: Capabilities
39 Video on Demand: Capabilities II
40 Video on Demand/TANGO Integration
41 TANGO Structure of Multidisciplinary Applications
42 NII Enhances ASOP in a Multi-Organization Activity
43 ASOP Implemented on the NII for Aeronautics Systems
44 Minimal Web based Multidisciplinary Application
45 Comparison of Communication/Linkage Models

Outside Index Summary of Material

HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 1 TANGO and its Application to Multidisciplinary Applications MAPINT 97 Dayton 18 June 97

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Lukasz Beca, Gang Cheng, Geoffrey Fox (Presenter), Tomasz Jurga, Konrad Olszewski, Marek Podgorny, Piotr Sokolowski, and Krzysztof Walczak
Syracuse University
NPAC
111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100
3154432163
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 2 Abstract of TANGO Presentation for Multidisciplinary Applications

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
We first review web based collaboration systems and the choices made in the core TANGO system including some refinements of the TANGO2 release
We survey applications of TANGO including command and control, education and video on demand
We relate TANGO capabilities to those identified for multidisciplinary applications and see that it fulfills some but certainly not all of them
We compare TANGO and WebFlow application interfaces
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 3 Tango Screen: Talking Heads and White Board

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
From Tango - A Java/WWW-Based Internet Collaborative Software System part of NPAC Overview May 1997
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 4 TANGO2 Guiding Principles

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
"Buy a place at the table" with a core system that is competitive with other commercial and academic systems
Then focus on specific TANGO features to support selected applications
  • Education and Training
  • Medicine (through New York State Industry Outreach)
  • Manufacturing/Multidisciplinary applications (discussed here but no funded activity)
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 5 TANGO Collaboration Model

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGO supports client side electronic societies of people, instruments and their applications.
TANGO links these to a network of Java Servers which manage TANGO sessions and interfaces them to the world wide Server Infrastructure that underlies our model of Web applications
  • TANGO does not directly manage world wide servers
Electronic societies or groups are managed by core database in TANGO
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 6 Computing Services at 3 levels

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
1:User View: Interoperable Web Interface accessing services through Java Compute Services Framework 2:Network of Java Servers provide distributed services to databases, compute engines, collaboratories, object brokers, instruments
  • All control at this level
High Performance layer accessed when distributed services have insufficient performance
  • Hopefully transparent to user
  • implements data but not control level
Compute processes linked by MPI or distributed units of database, object broker, I/O system etc.
Java Servers
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 7 Role of Collaboratory Systems

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Systems like Tango or Habanero built around Java Servers integrate a group of multiple clients as a "Service" at the middle Java Server level
Group of collaborating clients
and client applications
Database
Object Broker
MPP
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 8 Architecture of WebWisdom Education Delivery System

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 9 Typical Web Collaboration Architecture

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGOsim
Basic
Replicated Applications
1)Virtual Users 2)Customized Views
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 10 The TANGOsim C2 Application

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGO Java
Collaboratory
Server
HTTP
Server
MultiMedia Mail
C2 Commander
Chat
VTC
Event Driven
Simulation
Engine
C2 Radar Officer
3D GIS
Scripting
Language
C2 Weather Officer
Message Routing
SW/Data Distrib.
Other
Collaborators
MultiMedia Mail
Chat
Simulation
Engine Controller
All Clients
Typical Clients
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 11 Command and Control Screen with Multimedia Message

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Feb 97 Demonstration of Tango
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 12 A demo of animated objects controlled by simulation engine of Tango collaborative system - III

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
From Tango Project for CEWES Collaborative Tool Meeting
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 13 Collaboratory systems: Taxonomy I

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Basic architectures
  • Shared display: single instance of application, user input & display replicated via conference agent
    • Entire functionality of application is shared
    • Examples: Shared X (HP), NetMeeting (MS), ProShare (Intel), ShowMe (Sun), Timbuktu (Farallon)
    • Advantages: simple to implement
    • Disadvantages:
      • functional: simplistic, inflexible, awkward session control model, insecure (no data access control), no support for asynchronous collaboration, race condition problems
      • performance: generate heavy data traffic, unacceptable on WANs
      • incompatible with Web programming model assuming local intelligence
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 14 Collaboratory systems: Taxonomy II

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Basic architectures
  • Event broadcasting: each workstation runs its own copy of application.
    • (A) Virtual instance: all events shared (collaboration transparency)
    • (B) Independent data views: some events shared
    • Examples: Habanero (NCSA - B), Java Collab. Toolset (Old Dominion - A ), ProMondia (Univ. of Nuremberg - B), UARC (Univ. of Michigan - B), TANGO (NPAC - B)
    • Disadvantages: new category of SW, difficult to implement
    • Advantages: infinitely flexible and adaptable, generates little network traffic, perfectly fit Web/Java paradigm, can implement security, can support asynchronous collaboration....
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 15 Collaboratory systems: Taxonomy III

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Evolution of chat servers in a collaboratory
  • Chat servers multiply and offer 1D, 2D and even 3D interfaces:
    • Comic Chat (MS - 2D), Passport (BlackSun - 3D), Traveler (OnLive - 3D), The Palace (2D), MOO's .........
  • While technically similar, these products are geared towards creation of sophisticated and unproven rather than towards increasing functionality of a collaboratory
    • Collaboratory paradigm easily breaks when combined with orthodox cyberspace visualization paradigm
      • two avatars reading a Word document on a screen of the virtual computer rendered in VRML browser???
    • Conclusion: evolving chat servers are not key today to a collaboratory!
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 16 Collaboration Transparency

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Concept: design a system that allows using an application designed for a single individual to be used by a group of people without changing anything in the application
  • Shared display applications implement collaboration transparency
Proposed extension of the paradigm to the event broadcasting architectures (Old Dominions' JCT, Virginia Tech's JAMM)
  • technical approach: modification of the Java AWT to distribute events
  • our evaluation: we support event distribution model, but consider collaboration transparency an unrealistic model.
  • Rather we modify applications to distribute events
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 17 Event Broadcasting: con and pro

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Sharing possible only if applications deterministic
  • applications ARE deterministic or can be made so
Copies of applications must be present everywhere
  • but they are, being applets or downloaded via a push channel
Environments must be identical
  • Java VM takes care about this
Initial state of a newcomer impossible to define
  • not so for good OO design and object serialization mechanism
Cannot maintain consistency among copies
  • Difficult but not Impossible. Variety of sync mechanisms available
The pros win! Web model enables event broadcasting!
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 18 TANGO Collaboratory

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGO is a software framework supporting computer-based communication and collaboration
  • Initial design and implementation for Command and Control under a DoD contract
  • Runs in Web environment and uses standard Web technologies
  • Allows for implementation of arbitrary collaboratory applications (examples will follow)
  • Multiplatform run-time and multi-language API
    • UNIX/Windows; Java (applet or application), C, C++, JavaScript, VRML2
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 19 TANGO: Highlights

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Technically, TANGO is a distributed system based on event broadcasting
  • TANGO does not implement collaborative transparency, although current design allows for it for certain applications
Core system is implemented in Java and as a browser plug-in
Base programming module is a Java applet
  • however, other shared entities supported as well, including Java, C/C++ applications, and JavaScript/VRML 2 modules
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 20 TANGO: Highlights II

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Global architecture is a mesh of servers
  • migration via hand-off mechanism (work in progress)
Session metaphor is a meeting room with tools
  • a more flexible "application session" model has been shown indigestible for many early users
Asynchronous collaboration is (will be) enabled via session recording to database backend
TANGO modules can be downloaded from anywhere
  • can interact via a server at arbitrary location
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 21 TANGO: Control Application

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Application select
buttons
Application
Domains
Open/close and
floor control
Session
information
User information
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 22 TANGO: application control

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGO session, sync, and
floor control buttons built
into the application control
panel.
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 23 TANGO Applications

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Generic tools: chats (1D, 2D, 3D*), whiteboards (paint and draw)
Multimedia tools: audio/video conferencing, collaborative indexed streaming video
Shared browsers: slide shows, fully synchronized, shared JavaScript, customizable client-side apps
Virtual University: WebWisdom - interactive contents delivery system, a set of applets for physics curriculum
Domain specific applets: 2D and 3D (collaborative VRML) Visible Human, collaborative AutoCad (feasibility study only)
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 24 New Tango white Board in Collaborative Mode

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Latest Tango Capabilities June 97
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 25 Graphics in the New Tango white Board

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Latest Tango Capabilities June 97
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 26 Importing Images in the New Tango white Board

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Latest Tango Capabilities June 97
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 27 SGI Page linking to NPAC 3D Visible Human

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 28 Collection of Shared Applications (incl 3D Visible Human) in the New Tango

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Latest Tango Capabilities June 97
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 29 TANGO: Status

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Core system implemented by a team of 3 programmers within ~6 months, available.
  • TANGO server for Unix and Windows NT
  • TANGO Plug-ins for Wndows95/NT, IRIX, Solaris
APIs for Java, C/C++, and JavaScript available
Two generations of GUI implemented
"Lessons learned" are being incorporated into TANGO II, scheduled for release end of August
  • new sessions paradigm, database support, multi-server support
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 30 TANGO Applications with their participants

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Command and Control or more generally distributed (tactical) real-time decision support -- decision makers and gatherers of information
Forums and Chattering on the Web -- the world!
Education -- teachers and students (and administrators)
(Tele)medicine -- Doctors (primary and specialist referrals), Nurses, Patients and administrators
Business Enterprise (strategic) Support as in Lotus Notes -- Employees of Business including especially managers
Multidisciplinary Applications including Collaborative design -- teams of up to 10,000 engineers
Computational Steering -- one or more computational scientist and visualization device
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 31 WebWisdom: Current Capabilities

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Handles a wide variety of presentation formats (Persuasion, PowerPoint, Framemaker, Kodak PhotoSets, Screendumps and raw HTML) in general locations
Handles RealAudio for both recording (where it logs where presentation page changes) and playback
Handles general playlists where composite presentations are made up by selecting from base presentations.
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 32 WebWisdom: Current Capabilities II

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Handles several different parameter sets (defining fonts, colors, applets etc used) which can be stored and read from server).
Has options to allow Applets for display of foil titles
Logging feature supports assessment and other such post-presentation review.
Attached Audio Editor supports processing of real audio files produced during delivery of lecture and allows one to cut audio files and associate them with particular foils
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 33 HTML Pure Text Version of a Foil on HPF for Laplace Example

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Set of Illustrations of JavaScript WebWisdom Education and Presentation Delivery System
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 34 Contrasted with Imported Persuasion Version of Same Material

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Set of Illustrations of JavaScript WebWisdom Education and Presentation Delivery System
WebWisdom defaults to HTML where "contains all information" and Persuasion/Poewerpoint original Otherwise
You can always use either version
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 35 TANGO/Wisdom

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Collaborative version of WebWisdom aimed at distance education
Uses the NPAC Collaborative System TANGO which has a well defined JavaScript API using LiveConnect for Java to JavaScript connectivity.
Supports asymmetric use with one multiframe WebWisdom ("master") controlling multiple clients running simpler single frame system.
With replicated course material, only control information is passed over the expensive network connection
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 36 Tango Screen: Physics Applets -- Cross Product, Planets and Neural Network

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
From Tango - A Java/WWW-Based Internet Collaborative Software System part of NPAC Overview May 1997
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 37 Video on Demand: Features

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
A complete, end-to-end system for
  • video delivery over local area networks
  • video contents marketing over Internet
Modular system supporting following functionality:
  • video digitization and compression to high (MPEG1) and low (H.263/GSM) rate formats
  • contents indexing and asset management via relational database backend
  • video server, codec independent and distributed
  • software and hardware supported intelligent multi-codec video clients
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 38 Video on Demand: Capabilities

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Codec-independent streaming video server for Windows NT
  • supports any audio/video file format
Universal software video client
  • automatically recognizing and playing video formats
    • MPEG1, AVI (1.5 - 2 Mbps), QuickTime, H.263/GSM (28-128 Kpbs)
    • VCR-like capability (random stream access)
High-performance hardware supported video client
  • MPEG1 decoder from Optibase, full screen, 30 fps, VHS quality
  • Available for Windows 3, port to W95 requires some work
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 39 Video on Demand: Capabilities II

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Video contents is indexed via the associated textual layer:
  • closed-captioning (automatic acquisition system)
  • manual annotations
  • random access from the web browser window
Video server asset management:
  • all system metadata stored in relational backend
  • web-based system administration interface
  • support for clustered distributed video server
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 40 Video on Demand/TANGO Integration

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
Master-slave video client architecture
  • Master client for the teacher
    • has all capabilities of the stand-alone video client, including random access capability
    • uses unicast for server access
    • forwards video streams to a multicast address
  • Slave client for students/general audience
    • start/stop capability only
    • session control via TANGO session manager (more secure than standard MBONE)
No need for separate on-demand and broadcast video servers
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 41 TANGO Structure of Multidisciplinary Applications

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
TANGO links people and shared applications such as chat board, audio video conferencing, visualizations, shared white board, common AUTOCAD design and related tools
CFD
TANGO Server
Database
Object Broker
MPP
Structures
MPP
Engineer
+ core
services
Visualization e.g.CAVE
Shared AutoCAD
Engineer
+ core
services
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 42 NII Enhances ASOP in a Multi-Organization Activity

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 43 ASOP Implemented on the NII for Aeronautics Systems

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 44 Minimal Web based Multidisciplinary Application

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
This combines TANGO for collaboration with WebFlow to link server side applications
If necessary WebFlow would support high performance inter-module communication as in COCOLIB but it would always implement control and this allows TANGO integration with server side computation
  • So we suggest change in COCOLIB model to move control to server level so that COCLIB can be integrated with services such as TANGO
WebFlow communication model is a dynamic dataflow
Of course other server side compute models are possible and in general need (web-linked) data bases, file systems, object brokers etc.,
HTML version of Scripted Foils prepared 27 June 97

Foil 45 Comparison of Communication/Linkage Models

From Use of Tango in Multidisciplinary Interactions MAPINT97 Workshop -- 16-18 June 97. *
Full HTML Index
WebFlow supports dataflow model where user must supply routines to process input of data that drives module and output of data for other modules
TANGO supports shared state and user supplies routines that read or write either
  • Total state of application or
  • Change in state of application
Can be done for applications like AUTOCAD as vendor supplies necessary API
CFD
Structures
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