Full HTML for

Basic foilset PET Activities and Strategy for Distance Education

Given by Geoffrey C. Fox at PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC on June 2 98. Foils prepared June 6 98
Outside Index Summary of Material

We summarize web-based approaches to education and training
Multimedia databases are a critical core
Technology also includes collaborative systems and here we describe the TangoInteractive experiment between JSU and Syracuse
We point out other important applications of web-based collaboration in DoD including command and control and collaborative visualization/consulting/software development/computational steering

Table of Contents for full HTML of PET Activities and Strategy for Distance Education

 Denote Foils where Image Critical
Denote Foils where HTML is sufficient
1 Experiments in Distance Learning and Collaboration in the PET Program
2 Abstract of Distance Learning and Collaboration
3 PET Technology Transfer
4 Some Technology Resources
5 Some Issues in support for Distance Learning in DoD HPC Program
6 Traditional Model of Instruction
7 Collaborative Model of Instruction
8 4 Approaches to Authoring of Back End Resource I
9 4 Approaches to Authoring of Back End Resource II
10 Features of Database Backend
11 Web-linked Database Architecture
12 Collaborative Capabilities
13 CSC499 at Jackson State
14 Tango WebWisdom Model Collaborative University model for Education
15 Architecture of JSU Distance Education
16 Screenshots of Tango Teaching Tools
17 Lessons from JSU Experiment I
18 Lessons from JSU Experiment II
19 Leveraging Collaborative Tools
20 Collaborative Web Applications with their Participants I
21 Collaborative Web Applications II
22 The TANGOsim Command and Control Application
23 Shared Control Panel for Tango C2 Application
24 Shared 3D GIS (can link to 2D version)
25 TANGO for Distributed Simulation and Computational Steering
26 Minimal Web based Multidisciplinary Application
27 Comparison of Communication/Linkage Models
28 Collaboration Support of Mobile Units
29 Wearable Computer for Tango in the Field
30 NPAC PET Education Curricula and Distance Delivery Activities
31 WebWisdom Architecture
32 Critical Tools and Services in WebWisdom
33 The current Capabilities of Tango -I
34 Capabilities of Tango -II
35 The current Capabilities of Tango -III
36 Tango Educational Applets
37 The current Capabilities of Tango -IV
38 Tango Visible Human and Chat

Outside Index Summary of Material

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 1 Experiments in Distance Learning and Collaboration in the PET Program

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
June 2 1998
DoD HPC Users Group Conference
http://www.npac.syr.edu/users/gcf/doddistedjune98
http://www.npac.syr.edu/tango
Geoffrey Fox
Syracuse University NPAC
111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100
3154432163
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 2 Abstract of Distance Learning and Collaboration

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
We summarize web-based approaches to education and training
Multimedia databases are a critical core
Technology also includes collaborative systems and here we describe the TangoInteractive experiment between JSU and Syracuse
We point out other important applications of web-based collaboration in DoD including command and control and collaborative visualization/consulting/software development/computational steering
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 3 PET Technology Transfer

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
PET brings to HPC community links to outside organizations such as:
Industry: cf. Talk by Gupta from Microsoft
Other DoD: cf. ADL presentation by Johnson today
Academia including
  • IMS led by Educom (working with ADL)
  • NSF PACI (Supercomputer Collaborations) EOT (Education Outreach and Training)
  • CILT (NSF K-14 activities)
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 4 Some Technology Resources

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Authoring: Produce High Quality Curricula
Store Conveniently: Use Web dissemination and some sort of database (from a file system to commercial database such as Oracle or Microsoft Access)
  • Need multimedia capabilities
Deliver: Synchronous or Asynchronous Collaboration
Collaboration also supports research as well as education/training
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 5 Some Issues in support for Distance Learning in DoD HPC Program

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Let us assume that distributed users and cost in time and travel dollars implies that distance learning attractive
Choice 1: Education or Training (more focused material typically without university credit)
  • Training is probably primary goal
Choice 2: Asynchronous (access to web based material) or Synchronous (teacher interacting with students in real time) or both
  • Asynchronous most attractive if sufficient but attractive to allow synchronous augmentation to enhance a basically asynchronous course
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 6 Traditional Model of Instruction

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Professors
Students
Common Shared Books and Such Resources
Done separately for each class at each university
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 7 Collaborative Model of Instruction

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Professor from Univ. 1)
Outside
Students
Common Shared Books Web based Lecture Material
and Similar Resources
Each University teaches a given class to all Students Universities divide classes up among themselves
Local Students
INTERNET
Class I is
given by
University 1)
to students
at 1,2,3)
3)
2)
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 8 4 Approaches to Authoring of Back End Resource I

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
In order of increasing sophistication; cost; preparation time and presumably also in increasing learning value
"Low-end" typified by simple HTML and PowerPoint. Of course hand written notes and postscript are even less sophisticated but these are getting less important.
"Enhanced Low-end" typified by audio or video over web pages. Not clear how editing is possible/desirable
  • This can be viewed as a pragmatic way of capturing details from the busy lecturer who does not have the time to carefully prepare a more sophisticated resource.
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 9 4 Approaches to Authoring of Back End Resource II

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
"Medium End" such as the Cornell Virtual Workshop where one provides overview material (as in traditional foils) as well as more detailed information. The former is used when you lecture and the asynchronous learner uses the details.
"High End" such as the classic Multimedia CDROM ( or its web equivalent) prepared by sophisticated authoring tools such as Macromedia Director and with possibly professionally produced videos.
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 10 Features of Database Backend

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Use a database to store material so as to
  • Manage large collections
  • More easily adapt to changing/different browsers by "just" changing templates
  • Back-up, security etc. well established capabilities
Database has curricula material of all (4) levels of sophistication and supports both synchronous and asynchronous learning
  • database stores multimedia information -- video, audio and images
  • Also administrative information; organization of courses into programs; grades; student/teacher data
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 11 Web-linked Database Architecture

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Educational Objects i.e.
Data Defining Curricula Material at all levels from "University" to "foil"
Server side
Java(JDBC)
as servlets
Metadata
Web/Video Server
Conventional HTML Pages
Dynamically Generated
(IMS/ADL) Metadata
Streaming Audio/Video
Web Browser
Templates Defining How educational data stored in Pages
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 12 Collaborative Capabilities

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Collaborative Systems share information between students and teachers either synchronously
  • conferencing; white board; shared simulations/visualizations; shared curricula pages; chat rooms; special resources such as voting/"raise hands" applets
or asynchronously as in Lotus Notes
  • threaded discussion (i.e. mail); calendars; documents (this is just database)
All can be integrated using web export of database/Lotus Notes as a common interface (XML is particularly attractive here)
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 13 CSC499 at Jackson State

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Taught using Tango over Internet (now DREN via CEWES) every Tuesday and Thursday from Syracuse
  • Course material based on Syracuse Senior Undergraduate class ECS406
Jackson State major HBC University with many computer science graduates
Do not compete with base courses but offer addon courses with "leading edge" material (Web Technology) which give JSU graduates skills that are important in their career
  • Job fair employers liked Java Programming!
Needs guaranteed 30 (audio) to 100 (video) kilobits per second bandwidth assuming course material mirrored at JSU
  • Can be offered using CD-ROM's to homes with audio only link and 28.8 kbaud modem
This illustrates that synchronous delivery is a "guided tour" of large asynchronous resource -- 250 megabytes in total
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 14 Tango WebWisdom Model Collaborative University model for Education

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Universities "specialize" and deliver courses in areas of expertise
  • Provide all students and faculty with access to broader range of leading-edge courses
JSU will lead HBCU wide deployment
NPAC is studying use internationally
Pilot for distance training for DoD
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 15 Architecture of JSU Distance Education

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
NPAC Web Server
JSU Web Server
JSU Tango Server
...
Audio Video Conferencing Chat Rooms etc.
Address at JSU of Curriculum Page
Teacher's View of Curriculum Page
Student's View of Curriculum Page
Participants at JSU
Teacher/Lecturer at NPAC
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 16 Screenshots of Tango Teaching Tools

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
WebWisdom
Chat
Shared Browser
Audio Control
Tango Control App
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 17 Lessons from JSU Experiment I

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Students liked the job relevant skills taught
Important to have curricula mentor and technology expert at remote site; important to visit 2 or 3 times a semester
Digital Audio/video less stressful to lecturer than speaker phone
"Shy" students are helped by remote format as digital interactions are "personality neutral"
Need to keep to the point -- digressions, which are often helpful in standard lectures, tend to lose students
Need to keep everything synchronized -- chat as we tended to use it caused confusing delay
Experiments were successful but conservative -- we deliberately tried to reproduce "time honored approach" -- we can expect there to be different optimal approach in distance case than in face to face case -- find by more experiments!
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 18 Lessons from JSU Experiment II

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Major technical problems
  • Unreliable and Varying Quality of browser (Netscape) and link (internet/DREN)
Several obvious technology improvements
  • full database backend; use two-way video on reliable link; interactive annotatable lecture material; record audio-video conferencing, annotations, chat rooms for asynchronous replay; better link of asynchronous and synchronous tools
Most interesting is new modes with graduate assistant manning ancillary tools such as chat rooms to enhance richness of interactive sessions
  • Professors cannot easily lecture and monitor other tools at the same time.
Extend use of Tango to other collaborative applications
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 19 Leveraging Collaborative Tools

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
At K-14 education level, dominant emphasis is "building learning communities" and tools to support collaborative learning
  • Fully interactive; semi-interactive (as in MOO model) or possibly asynchronous
  • Working through NCSA Alliance with NSF CILT center
Web collaboration is central to many other applications
Thus there are many leverage points
  • Synchronous teaching a good place for early deployment of collaborative tools as relatively structured and so less sensitive to immaturity of systems
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 20 Collaborative Web Applications with their Participants I

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
We have discussed Distance/Collaborative Learning Community Education and training-- teachers and students (and administrators)
Not so directly relevant to this group, we have:
Forums and Chattering on the Web -- the world!
(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
On next page, we find there are applications of direct relevance to DoD HPC users
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 21 Collaborative Web Applications II

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Crisis Management and Command and Control or more generally distributed (tactical) real-time decision support -- decision makers and gatherers of information
Multidisciplinary Applications including Collaborative design -- teams of up to 10,000 engineers
Collaborative Visualization/Data Analysis and Computational Steering -- one or more computational scientist and visualization device
Consulting and shared software/systems development
In each case Collaboration involves support for dynamic interactive shared distributed objects and one needs both synchronous (as in Tango/Habanero) and asynchronous (basic Web/Lotus Notes/Email) support
The shared objects are both client and server side
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 22 The TANGOsim Command and Control Application

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
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
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 23 Shared Control Panel for Tango C2 Application

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 24 Shared 3D GIS (can link to 2D version)

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 25 TANGO for Distributed Simulation and Computational Steering

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Clearly Java Collaboration Systems are natural implementations of general environments that mix computers and people
Computational Steering -- a simulation is like a participant in a Tango session which has
  • simulation engine
  • visualization subsystem
  • one of more computational scientists
Distributed Modeling and Simulation (from DMSO) with "humans and computers in the loop" already has this type of architecture
NCSA has developed a prototype collaborative visualization system using Tango (2D and 3D images can be shared by participants with viewpoint and choice of rendering replicated)
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 26 Minimal Web based Multidisciplinary Application

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
This combines TANGO for collaboration with web and distributed object based computing and database systems on the server side
Whatever the computation one can link to it by exporting the results to CORBA or the Web and using this interface to get synchronous or asynchronous collaboration
  • Tango links to JDBC Enterprise Javabeans which encapsulate the objects which the essence of the computational problem
NPAC is demonstrating a prototype of this type of system using WebFlow
On client one can share tools such as CAD systems like CATIA or AUTOCAD so Tango interfaces with API to these system and drives "slaves" from state extracted from linkage to master.
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 27 Comparison of Communication/Linkage Models

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Computing Systems like NPAC's WebFlow control flow of information between linked objects. For example, in dataflow model, user must supply routines to process input of data that drives a given module and output of data for other modules
TANGO supports shared objects and user supplies routines that read or write either
  • Total state of application or
  • Change in state of application
In each case one needs an API to object which can either be proprietary (as in AUTOCAD or ArcoInfo GIS) or generic as in CORBA or Web Middle tier linkage
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 28 Collaboration Support of Mobile Units

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Wearable computers (with components such as battery, disks, CPU) wore on a belt with a handheld monitor (640 by 480 today) allow us to bring a computational grid to the warfighter
There would be a wireless link using low speed digital cellular connection
There is enough memory and disk to run a browser and Tango client on the remote unit
This links implementers in field together and to central decision support
The 1997 wearable computer technology is shown in foil but perhaps most intriguing are devices like the JavaRing where 14,000 distributed at 97 JavaOne conference
  • around 1 million transistors running JavaVM
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 29 Wearable Computer for Tango in the Field

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 30 NPAC PET Education Curricula and Distance Delivery Activities

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Can offer "Certificates in Internetics or Computational Science" (Total of 6 semester classes)
Can offer internally Web and Java classes for K-12 level
All these courses are in form suitable for synchronous/asynchronous delivery
Taught two semesters from Syracuse over Internet a Senior Undergraduate Class in Java for web applications at Jackson State Mississippi using Tango collaboration system
This fall will combine with local CDROM to teach computational science at Jackson using full asynchronous and synchronous support
Collaboration with Peking University to set up ICWU or "International Collaborative Web University" with initial focus on Internetics
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 31 WebWisdom Architecture

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 32 Critical Tools and Services in WebWisdom

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Database query and access including indexed video clips
Delivery including specialized VRML, GIS (virtual worlds), Simulations as well as classic HTML
Collaboration or sharing of interactive objects
  • Asynchronous and Synchronous
User interfaces for disabled individuals (universal access)
Security for proprietary material and personal information
Quality of Service based on replication and bandwidth trade-offs
  • Asynchronous has less demands than synchronous
Conversion and Integration of Legacy material
Authoring (object creation) tools
Assessment Administration and Logging Tools
Specialized services such as programming laboratories
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 33 The current Capabilities of Tango -I

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Tango supports a synchronous shared event model of collaboration
Tango supports (more than) enough (over 40) applications and our current activity is to evaluate, improve and make robust release
Core Collaboration Capabilities
  • Audio-Video Conferencing multicast between room participants
  • Text chat rooms with various trade offs between "coolness", ease of use etc.
  • Shared Browser (Synchronized view of Web Pages)
  • Shared Web Search (becomes shared database query)
  • Slide Show
  • White Board
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 34 Capabilities of Tango -II

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Databases Linkage
  • JDBC Link to WebWisdom Database June98
  • Lotus Notes Link to Asynchronous Collaboration August 98
Office and Authoring Tools
  • PowerPoint via shared display or shared Java viewer
  • Microsoft Excel using NetMeeting
  • Microsoft Word
  • shared visual C++ etc.
  • Combined Whiteboard / Java object based PowerPoint like authoring system
  • Shared emacs editor
Critical for Education
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 35 The current Capabilities of Tango -III

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
General Virtual University Applications
  • Current WebWisdom hierarchical systems navigating through 20,000 foils and 500 foilsets
  • "Raise Hands" Applet to help teacher-student synchronous interaction
Special Virtual University Applications
  • Shared Java applets to teach physics (spring, planets, vector cross product)
  • Shared Java Applets used to teach Java!
  • Shared SmartDesk system aimed at activities useful in special education with built in assessment
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 36 Tango Educational Applets

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
CONTROL
Shared Planetary Motion Applet
Shared Cross Product Educational Applet
Shared Neural Net
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 37 The current Capabilities of Tango -IV

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
Have some fun with Multi-player games
  • VRML Chess
  • Tetris
  • Othello (Java)
  • Rubic's Cube (Java)
  • Should develop snakes and ladders and bunch of similar "grid" games
"Other" Applications
  • TANGOsim command and control system with shared tools (e.g. mapping, weather) to use in scripted crisis management
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared June 6 98

Foil 38 Tango Visible Human and Chat

From Master Set of Foils for 1996 Session of CPS615 PET Training Session DoD HPC Modernization UGC -- June 2 98. *
Full HTML Index
CONTROL
Shared VRML 3D Visible Human
Shared Browser Page
Chat
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