Applications of Web Technology and HPCC

A Tutorial from NPAC

Geoffrey Fox (Morning Lecturer) gcf@npac.syr.edu

Dave Warner (Afternoon Lecturer) davew@npac.syr.edu

Wojtek Furmanski, Nancy McCracken

NPAC Syracuse University

http://www.npac.syr.edu

Abstract

This tutorial is divided into three Parts:

Morning Session: We discuss the role of HPCC and Web technologies in several applications including health care (see afternoon), education and the delivery of computing services. We assume a knowledge of base Web concepts and summarize key features of Java, VRML, and JavaScript but do not give a tutorial on these base technologies. We will illustrate the possibilities of HPCC Web integration in these real world applications and the role of base technologies and services.

Afternoon Session: This combines two themes. Enhanced Perceptualization for the understanding large scale Information systems using novel Web based Interfaces. Secondly applications of Web Technologies to Health Care including Interfaces for the disabled, Telemedicine and patient record databases

Wrap-Up: Fox and Warner will dream/answer Questions in last 30 minutes or so of tutorial

Brief Description of Morning Session

http://www.npac.syr.edu/users/gcf/sc96tutorial/index.html
http://www.npac.syr.edu/projects/webspace/doc/sc96/talk/index.html

This tutorial will describe how applications or services can be implemented using the integration of Web and HPCC technologies. The work will draw extensively on experience with NPAC's industrial outreach program InfoMall. We assume a model where "applications" are built on top of "services" which are themselves built on top of base "technologies". The tutorial will not aim to present details of technologies such as Java or VRML or services such as collaboration or digital video. Rather it will provide an overview of such enabling infrastructure and describe their requirements and features in the context of selected applications.

The application/service areas covered in some detail are education, health care (see afternoon session) and computing services. Manufacturing will be covered in the initial overview.
Education will use lessons from the Living Schoolbook with ATM links between K-12 schools and HPCC servers. We discuss VRML for Geographical Information systems and the delivery of scientific visualization. Distance education possibilities at graduate and continuing education level will also be covered.

We describe how the Web is evolving to support distributed computing with both administrative resource management and synchronization capabilities. This will include Web based dataflow in the NPAC WebFlow project . We will also discuss the use of Java in both parallel computing and more generally as a Scientific Computing Language.

We will assume a basic knowledge of the Web. Much of the material is new and advanced but will not be covered very deeply. rather the goal is to illustrate to technology developers the needs of applications, and to users, the exciting possibilities opened up by these new approachs.

Brief Description of Afternoon Session

http://www.npac.syr.edu/users/gcf/sc96tutorialHC/index.html
http://www.npac.syr.edu/users/gcf/carewebguidedtour/index.html
http://www.npac.syr.edu/projects/pulsar/

This combines two themes

• 1)Enhanced Perceptualization for the understanding large scale Information systems using novel Web based Interfaces
• 2)Applications of Web Technologies to Health Care including Interfaces for the disabled, Telemedicine and patient record databases
  

The Afternoon Session In detail:

• The focus of this course will be on the design of intelligent web-based interface systems.
• Web technologies provide a unique opportunity to rapidly develop human computer interface systems.
• Such systems provide a rich medium for augmented human expression thus enriching human-human communication and improving Quality of Life.
• The following WEB systems will be explored:
  • CARE-WEB: A prototype system developed for Health Care will be discussed in the context of Telemedicine and
  • Distributed Medical Intelligence.
  • NeatTools: A Web based Expressional interface system being developed to enable disabled persons to fluently express themselves.
  • PULSAR: A free Web service for disabled Web users. A Web-based resource repository providing free software, pointers to inexpensive interface hardware and intelligent directories of resources, support groups and other relevant information for disabled Web users.
  • GROK-BOX: A Web-based collaboratory for interactive perceptualization. An instrumented environment for experiencing and communicating complex information.
  • SMARTDESK: A instrumented learning environment which allows for dynamic tracking of a "learner's" navigational trajectory through a Web-based content delivery system.