Video in Research and Education

In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation,Northern Illinois University and the University of Illinois

Video in Research and Education

Presented to the Net@EDU Converged

Communications Working GroupFebruary 1, 2009

By Larry Amiot

The Transportation Research and Analysis Computing Center

Argonne National Laboratory

([email protected])

TRACC Transportation Research and Analysis Computing Center

Video Technology Agenda

Web Conferencing

Videoconferencing

– H.323

– Access Grid

– Telepresence

Streaming

Visualization

– LambdaVision

– Stereo Theater

– GeoWall


Background

Argonne National Laboratory, Transportation Research and Analysis

Computing Center (TRACC)

Northwestern University, Information Technologies, Academic

Technologies

Internet2

– Internet2 Digital Video Initiative (I2DVI)

– Internet2 Commons


The Transportation Research and Analysis Computing Center (TRACC)

Built as a National USDOT Supercomputer Facility

TRACC High Performance

Compute ClusterLinux Networx LS-1 512 core /1 28 compute nodes

(two dual-core AMD 2216 Opteron CPUs 4GB of RAM)

Collaboratory- Visualization, Virtual

Reality, Access Grid, and Digital

Conferencing

240TB Global Parallel

File System Disk Storage LTO-3 160TB Archive/Backup

Tape Storage

High-bandwidth connectivity to the

Illinois Wired/Wireless

Infrastructure for Research and

Education (I-WIRE) and Internet2.


Initial USDOT Application Areas

Traffic Modeling and Simulation and Emergency Transportation

Planning

– Chicago Metropolitan Area model using multi-modal micro-

simulation techniques

– Collaboration with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for

Planning, IDOT, FHWA and Northern Illinois University

Multidimensional Data Visualization

– Visualization of transportation system modeling from USDOT

TRANSIMS modeling system with UIUC National Center for

Supercomputing Applications

Computational Fluid Dynamics for Infrastructure Analysis

– Bridge hydraulics, including flooding and scour, using

computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

Computational Structural Mechanics for Transportation Applications

– Bridge dynamics analysis, including bridge integrity under

flooding and traffic or air-flow induced vibration


Complementary Activities- The Collaboratory Outreach

Education and Training

Collaboration

Technology Transfer

Demonstrations

Conferences and Meetings


Web Conferencing


Web Conferencing

Web Conferencing

– Used to conduct live meetings or presentations via the Internet

– Client/server orientation

– Can be either a downloaded application or a web-based

application with a URL

– The use of voice, video, and data

– Webinar is a one-way (one to many) from the speaker to the

audience with limited audience interaction


Web Conferencing

Elluminate (Les Finken, UIOWA)

– Elluminate vRoom, a FREE, 3-person meeting room with full

functionality, except recording.

– Elluminate vOffice, your personal meeting room for 5 to 20

participants with full recording capability.

– Elluminate vClass, a single virtual classroom for 25 to 200

students, customizable moderator names, and full recording

capability.

DimDim

– Dimdim is a free web conferencing service where you can share

your desktop, show slides, collaborate, chat, talk and broadcast

via webcam with absolutely no download required to host or

attend meetings.


Adobe Acrobat Connect

Used at both TRACC and Northwestern University

Client server technology

Typically use the Adobe server, but you can purchase your own

Web application that requires no download except for the presenter

– Scheduling application

– URL-based

– Flash-based application

Supports:

– Screen sharing

– V/IP- Phoenix Duet Speakerphone

– Video- Webcam

– Flash video files (upload to server)

– Polling

– Recording and archiving

Add a capture board to connect to videoconferencing session


Adobe Acrobat Connect Typical Uses

TRACC

– Classes in the use of the TRACC cluster

– Classes in the use of TRANSIMS

– Training on the use of Computational Structural Mechanics codes

(LS-DYNA) on the cluster

Northwestern University

– Oncofertility Grand Rounds

– Heart Research with Stanford and local hospitals


Videoconferencing


What is H.323-Based Videoconferencing?

A real-time, two-way exchange of information between two or more

geographically disperse locations using audio, video and

sometimes data

International Telecommunications Union ratifies standards for

communications technologies, such as H.323

H.323 is an umbrella standard that encompasses standards for

– Audio

• G.711, G.722, G.722.1, G.723.1, G.728, G.729

– Video

• H.261, H.263, H.264

– Data

• H.239

– Others: Call Control, Directories (H.350)


Different Technologies

Standards-based:

– H.320: videoconferencing on ISDN lines (Legacy)

– H.323: videoconferencing over packet-based networks i.e. IP


Video Algorithms

H.261 is the oldest of the standards

– Most H.323 and H.320 endpoints can handle this algorithm

H.263 is newer

– Most newer H.323 and H.320 endpoints can use this algorithm

H.264 is the newest

– Only the newest H.323 endpoints use this algorithm

High Definition

– Typically compressed using H.264

– Typically at 1 to 2 Mbps or higher


Common Video Resolutions

CIF

– 352x288 pixels

SD 480i

– 720x 480 pixels

4CIF

– 704x576 pixels

VGA

– 1024x768 pixels

720p HD

– 1280x720

1080i HD

– 1920x1080 pixels

4K Movies

– 4096x2160 pixels

LambdaVision

– TRACC 8,000x4,800

pixels

– EVL 17,600x6,000 pixels


GateKeeperMCU

H.323 Clients

INTERNET

H.323 Videoconferencing

Web

Browser

Real Video

H.323

H.320

Gateway

ISDN

POT’s line

Telephone


“Data Sharing” in the H.323 World

Out of band

– T.120

– VNC

In Band

– H.239

• VGA content to be transmitted through the videoconference at

native 1024x768 resolution

• “duo-video” or “people+content”

• Tradeoff of bandwidth between data and video

– People on Content (Polycom and Tandberg)


H.323 Codecs

First generation- Legacy

– Speeds to 768Kbps

– H.261 -> H.263

– Rack Mount, desktop , and set top

– e.g.. Polycom ViewStations, FX, and 4000s

Second Generation- Almost Legacy

– Speeds to several Mbps

– Added H.264

– Added H.239 (data)

– E.g. Polycom 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000

Third Generation

– Added 720p and 1080p HD

– Increased speeds to 6 Mbps or so

– E.g. LifeSize Room, Express, and Team; Polycom HDX 7000 8000,

and 9000s

Polycom 8000


Typical Uses of Videoconferencing at Northwestern University

Between Evanston and Chicago Campuses

Interactive classes in Soil Dynamics and in Blasting between NU and the

New Mexico Technological Institute

Collaboration on the placement of strain measurement sensors

Oncofertility Laboratory Meetings

Planning Meetings between Evanston and Education City in Qatar

Master’s Classes in Music


Northwestern University Forum Room in Evanston


Northwestern University Wieboldt Room

Chicago


Northwestern University Pancoe Auditorium in Evanston


TRACC Collaboratory

Outreach

Meetings

Demonstrations

Collaborations

Training

Two 15x18’ display walls

with high-res. projectors

Multiple Polycom VC

systems

VC enabled conference

rooms


Typical Uses of Videoconferencing in Research

In Research

– Meetings

– Outreach

– Demonstrations

– Collaboration

TRACC 15x18’

Rear Projection

Screen


TRACC Videoconferencing-enabled Conference Room


Desktop Videoconferencing

Polycom PVX (just over $100 for software)

– Works on Windows machines only- no Macs

– Voice, video, and H.239 data

– Completely interoperable with Room-based H.323 VC

– Typically USB camera and either headphones or a echo cancelling

speakerphone (Phoenix Duet Speakerphone)

Xmeeting for the Mac world- no Windows machines

– Open Source

– No H.239 support

– Built in camera or USB and either headphones or speakerphone

Mirial Softphone (EUR 166)

– H.323 desktop client for Windows

– Supports 720p HD and H.239

Northwestern University Pilot Project


What Do You Need For A Successful Videoconference Program

Standardize on a brand of desktop, room, and rack mount codecs:

Polycom, LifeSize, or Tandberg

Gain access to a MCU: Codian (Tandberg), Radvision, Polycom

Gain access to a gatekeeper and decide on an addressing scheme

Produce documentation and web pages

– http://www.it.northwestern.edu/videoconferencing/index.html

Develop a procedure for scheduling the MCU

Organize a cadre of people that can

– Design and implement VC rooms : lighting, audio, displays, control,

networking, furniture, data ports

– Support the use of the rooms

– Work with faculty and staff to integrate VC into their educational or

research environment

Test, test, and more testing with sites participating in a videoconference


Internet2 Commons H.323 Videoconferencing Service

Multi-vender MCUs provided for multi-party videoconferencing (Polycom,

Radvision, and Codian (Tandberg)

Advanced features such as streaming, archiving, and multiple video

layout options

Open gatekeeper support

Anyone in education, research, or non-profit organizations can subscribe

Subscriber supplied site coordinator required (training classes frequently

held)

$2,000 annual fee for 300 port hours

Pre-scheduled MCU sessions

http://commons.internet2.edu/


Internet2 Commons Real Time Collaboration Tools

Partnering with the development community, the Commons offers access

to tool suites that integrate presence, IM, chat, voice, video, data, and

application sharing

Anyone in education, research, or non-profit organizations can subscribe

Real Time Collaboration Tool Suites

– EVO- Scalable autonomous and self-adaptive global collaboration

system

– IOCOMM (inSORS)- multimedia conferencing and collaboration

software based on the Access Grid technology

– Microsoft research ConferenceXP- Advanced desktop or room-based

collaboration tool

– Radvision Click to Meet- Allows users to connect to a video network

from their desktop computer

– Vidyo H.264/SVC Multipoint VidyoConferencing- provides HD quality,

multi-party videoconferencing from desktops and conference rooms


Megaconference 10- The World’s largest Videoconferencehttp://www.megaconference.org

Each year, the Megaconference occurs with the goal of connecting

people together everywhere on Earth where someone chooses to

participate

On the chosen date, speakers from across the globe share their latest

real-world uses of H.323 videoconferencing: video, voice, and data

Some people presented via VC, some watched via VC, and some

watched via streaming video

Presentations: 30

Then and Now Memories: 11

Vendor Presentations: 3

Countries presenting: 3 Australia, 2 Canada, 1 China, 2 Croatia, 2

Finland, 1 India, 1 Netherlands, 8 Slovenia, 1 Sweden, 2 Taiwan,

1 Wales, 28 USA)

Technologies used in presentations: videos, PowerPoint, Second Life,

Skype, green screen, electron microscope, streaming, blog


Megaconference 10 Endpoints/MCUs

Endpoints74 Polycom 54%

38 Tandberg 27%

9 Life Size 6%

4 Aethra 3%

4 Sony 3%

2 vcon 1%

2 V-Tel 1%

1 xMeeting 1%

1 IGMeeting 1%

135

MCUs:Codian 9 (plus 1 to 3 unofficial)

Polycom 6 (plus 1 to 2 unofficial)

Radvision 1


Access Grid

Developed at Argonne National Laboratory

Open source

International Community

Immersive environment

Multiple virtual presence

Nodes connect to a virtual room on a venue server

Typically uses multicast for connectivity

inSORS (IOCOMM) commercial version available

Collaborative communities

– e.g. The Chicago Biomedical Consortium

The mission of the Chicago Biomedical Consortium is to stimulate

collaboration among scientists at Northwestern University, the

University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Chicago

that will transform research at the frontiers of biomedicine.


Northwestern University Cook Hall Access Grid


Access Grid

Multipoint Distance

Meetings

Education and Training

Group-to-Group

Collaboration (research

and development)

Conferences, Seminars

Any collaboration

benefiting from live

video and audio

TRACC Display Wall


Streaming


Streaming and Recording A H.323 Session

Codian

MCU

Codian IP-

VCR

Dual Stream

voice/data

RealVideo,

Windows

Media, or QT

Streams


Streaming MPEG2 at Northwestern University

VideoFurnace

– 20 television channels via campus Ethernet network using MPEG4 at

2Mbps to students' computers at Northwestern University

– Provides live C-SPAN multicasts over Internet2 networks at 3Mbps

Star Valley Encoders

– Point to point or multicast

– MPEG2 up to 7 Mbps

– Use VideoLAN VLC software decoders to view

– Feed stream into RealVideo encoders for distribution

– Events

• Commencement

• Convocation

• Presidents State of the University speech between campuses

• Master Classes is music


Telepresence

With thanks to Robert Dixon, OARnet and Ohio State University for contributions of slides from his investigations on Telepresence


Telepresence

Telepresence is a specialized version of video conferencing, in

which great efforts are made to create the illusion of a face-to-face

meeting.

These efforts include specially-designed video and audio

equipment, furniture and room layout.

Telepresence refers to a set of technologies which allow a person to

feel as if they were present, to give the appearance that they were

present, or to have an effect, at a location other than their true

location.

Primarily used by large corporations where eye contact and body

language is important for negotiations and where initial and ongoing

system cost is not important

Usually externally managed system and network although

“unbundled” systems are available


General Appearance

Dedicated room. Wall paint, carpet, lights etc all identical in all

rooms.

Occupies room completely, awkward for other uses.

Two or more large screens

Very wide desk

Furniture cannot be moved

Cameras and microphones are fixed in position. Everyone looks life

size.


Traditional Telepresence Systems

Turn key systems that were investigated were found to be too expensive for most applications. Typically $250K and up.

Some are proprietary, and incompatible with all others.

Some require dedicated and vendor-managed networks.

Cisco requires that you connect to a specific network (National Lambda Rail), and will not publicly answer questions about why.

A recent poll shows that Telepresence is rare among education and research organizations. Fewer than 10 in the USA.


The Companies

Teliris and Telanetix are the oldest companies in the business.

Telepresence is the only thing they do. Teliris provides ONLY

managed systems

Teliris claims that telepresence cannot be achieved unless it is

totally managed by a vendor.

Hewlett Packard and Cisco provide the highest-end and highest-

cost systems.

The HP Halo system is provided ONLY as managed system

Polycom, Tandberg and LifeSize are all traditional video

conferencing companies, who have leveraged their existing

products to make telepresence systems.

Tandberg has a relatively new system which is based on traditional

videoconferencing technology. They have several sizes with the T3

being the largest and utilizes their C90 HD codec.


Tandberg T3 Telepresence Room

Tandberg PR- Not my words

– Exclusive Scandinavian design Ultimate quality in video and

audio — high definition up to 1080p with three large 65" full HD

displays

– Highly immersive — sets a new standard in ergonomics

delivering a revolutionary user experience

– Excellent eye contact and ideal screen height

– Appealing, intuitive user interface

– Telepresence T3 includes system, table, three personal touch

collaboration screens and lighting

– An immersive room package adds premium wood walls,

TANDBERG Blue nordic-sky-inspired light package, chairs and a

bench for additional seating

– Collaboration screens deliver UXGA* high-definition presentation

capabilities built right into the table

– Unmatched connectivity and network flexibility



Polycom Room within a Room


Polycom as a Traditional Meeting Room


Cisco Telepresence System 3200


The Telepresence Kit Approach

LifeSize Corp was the first to offer low-cost high-

definition (HD) video conferencing.

Now they have offered an inexpensive kit version

of Telepresence.

$70K, including installation and one year

maintenance.

Installation by ID Solutions

OARnet has installed 2 of these as a pilot program.


The LifeSize Telepresence System

• Four cameras

• Three 60-inch monitors for video

• One 50-inch monitor for slides, etc.

• Touch-screen control system

50


Multipoint Telepresence Conferences

Any video conference with more than two participants requires a

multipoint control unit.

OARnet purchased a Codian 12 port HD MCU,

Costs $54K.

Supports 4 locations of 3 screens each, or any combination of 12.


OARnet LifeSize Implementation


Visualization


LambdaVision

A ultra-high-resolution display

Developed at the Electronic Visualization Laboratory of the University of

Illinois at Chicago

Software streams data over ultra-high-speed networks to local and

remote visualization and storage servers

Based on 1600x1200 pixel LCD panels

EVL

– 11x5 array of panels

– 17600x6000 pixels

TRACC

– 5x4 array of panels

– 8000x4800 pixels

– Usages such as TRANSIMS simulations


LambdaVision at TRACC


TRANSIMS Application

Development of a detailed Chicago Metropolitan Area (CMA) model for

TRANSIMS

– TRANSIMS employs a new paradigm in traffic planning by tracking individuals

during their daily travel

– Extensive routing and micro-simulation using cellular automata provides a high-

fidelity simulation

Detailed road network has been provided by CMAP (Chicago Metropolitan

Agency for Planning)

– This includes detailed trip data by purpose and diurnal distribution, as well as

complete transit information


Road Network, from CMAP, is Very Fine-grained in Chicago Downtown Area -- only Representative Major Roads for Outlying Areas

Road Network Courtesy of CMAP


Proposed Usage of LambdaVision at EVL


High-Definition Stereo Theater

Developed at NCSA

Typical uses (Renderings by Donna Cox of NCSA)

– 3-D tornado model

– Rendering of temperatures and currents in Monterey Bay based on

actual sensor readings from the Bay

– Astronomical visualizations of birth and collisions of galaxies

Requires circular polarized glasses


HD Stereo Display


GeoWall

Standard definition, cost effective implementation of a 3-D display system

Developed at EVL

Typical applications are in the areas of

– Medical

– GeoScience

– Chemical

Requires circular polarized glasses





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