Using a grid for collaborative project management would seem to be a wonderful idea. So what tools are available. I’ve spent some of today messing around with www.accessgrid.org. There are many reasons. In the designers’ own words
“The Access Grid is an ensemble of resources including multimedia large-format displays, presentation and interactive environments, and interfaces to Grid middleware and to visualization environments.
These resources are used to support group-to-group interactions across the Grid. For example, the Access Grid (AG) is used for large-scale distributed meetings, collaborative work sessions, seminars, lectures, tutorials, and training. The Access Grid thus differs from desktop-to-desktop tools that focus on individual communication.”
To the uninitiated the software provides a way to setup secure group-based meetings incorporating advanced multimedia exchange (sound & vision) while integrating with other grid-based frameworks such as globus and the J2EE compliant ogce. Meetings between remote nodes take place using conferencing facilities created throughout the grid which create “virtual venues”. SIP compatibility is available through Virtual Room Videoconferencing System.
Wish me luck.