Shared workspace allowing interaction between researchers inside a secure area with others outside.
Working together
CSIRO has developed a collaborative environment allowing people in multiple locations to work together in real-time on documents, data and high resolution images.
- 16 May 2011 | Updated 14 October 2011
Advanced telecollaboration
Combining natural, person-to-person communication with a large shared workspace so people in different locations can work together as if they were in the same room.
The platform supports life size video conferencing up to full high-definition (HD) and a shared workspace of eight million pixels. It swaps seamlessly between either people or data having prominence.
CSIRO’s platform has one simple on-screen controller, is secure and requires
bandwidth of 12 – 60 Mbps.
The platform is a mixture of off-the-shelf components and CSIRO’s shared workspace application.
An important part of making people in different locations feel as if they’re in the same room is the design and layout of both the physical space and the digital workspaces.
CSIRO's research into human-computer interaction means the system has been carefully designed to suit end users' needs.
Managing exotic diseases
CSIRO's collaboration platform was first developed for the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) to facilitate the management of exotic diseases.
When outbreaks of certain animal-borne diseases, such as Hendra virus, occur in Australia, a specialist team is pulled together to manage the situation.
This committee on emergency animal diseases (CCEAD) might include:
- Commonwealth, State and Territory Chief Veterinary Officers
- industry representatives (primary producers, recreational industries, food processing, etc)
- disease experts at AAHL.
These people need to collaborate in an instant from anywhere in Australia when the call comes.
CSIRO experts in information and communications technologies have worked closely with colleagues in AAHL to develop collaboration technology that is flexible, easy to use and secure.
As well as supporting the CCEAD, the platform facilitates collaboration exists between AAHL staff. Those working in the secure zone (where disease-causing organisms can be handled safely) can now effectively work side-by-side with colleagues outside this biocontainment facility, and potentially across the globe.
The highly secure biocontainment barrier at AAHL was a communication barrier as well because of its time-consuming entry and exit procedures. This has limited scientists' ability to call in advice or assistance at short notice.
The collaboration platform has been well-received by AAHL researchers.
It is currently being deployed to other organisations involved in forming a CCEAD.
Partnership opportunity
CSIRO seeks parties interested in development of a collaboration platform tailored to their needs.
Read more about CSIRO technology underpinning trusted, secure, multiparty collaborative environments.
