Simulating Off-World Data Communication Delays using ScienceOrganizer:

The ScienceOrganizer web application is being used during the 2004 MDRS field tests to store many different types of information collected during EVAs, including images and voice notes, as well as knowledge about EVA activities, locations, and collected samples. This information is first stored in a ScienceOrganizer semantic database in the Hab, and then relayed automatically to a ScienceOrganizer database at NASA Ames Research Center. In real off-world missions, transmission to earth will include significant delays due to large distances. For example, data communicated from the Mars Exploration Rovers can take up to half an hour to reach earth, depending on data size and downlink bandwidth.

In order to simulate such communication delays, we have intentionally inserted communication delays into the transmission and relay of data collected during EVAs. The RST typically must wait 10 minutes to see EVA data appear in the ScienceOrganizer database at NASA. This will enable the Mobile Agents researchers to study how such delayed communication impacts the planning and execution of science in the field.

Meeting Replay Tool:

The first day's meeting replay was generated and distributed to the RST members - we've received positive feedback on its utility.

Unfortunately, the GroupSync functionality to allow synchronised replay amongst the RST during collaborative meetings was giving us problems and unavailable for the first SOWG - but we hope this will be functional for the next telecon!

As is often the case with web applications, these problems mostly stem from the myriad of possible browser/Java/JavaScript combinations - what works in one doesn't work in another!

Compendium:

Compendium has not been used for an RST SOWG meeting due to the cancelled EVA. The Crew have however been using it for other discussions - see Maarten Sierhuis's report: /MDRS/fs03/0428/com.asp Meantime, local testing has continued between Open U. and U. Southampton (successfully connecting the CoAKTinG experimental version to the new Meeting Replay tool so that the replay can be navigated from Compendium nodes), and between Open U. and Al Selvin (New York), testing the peer-to-peer Compendium synchronous sharing of screens, via the Jabber instant messaging protocol - sporadic success to date, with it working for some DBs and not others. Under investigation by Michelle.

BuddySpace:

It was agreed in the RST meeting yesterday that it would be good to have an instant messaging channel for the RST. Tomorrow we plan to release BuddySpace with an RST 'presence map' (previewed in the April 27 RSC Report). Stand by...