Getting Started With Access Grid - Information Technology Services

Access Grid - Getting Started

Here are some general tips and questions to ask yourself as a meeting organiser using Access Grid for the first time.

Do I know how to book the Access Grid facility at my local site (node)?
Do I know of other Access Grid nodes (NZ/worldwide) and if they will be available for the event?
Who are the organisers at the other participating sites?
Who are the technical support people at those sites?
What sort of data will we be sharing over the Access Grid?
Do I have any preferences about how I want my local room to be arranged?

Here are some general tips and questions to ask yourself as a presenter using Access Grid for the first time.

Which Access Grid nodes are taking part in the event?
Who is the meeting organiser/facilitator?
Do I know who my audience will be at the various sites and is my presentation appropriate?
Do I want to do anything that might prove difficult in an Access Grid context (e.g. use a whiteboard, show a demonstration, move around a lot)?
Are the slides well-designed, with clear titles, and a minimum of distracting special effects?
How will my presentation be shown to the other nodes? What are the restrictions using this?
Do I need to talk anything over with my technical contact?

Setup time: each Access Grid node requires 30 minutes to setup before a meeting.
Eye-contact: looking at the camera is ideal but not really practical - the technician will ensure that the appropriate video feeds from remote nodes are placed as closely as possible to the front camera(s).
Microphones: the (desk/ceiling) microphones are very sensitive and private conversations are easily picked up and heard by remote participants. An on-screen-display indicates when the room microphones are muted or live.
There are various collaboration/presentation tools available - please discuss your requirements with a technician.

That all nodes/operators are using the same version of the Access Grid software and collaboration tools and that these have been tested wherever possible.
That contact details of technical support staff at the other sites are available.
That other node operators are aware of contingency arrangements, e.g. multicast bridges.
That other sites can hear our site, e.g. without echo.
That all participants will be visible on camera.

All bookings for AV equipment can be made using the online forms available through Resolve-IT