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Hardware
There are three general hardware configurations: desktop, office or room node. In addition to PC and Software, the 3 main node types will require the following to be purchased:
1) Desktop Node - existing desktop pc with the addition of a webcam and either microphone headset or echo cancelling speaker-microphone combination.
2) Office Node - pc with video capture card, 1 or 2 pan/tilt/zoom video cameras, echo cancelling speak-microphone combination.
3) Room Node - pc / processor with video capture card (usually quad channel), desktop display, keyboard, mouse (for control of the node) plus usually 3-4 pan/tilt/zoom video cameras, usually 3 projectors, display wall for projection, a suitable number of microphones, speakers, echo cancellation module and often a laptop for presentations. Costs will depend on organisational requirements and room suitability.
Figure 1: An example of the Access Grid being spread over 4 screens - typically the left screen is the node operators desktop showing the Access Grid tools and Jabber (a web based chat interface), the other 3 screens are normally projected onto large screens showing meeting participants and presentations.
Figure 2: An example of an Access Grid Meeting in a studio node showing multiple participant windows and a broadcasted presentation.
Figure 3: An example of an Office Access Grid with a triple monitor display and echo cancelling microphones.
Figure 4: An example of a desktop node (known as a PIG) with a single webcam and a headset with microphone.
Put a link in to the VTAS Hardware evaluation page here.
There is also a guide to relevant hardware on www.accessgrid.org/hardware. You can buy Access Grid installations from suppliers such as those listed on the AGSC links page.