VISA: User experience enhancement

Science cluster

PANOSC - Photon and Neutron Science

Summary

The project VISA: User experience enhancement aims to improve the way scientific research is conducted by addressing the challenges posed by the growing volume of experimental data and the increasing complexity of data processing. VISA, the Virtual Infrastructure for Scientific Analysis, is an innovative solution that enables remote access to data, hardware resources, and preinstalled software tailored for specific data treatments. The project aims to enhance user experience by optimising streaming solutions and improving fluidity, session management, security, and internationalisation of VISA, while engaging with the scientific community in the refinement process. In its upgraded version, VISA  remains adaptive and user-centric, ultimately facilitating groundbreaking scientific discoveries.

Research domains:
Photon/neutron sources-based experimental research
Partner(s):
Institut Laue-Langevin

Challenge

Open Science project, Open Science Service, Main RI concerned

The main challenge addressed by the project is the growing volume of experimental data and increasing complexity of data processing.

Solution

The project plans to maintain and optimise VISA, enhancing user experience. Initial research will pinpoint crucial technologies, with a focus on evaluating WebX's performance and user feedback, and comparing it with other notable tools like OpenBroadcastSolution, and Streamlabs OBS. The selection of the technology will be critical, taking into account licensing, potential need for redevelopment, and alignment with the project goals. Following the research and development phase, the industrialisation process will follow. This phase includes the integration of the chosen solution into VISA, addressing session management, security enhancements, performance improvements, and tackling the intricacies of internationalisation, particularly the nuanced challenges of keyboard management. It is expected that the solution not only integrates seamlessly but also resonates with the diverse needs of our global user community.

Scientific Impact

The adoption of the VISA solution has revolutionised the way the PaN scientific community conducts research by facilitating remote experiments through a web browser. This innovation not only saves travel time but also accelerates the setup process for experiments, as the environments are pre-configured and ready for use. Moreover, it fosters collaboration, enabling multiple researchers to work simultaneously on virtual machines via their browser.

VISA will foster streamline research activities, enhance productivity, and potentially lead to faster scientific breakthroughs. Improved collaboration and accessibility may encourage a broader spectrum of interdisciplinary projects, driving innovation and knowledge expansion in various scientific domains.


Keywords
data analysis, virtual infrastructure, scientific analysis, photon and neutron facilities, photon and neutron science
Project start date:
Project duration:
20 months

Principal investigator

Ludovic Leroux - PI - VISA
Ludovic Leroux
Institut Laue-Langevin
BIO

IT development team manager at Institut Laue Langevin 

QUOTE
"The VISA project is not just a technical improvement; it represents a step towards a more inclusive and collaborative research future. By promoting accessibility and interconnectivity, we actively contribute to Open Science, enabling every researcher, regardless of location, to fully participate in scientific innovation."