In Attendance 

Tom Jackson (TJ)
Alastair Knowles (AK)
Nathan Lepora (NL)
Jennifer Simonotto (JS)

Observing 

Dimitrina Spencer (DS) 

Apologies

Simon Schultz (SS)
Leslie Smith (LSS)
Liz Williams (LW) 

Review of Actions 

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a true and accurate record. AK introduced DS, who is conducting a case study on communication within CARMEN as part of her research at the Oxford e‑Research Centre. DS will be observing the telcons for the foreseeable future. 

Work Package Progress Reports 

WP0 by TJ: WP0 are aiming to delivery the first release of the CARMEN system by the end of 2008. The Symba software for managing metadata has been sidelined in favour of a simpler, more usable system developed by Mark Jessop at York. Symba may be reintroduced at a later stage if its usability problems can be resolved. Several discussions have taken place on usability and the design of the CARMEN portal. A number of solutions have been generated in response to user feedback. An improved interface will be released for comment soon. A second testing session is also planned at the Workshop on Web Services. JS working with Bojian Liang on the CARMEN internal data format recommendation. Version 1.0 has been posted on the website and is undergoing revision. Bojian is working to implement the data format translators (services). It is anticipated these will be delivered in September 2008. Frank Gibson has also released V1.0 of the minimum reporting requirements for analysis services. This is currently under review within WP0 and will be released to the consortium soon. To ensure delivery of the system this year, a new developer has been appointed. Mike Weeks (York) will join the project on 1st August. 

WP1 by LSS: Not given as LSS was not able to join the call. 

WP2 by SS: Not given as SS was not able to join the call. 

WP3 by NL: NL missed the last meeting but a report was subsequently circulated which is now on the web. Work is ongoing to simplify the interaction between Matlab and GENESIS in the conductance model code. The search algorithm has also been characterised and a publication is being prepared formalising the approach. Testing is currently taking place on simulated data but will move onto real data soon. Current focus is on robustifying the model code so that it can be straightforwardly implemented as services. TJ asked NL how relevant the methods being developed are to other CARMEN WPs. It was suggested NL should initiate discussions with other WPs on how the modelling/parameterisation techniques might be applied in other areas.

WP4 by TJ: Bojian Liang currently focusing on implementing the CARMEN data format services. Work on adding to the SDE has been put on the backburner until this is finished. The next priority for SDE will be to enable it to it interact seamlessly with CARMEN web services. 

WP5 by LW: Not given as LW was not able to join the call. 

WP6 by JS: Not a significant amount to report since the previous meeting. Evelyne Sernagor, Chris Adams and JS attended and presented posters at the 2008 MEA Meeting in Reutlingen. CARMEN generated significant excitement, including commercial interest from experimental hardware manufacturers. JS to follow up with contacts made at the meeting and report back to AK. Presentation given by LSS was very well received. No update from Anne Smith and Christoph Echtermeyer available at this meeting. To follow at the next meeting. 

Any Other Business 

NL expressed concern about publication of meeting minutes on the public website without internal review. AK to ensure from here forward that minutes are reviewed prior to release. 

Next Telcon 

2pm, 1st September 2008.