The Access Grid is the ensemble of resources that can be used to support human interaction across the grid. It consists of multimedia display, presentation and interactive environments, interfaces to grid middleware, and interfaces to visualization environments. The Access Grid will support large-scale distributed meetings, collaborative work sessions, seminars, lectures, tutorials and training. The Access Grid design point is group-to-group communication (thus differentiating it from desktop to desktop based tools that focus on individual communication). The Access Grid environment must enable both formal and informal group interactions. Large-format displays integrated with intelligent or active meeting rooms are a central feature of the Access Grid nodes. Access Grid nodes are ​“designed spaces” that explicitly contain the high-end audio and visual technology needed to provide a high-quality compelling user experience.