This paper outlines the motivation, requirements, and architecture of a collaborative framework for distributed virtual microscopy.
Functionality refers to what and how an instrument does something.
Scalability refers to the number of instruments, vendor-specific desktop workstations, analysis programs, and collaborators that can be accessed. Interactivity refers to how well the system can be steered either for static or dynamic experiments. Safety and security refers to safe operation of an instrument coupled with user authentication, privacy, and integrity of data communication. These services may reside on any host in the distributed system. Two unique applications have been introduced into the CS for analyzing scientific images either for instrument control or recovery of a model for objects of interest.