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Current Cities Volume 03 Number 05
_Current_Cites_
Volume 3, no. 5
May 1992
Library Technology Watch Program
University of California, Berkeley
Edited by David F.W. Robison
ISSN: 1060-2356
Contributors:
Clifford Lynch, Teri Rinne, Vivienne Roumani,
Lisa Rowlison, Mark Takaro, Roy Tennant
Electronic Publishing
Bailey, Charles W., Jr., comp. "Electronic Serials and Related Topics:
A Brief Bibliography" Posted on VPIEJ-L@VTVM1.BITNET (April 23, 1992).
This excellent bibliography covers a wide range of topics related to
electronic serials, both from the print and electronic presses. - DR
Hyper- and Multimedia
Ford, Patrick "Microsoft's Windows with Multimedia Extensions: Standards,
Simplicity and Success in Multimedia" CD-ROM Professional 5(3) (May
1992):53-55. Finally the PC world rises to the Apple challenge for
multimedia! A discussion of the Multimedia PC specification (MPC), a
Windows-based standard with Multimedia Extensions software. Details of
equipment requirements, services and the standards that afford
compatibility between devices are briefly noted. The extensible package,
insuring device independence and future compatibility through the Media
Control Interface (MCI), should open the gates for new product development
in the world of Multimedia for the PC. - MT
Beer, Jeffrey "Multimeditation--One Users Thoughts on MPC and the Future
of Multimedia" CD-ROM Professional 5(3) (May 1992):8-9. An ode to the
future joys of multimedia computing. Education and entertainment meet
in some of the commercial products currently available for multimedia
computing such as Hyperglot's Learn to Speak Spanish, Sierra's Mixed Up
Mother Goose and Voyagers' Multimedia Beethoven. These early multimedia
packages indicate some of the range of possibilities that the future may
bring to multimedia computing on the PC. - MT
Mann, Mary "Software Unites Multimedia's Pieces" PC Week 9(16) (April
20, 1992):95-103. Multimedia authoring tools are among the first to
cross the lines between the PC and Apple environments. This buyer's
guide discussion (accompanied by a comparison chart on authoring tools)
indicates the range of multimedia applications for presentations,
computer-based training (CBT) and other applications. - MT
Sullivan, Kristina B. "Development Center Lets Users Buy Time on
Multimedia Tools" PC Week 9(16) (April 20, 1992):32. Announcing the
industry-sponsored Graphix Zone in Irvine, California which provides a
multimedia development site with a variety of tools for users on a per-
hour fee basis. Other centers are to follow in San Francisco, New York,
Dallas, Denver, Chicago, and Atlanta. - MT
Sullivan, Kristina B. "'Portable Multimedia' Picks Up Steam" PC Week
9(16) (April 20, 1992):25. A number of portable peripherals and
complete systems promise to aid multimedia presenters in their work away
from the home office. - MT
Information Transfer
Finnigan, Georgia "Document Delivery Gets Personal." Online 16(3)
(May 1992):106-108. Finnigan briefly describes online document delivery
systems that are available to and accessible by the individual user. She
refers to these systems as "personal document delivery systems." As
convenient as these might be, Finnigan concludes with the caveat that
there are still many unresolved issues with personal document delivery
systems. - VR
Valauskas, Edward J. "Information at Your Fingertips: Large Databases and
the Macintosh" Database 15(2) (April 1992):99-101. The Library of the
European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), in Geneva, Switzerland
is used as an example for demonstrating the viability of "megadatabases"
which offer access not merely to bibliographic citations of books,
papers, and reports, but also text, illustration, tables, and "thousands
of a peculiar relic of the literature of high-energy physics called the
preprint." - VR
Wolff, Thomas E. "Personal Bibliographic Databases: An Industrial
Scientist's Perspective" Database 15(2) (April 1992):34-40. Wolff
evaluates four bibliographic software packages, Library Master, Notebook
II, Papyrus, and Pro-Cite, from the perspective of an industrial
scientist. Wolff claims that scientists use these personal bibliographic
databases differently in that they are more interested in information
management rather than "document output management." - VR
Networks and Networking
Aiken, Robert, Hans-Werner Braun and Peter Ford "NSF Implementation Plan
for Interagency Interim NREN" May 1, 1992. Available via anonymous ftp
from expres.cise.nsf.gov in directory recompete, filename impl.ps, impl.
nofig.ps, and impl.txt (PostScript, PostScript without figures and ASCII,
respectively). This paper (29 pages long) describes plans for the next
steps on the way to full implementation of the NREN. Chapters include
Current Architecture, Advancing the Infrastructure, Interagency Interim
NREN Development Milestones, and the current NSF Acceptable Use Policy.
- DR
Berners-Lee, Tim (et al.) "World-Wide Web: The Information Universe"
CERN, 1992. Available via anonymous ftp from nxoc01.cern.ch in directory
pub/www/doc, filename Article_9202.ps and at csuvax1.csu.murdoch.edu.au
in directory pub/library/soft, filename wwwinfo.doc.ps. These are Post-
Script documents. This paper provides an overview of the WWW, a hyper-
text document system designed to provide access to documents around the
world, thus creating an organized world-wide web of data and relevant
connections between databases. The article "describes the aims, data
model, and protocols needed to implement the 'web' and compares them
with various contemporary systems. - DR
Cate, Vincent "Alex - a Global Filesystem" School of Computer Science,
Carnegie Mellon University, 1992. Available via anonymous ftp from
cs.cmu.edu in directory sp/alex/doc, filename intro.ps, intro.txt and
at csuvax1.csu.murdoch.edu.au in directory pub/library/soft, filename
alexintro.doc, alexintro.doc.ps. This paper describes the main issues
around implementing a ftp client that makes distributed files, available
for anonymous ftp, appear as though they wee on the user's local machine.
Named after the library at Alexandria, Alex employs a metadata caching
algorithm to store information on the client and retrieving and
updating documents on an as-needed basis only. - DR
Gelartner, David. Mirror worlds, or, The day software puts the universe
in a shoebox-- : how it will happen and what it will mean. New York :
Oxford University Press, 1991. This is a semi-popular book that
describes large-scale distributed information systems and the operating
systems that will manage them. It includes a discussion of Gelartner's
LINDA system, which essentially permits an application to seek out and
utilize idle cycles on workstations connected to a network to perform
distributed computation. The writing style is a bit hard to take at
times, but this provides an accessible picture of one possible future
for distributed computing and very large scale information systems built
on object-oriented techniques. - CL
Kaminer, Noam "USMARC Fields and Data Elements" posted on PACS-L in three
parts (April 27-28, 1992). Kaminer's paper demonstrates how one might
use the standard MARC format to describe an online catalog, thereby
creating a metacatalog. Such a catalog of OPACs would be a boon to the
networked searcher. He also shows where USMARC alone is deficient. - DR
Nickerson, Gord "Networked Resources" Computers in Libraries 12(4)
(April 1992):31-34. In this column Nickerson explains what the Usenet
system is, how it got its start, and how to get involved. - DR
"R & E N Transcripts" Computers in Libraries 12(4) (April 1992). These
three articles are edited transcripts from the Research & Education
Networking Conference, March 7-8, 1991.
McClure, Charles "A User Perspective on Developing Internet
Services" pp.53-55. McClure urges us to concern ourselves
with our users, in terms of interface design, user instruction
and the way they actually use our services and to expand
traditional library services to include electronic resources.
Peters, Paul Evan "Networked Information Resources and Services:
Next Steps" pp.46-53. Peters explains why the networks are so
exciting, how they developed, and poses some questions about the
future of networking with a special focus on libraries.
Tennant, Roy "Network Basics" pp.55-57. Our own Roy Tennant
goes through the basics of how networking works, what you
can do (E-mail, lists, file transfer, and remote login). - DR
Ramirez, Anthony "I.B.M. and 9 Cellular Powers Team Up for Data
Transfers" New York Times (Western edition) 141(48,944):C1, 7. This
high-powered consortium announces the start of wireless data transfer
on large scale. This technology allows for the broadcast of e-mail
and other data files over the cellular phone system. Although the
service is fairly expensive now, it is expected to decrease in price
in the near future. - DR
Stanton, Deirdre E., comp. "Using Networked Information Resources: a
Bibliography" Murdoch University Library, 1992. Available via
anonymous ftp from infolib.murdoch.edu.au in directory pub/bib, filename
stanton.bib and in WordPerfect format in filename stanton.bib.wp. This
updated and expanded version of two earlier compilations, Stanton offers
a useful extensive guide to information on networked information. The
list on its own is great (and over 100 pages!), but the usefullness is
enhanced by the good organization of the citations (an index is included).
Stanton has also included retrieval instructions for electronic documents.
- DR
Optical Disc Technologies
Ensor, Pat. CD-ROM Research Collections: An Evaluative Guide to
Bibliographic and Full-Text CD-ROM Databases. Westport, Connecticut:
Meckler, 1991. Ensor provides evaluative descriptions of 114 research-
oriented CD-ROM databases chosen for their usefulness for bibliographic
research. The evaluation of each database considers geographic coverage,
time period covered, variety of material formats covered, and breadth of
subject area included. - TR
Jackson, Kathy "Disc Technology and Long-Range Planning" CD-ROM
Professional 5(3) (May 1992):123-125. Jackson urges librarians to be
more futuristic in planning equipment purchases. Third-generation CD-ROM
drives now provide access speeds of 300 milliseconds versus the current
industry standard of 500 milliseconds; second-generation drives may
appear to be bargains, but they will probably be too slow for networking
applications or for use with multimedia CD-ROM discs. Jackson also
covers timely issues such as remote access demands, the projected rise of
multi- function optical drives at the expense of WORM drives, and cutting-
edge networking solutions such as SilverPlatter's new tower containing
four 1 gigabyte magnetic disk drives. - TR
Jacso, Peter. CD-ROM Software, Dataware and Hardware: Evaluation,
Selection, and Installation. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited,
Inc., 1992. Jacso systematically reviews the most characteristic
features of CD-ROM databases and the facilities required to use them.
The purpose of the book is to help the librarian in the evaluation,
comparison, selection, installation, and operation of CD-ROM products.
- TR
Theil, Thomas J. "Integrating CD-ROM and WORM Optical Disk Systems on
the Navy's Paperless Ship" CD-ROM Professional 5(3) (May 1992):17-26.
This article details the U.S. Navy's "Paperless Ship Project." Depending
upon the type of ship, a naval vessel carries between 10 to 40 tons of
paper. In an attempt to reduce this heavy and cumbersome reliance on
paper, this project tested systems which offer integrated optical disk
document management capabilities. Citing enormous increases in work
effectiveness and efficiency (e.g. four hours of microfiche searching
took 1.5 minutes on one tested system), the study concluded that systems
which integrate both writable optical disc and CD-ROM technologies are
the trend for the future. - TR
White, Wendy "CD-ROM in Developing Countries" CD-ROM Professional 5(3)
(May 1992):32-35. White writes of the surprising popularity of CD-ROM
technology in Africa. While information specialists in America were
still evaluating CD-ROM technology, librarians in Africa were using it.
White explains how the technology is perfectly suited to harsh, remote
environments. - TR
General
Kupersmith, John "Technostress and the Reference Librarian" RSR:
Reference Services Review 20(2) (Summer 1992):7-14+. An interesting
and very readable overview of the problem of "technostress" and
some possible solutions. Kupersmith introduces four related components
that create technostress: performance anxiety, information overload,
role conflicts, and organizational factors and discusses both
individual and organizational strategies for coping with technostress.
The notes accompanying the article include citations to many additional
articles for those wanting more information. Definitely recommended
for those who are (techno)stressed out, whether you happen to be
a reference librarian or not. - RT
Lewis, Peter H. "Of Turning the Pages Without Any Pages" New York Times
141 (May 19, 1992):B7 (Western edition). The Voyager company announces
the publication of their first nine Expanded Books, designed for reading
(and listening to) on the Macintosh Powerbook (pun intended?). The
books are displayed using HyperCard and take advantage of the sound and
linking capabilities of the medium. Current titles include "The
Annotated Alice" and "Brave New World" and one of the titles planned for
publication is "Neuromancer." This development may allow at least some
of us to try and cuddle up with an electronic (power)book and read in
bed! - DR
Wiederhold, Gio "Mediators in the Architecture of Future Information
Systems" IEEE Computer 25(3) (March 1992):38-49. This paper, which
reports on ongoing work that Wiederhold and his colleagues have been
carrying out at Stanford, deals with the large-scale architecture of
future information systems. It envisions a world where there are many
autonomous, large, complex information systems and looks at concepts
such as "metaprogramming" which can be used to treat these systems as
building blocks in constructing larger, cross-system applications. The
paper touches on a number of very complex and important issues, such as
knowledge representation and transfer across systems. An interesting
question for the reader to consider: where do future library information
retrieval systems fit into the picture that Wiederhold discusses? - CL
Forthcoming
Hallman, Judy "Campus-Wide Information Systems" Advances in Library
Automation and Networking, v.5, Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, 1992. Due
out in October or November 1992. CWISs are a fast growing group of
campus computer services that provide access to any number of data-
bases through a single server. Although they tend to be developed by
computing serces on campuses, they provide an excellent opportunity
for cooperation between computing and library staffs. This paper
explores the basic questions about CWISs and provides examples of
some implementations. Hallman herself is a CWIS manager at the
University of North Carolina. - DR
Back Issues!!!
Back issues of Current Cites are now available in three formats:
WAIS (at wais.cic.net, name=current.cites), ftp (at ftp.cni.org in
directory current.cites), and Gopher (Name=Current Cites; Type=1;
Port=70; Path=/ccites; Host=una.hh.lib.umich.edu). These in addition
to local implementations, MELVYL (tm), and the occasional CWIS.
Thanks to our supporters! - DR
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Current Cites 3(5)(May 1992) ISSN: 1060-2356
Copyright (C) 1992 by the Library, University of
California, Berkeley. All rights reserved.
All product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective holders. Mention of a product in this publication
does not necessarily imply endorsement of the product.
Copying is permitted for noncommercial use by computerized
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drobison@library.berkeley.edu // drobison@ucblibra // (510)642-7600
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