_Current_Cites_ Volume 3, no. 7 July 1992 Library Technology Watch Program University of California, Berkeley Edited by David F.W. Robison ISSN: 1060-2356 Contributors: Teri Rinne, Vivienne Roumani, Lisa Rowlison, Mark Takaro, Roy Tennant --------------------------------------------------------------------- Electronic Publishing Laws, Kenneth L. "net.journalism" Serials Review 18(1-2) (Spring-Summer 1992):82-84. The varieties and quantities of information available on the net, if not already overloading the user, will soon reach such a great quantity as to thoroughly overwhelm the net traveler. This information is of value and so cannot be abandoned; however, there does not yet exist a well organized/indexed method of access to the information - finding what one needs is often hit or miss. Laws suggests that the commercialization of the net will help this by providing services tailored to users' needs. Information brokers (net journalists) will cull information from various net sources and sell "newspaper-like" (electronic) publications to those interested. With this sort of development, Laws predicts a division of the diffuse group of net users into classes- from those who can and will pay to subscribe to elite groups, on down to the "impecunious users" who will receive publicly supported services. This collation of net information, driven by user need and the forces of a free market, will, according to Laws' view, benefit all users, net journalists and authors (who will receive due royalties). - LR Dougherty, Richard M. "A 'Factory' for Scholarly Journals" Chronicle of Higher Education 38(41) (June 17, 1992):B1, B3. In this excellent opinion piece, Dougherty shows the distance between where libraries are now with respect to journal publishing, and how far there is yet to travel to make it to the electronic library. He recognizes that there is one problem we all face now - we are unsure what the next step is in the process of transformation. He makes the very interesting and thoughtful proposal to create the "Universal Journal Factory." This enterprise would consist of academia taking responsibility for publishing its scholars works, perhaps by creating a company-like consortium of several universities. This would provide a transition to the electronic, thus avoiding the "electronic plunge." Dougherty says, "while we have the expertise, and we can find the money if we really desire change, the question remains: Do we have the will to seize the opportunity?" Indeed. - LR Hyper- and Multimedia Barron, Gary. "The Role of Optical Technology in Megamedia Applications" CD-ROM Professional 5(4) (July 1992):36-40. The new IBM Illuminated Books and Manuscripts package serves as an example of a fully integrated megamedia (or "Ultimedia" to quote IBM) application. Along with the Knowledge System Platform (a PS2 M57 SLC with a 160 MB hard disk, 8 MB of RAM, video and audio cards and an internal read/write optical disk together with a Pioneer 8000 laser disc player), the introduction of packages such as this make the case for stand-alone systems that provide users with both flexibility and control. An accompanying sidebar suggests how the Columbus Project and the Illuminated Books products lend themselves to adaptation for specific educational goals. - MT Herther, Nancy K. "The MPC - A Progress Report" CD-ROM Professional 5(4) (July 1992):10-11. An interesting summary of the progress toward multimedia compatibility, the obstacles new users will encounter and the hopes for the future of the medium. Since Microsoft "controls the game and owns virtually all the marbles," development of independent products will be slowed until the MPC (multi-media PC) platform enjoys a broader installation base. - MT "Roundtable: Making Sense of Multimedia" BYTE 17(5) (May 1992):107-110. A brief discussion, moderated by Tom Yager of BYTE's Multimedia Lab, that asks some key questions about the future of multimedia computing. While technical issues are touched upon, the most important aspect of the debate centers on how multimedia will further our ability to communicate effectively. - MT Schultz, David A. "The Seventh International Conference and Exposition on Multimedia and CD-ROM" CD-ROM Professional 5(4) (July 1992):53-57. A critical review of the conference and exposition held in San Francisco in March 1992, by a systems engineer who looks carefully at the proceedings. The conference theme of Charting The Course provides a focus for some thoughtful talks on the implications of multimedia in education and the author chooses his own favorites from the wealth of products demonstrated at the exposition. - MT Yager, Tom "Winning Graphics" BYTE 17(6) (June 1992):131-140. In the third part of a series on Practical Desktop Video, Yager explores the benefits of integrating basic graphics into multimedia presentations. The excitement of video and audio presentation can lead us to overlook the importance of well- constructed graphics as an accompaniment to desktop-produced videos. The capabilities of new software can make even the least artistic of us ready to produce professional presentations. A "company information" box follows the article. - MT Information Transfer Cox, John and Terry Hanson "Setting Up an Electronic Current Awareness Service" Online 16(4) (July 1992):36-43. Cox and Hanson, describing their experience at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine and Portsmouth Polytechnic, respectively, report on the benefits of establishing an electronic current awareness database for their patrons. Using CD-ROM technology, and Pro-Cite and Reference Manager personal bibliographic software, they describe downloading and importing data, and copyright issues. - VR Goldstein, Cindy "Statement of the Association of American Publishers on Commercial and Fee-Based Document Delivery" Posting on PACS-L@UHUPVM1 and ILL-L@UVMVM and MEDLIB-L@UBVM (July 1, 1992). Goldstein reports on the Association of American Publishers' statement regarding commercial and fee- based document delivery, ILL, and copyright. A very informative article on the background of the AAP statement, the present copyright regulations, the CONTU guidelines and the problems for today and the future of ILL and document delivery. - VR Jul, Erik "FTP: Full-Text Publishing?" Computers in Libraries 12(5) (May 1992):41-42. Jul posits that "with all of its limitations and inherent problems...FTP [is a] primary method of electronic publication." - VR Schuyler, Michael "Evil of Fax" Computers in Libraries 12(5) (May 1992):29-30. In his column, "Systems Librarian and Automation Review," Schuyler describes the fax as "the wrong technology at the right time." The PC is a more effective, more efficient, and more economical method to do what the fax does and more. He concludes by saying that fax technology has caused the setting back "of machine retrievable documentation by many years." - VR Sessions, Judith and Hwa Wei Lee, et al. "OhioLINK: Technology and Teamwork Transforming Ohio Libraries" Wilson Library Bulletin 66(10) (June 1992):43-45. OhiloLink is an automation project that will link Ohio's state library, two medical school libraries, and 15 university libraries to form a statewide network of information, and user initiated document delivery. - VR Wilson, David L. "Data Base Will Focus on Materials from Roosevelt's WPA" The Chronicle of Higher Education (15 July 1992):A19. In the "Technology Update" column, Wilson describes a project headed by John O'Connor, associate professor of English at George Mason University. Through scanning and entering text, O'Connor is developing a database of "cultural materials created under President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration." - VR --- "Library of Congress Offers Computer Access to Once-Secret Soviet Documents" The Chronicle of Higher Education (June 24, 1992):A17, A19. Users are now able to electronically access parts of an exhibit of "once-secret Soviet documents" on display at the Library of Congress, some of which have been translated into English. - VR Networks and Networking Electronic Frontier Foundation "The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Open Platform Proposal" available via anonymous ftp from ftp.eff.org in directory pub/EFF/papers as open-platform-proposal. This document describes the EFF's proposal to increase the range of telecommunications services, expand the market for these services, protect first amendment rights and privacy of users, and provide wide and low cost access to such services by developing the ISDN platform. ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a switching technology "which allows low-cost communication in data, voice, video, and graphic media over the exiting copper telephone network." - DR IEEE Communications Magazine 30(6) (June 1992). This issue contains numerous articles on recent technological and administrative developments in the personal communications services (PCS) (personal communications network (PCN) in Europe version of PCS - industry. While most of these articles refer to person-to-person telephony, these developments apply to all wireless data services. As the industry progresses, we will probably see the NREN serving wireless users. The articles include: o Adams, Danny E. and Carl R. Frank "WARC Embraces PCN" While focused on the administrative issues, this article offers a good explanation of the logistics of the planned network. o Hardy, G. Todd "Personal Communications Services" pp.53-54. Hardy provides a quick look at where PCSs fit in the future of telecommunications. o Lipman, Andrew D. "Leaping from the Barricades" pp.34-36. Lipman applauds the FCC for (finally) getting down to business and beginning to establish rules for the allocation of radio bands for PCSs. o Ormerod, John and Alex Butterworth "The Ideal Communications Service" pp.38-42. Development of the personal communications network has moved faster in Europe than elsewhere, giving the EC a preeminent position in the industry. o Taylor, Jack T. "PCS in the U.S. and Europe" pp.48-50. Following up on Ormerod, Taylor explains how Europe's lead in developing PCSs has goaded the US into being more active. o Wimmer, Kurt A. and J. Barclay Jones "Global Development of PCS" pp.22-27 Summarizes the developments in various countries around the world. - DR "House Allows NSF to Relax Acceptable Use Policies" EFFector ONline 3(0) (July 4, 1992). Available via anonymous ftp from ftp.eff.org in directory pub/EFF/newsletters. A house bill passed that includes a provision that will allow commercial use of the Internet provided that the services support research and education. A similar change is before the Senate in its NASA Reauthorization bill. - DR Nickerson, Gord "Effective Use of Usenet" Computers in Libraries 12(5) (May 1992):38-40. This article describes Usenet as a viable alternative for getting libraries into electronic networking at low-cost. - VR Rheingold, Howard "A Slice of Life in My Virtual Community" EFFector ONline 2(11)-3(0) (June 22-July 4, 1992). Available via anonymous ftp from ftp.eff.org in directory pub/EFF/newsletters. Issued in three parts, virtual reality guru Howard Rheingold provides us with an interesting look at what a virtual community is, how it works, what are the benefits and disadvantages of such communication. - DR Rinaldi, Arlene H. "The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette" posted on NETTRAIN@UBVM on 7/8/92 and available via anonymous from ftp.sura.net in directory pub/nic as filename nettiquette.txt. Rinaldi has provided users with a quick guide to being a good net citizen. While some of the suggestions may not be applicable in all situations, this paper is a good candidate for your network library. - DR Rizzo, John "VITAL Points the Way" MacUser 8(8) (August 1992): 201-205. Rizzo describes Apple's new model for multi-platform, networked distributed processing. This system will run on the next generation of Mac servers running A/UX 4.0 (UNIX). - DR Sinha, Alok "Client Server Computing" Communications of the ACM 35(7) (July 1992):77-98. This article opens with a detailed description of the client-server model and can provide a good introduction to some of the benefits of distributed computing. On the down side, the article gets fairly technical and is focused on the LAN environment, though much of the same issues apply in the WAN environment. - DR U.S. Congress. Senate. "Information Infrastructure and Technology Act of 1992." 102nd Cong., 2nd sess., draft dated June 30, 1992. Available via anonymous ftp from nic.merit.edu in directory /nren/iita.1992 as file gorebill.1992.txt or by sending e-mail to nis-info@nic.merit.edu, no subject, text: get gorebill.1992.txt. A copy of this draft legislation along with Gore's press release was published by Steve Cisler on PACS-L@UHUPVM1 in four parts on July 8th. This legislation takes the NREN another step further, asking for funding(!) for specific projects, such as access for K-12 and health care providers. Optical Disc Technology Clark, Katie "To Cancel or Not to Cancel (Print Indexes)" CD-ROM Professional 5(4) (July 1992):126-128. "In these times of tightening budgets" writes Clark, "libraries are taking a closer look at duplicate subscriptions, including titles duplicated in paper and compact disc." Indeed, the debate is no longer whether or not to buy CD-ROMs, but whether or not to cancel the duplicate print index. Clark outlines the issues librarians should consider before making this decision: license agreements, coverage, database content, retrieval software, frequency of updates, user preferences, cost considerations, and space concerns. - TR Koren, Judy "Multiuser Access to CD-ROM Drives Without a CD-ROM LAN" CD-ROM Professional 5(4) (July 1992):59-66. Koren presents alternative ways of providing multiuser access to CD-ROMs mounted on a single workstation without the benefit of a local area network. Among the configurations described are CD drives connected directly to a campus network, a PC CD-ROM server connected to a VAX, and CD drives on a VAX/VMS or SUN/UNIX. Advantages and disadvantages of each configuration are discussed. - TR ------------------------------------------------------------------- Current Cites 3(7) (July 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 bulletin board/conference systems, individual scholars, and libraries. Libraries are authorized to add the journal to their collections at no cost. This message must appear on copied material. All commercial use requires permission from the editor, who may be reached in the following ways: drobison@library.berkeley.edu // drobison@ucblibra // (510)642-7600 -------------------------------------------------------------------