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Volume 2, no. 8
August 1991
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
Expert Systems
Barletta, Ralph "An Introduction to Case-Based Reasoning" AI Expert
6(8) (August 1991):42-49. Learning from experience and
extrapolating this knowledge to guide us in new situations is a
common use of our intelligence. In the continued effort to create
machine intelligence, AI people have worked out a new technology
called case-based reasoning (CBR). Using CBR, expert systems are
able to learn from each individual case in order to solve new
problems which may be similar but not identical to those previously
met. This article gives a good introduction to CBR & compares it
with the more common expert system problem solving schemes.
Desmarais, Norman "Virtual, Interactive Literature" CD-ROM
Librarian 6(6) (June 1991):18-20. Virtual reality (VR), that child of
AI which is almost nonsensically described as, "artificial reality" is
coming of age and may find its way into our lives. VR may be
conceptualized as being similar to television, except VR is
interactive, allowing the user to influence the environment (recall
Woody Allen in The Purple Rose of Cairo?) This article describes the
ways VR may find a niche in our entertainment by allowing us to
visit museums, solve murder mysteries, travel to distant lands, etc.
all from the comfort of our homes. Considering these possibilities
it is interesting to imagine academic uses - perhaps in teaching
history, social anthropology or even biochemistry.
Keyguide to Information Sources in Artificial Intelligence/Expert
Systems / Peter J. Hancox, et al. Lawrence, Kansas : Ergosyst
Associates, Inc., 1990. This book is a cornucopia of AI research
information. It offers an extensive annotated bibliography of key
literature; listings of AI societies, publishers, and libraries; as well
as an overview of the field's history, organization and research
tools.
Information Transfer
Jackson, Mary E. The Online environment in the 1990s : A challenge
for resource sharing. IOLS '90: Integrated Online Library Systems,
Proceedings 1990, New York, May 2-3, 1989. Medford, NJ, Learned
Information, 1990, p. 91-101. Jackson explains that whereas in the
80s we were finding better, faster methods of sending requests for
materials (mostly all electronically transmitted now), in the 90s we
must find faster, better methods to transmit the actual documents.
She describes Ariel, the RLG Document Transmission Workstation as
one example.
Hyper- and Multimedia
"DVI Announcements at the Sixth Annual Microsoft Conference" CD-
ROM Librarian 6(6) (June 1991):15-18. A quick look at new products
ranging from a DVI (Digital Video Interactive) product that assists
in instruction of British Sign Language to portable multimedia
systems and more. DVI seems to be joining the future of multimedia
with specific products such as those described here.
Phillips, Richard L. "MediaView: A General Multimedia Digital
Publication System" Communications of the ACM 34(7) (July
1991):75-83. Designed in this first instance for the NeXT
environment, MediaView pushes the boundaries of the possible a
little further in the world of multimedia. In addition to taking full
advantage of the NeXT capabilities with text, graphics, audio and
motion video displays, MediaView permits communication between
and editing of the various components of presentations from the
NeXT desktop. This article introduces the reader to the NeXT
environment in the context of a multimedia system, providing a
fascinating glimpse of the future of computing and multimedia.
Urr, Clifford. "Will the Real Hypertext Please Stand Up?" Computers
in Libraries 11(5) (May 1991):46-49. A look at the philosophy and
principles of hypertext that is meant to be helpful for the user
interested in purchasing equipment or in deciding whether to explore
hypertext for their own applications. An excellent article for
library staff and users, describing issues surrounding indexing,
classification structures and hypertext organization in a non-
technical framework.
Networks and Networking
Grycz, Czeslaw Jan "Economic Models for Disseminating Scholarly
Information" DLA Bulletin 11(1) (Summer 1991):1, 3-4, 24. Grycz
describes the numerous ways electronic resources can be put to use
in the academic environment as well as the economic aspects of
such activity.
Flanders, Bruce "NREN: The Big Issues aren't Technical" American
Libraries 22(6) (June 1991):572-574. If you're already familiar
with the NREN, skip to the last section of this article, where
Flanders brings up the "big issues:" who will own the NREN? who will
have access? how will privacy be protected? Flanders does not
provide answers, but a focus for our questions.
Flanders, Bruce "The WELL: Discourse in the Electronic Village"
Computers in Libraries 11(5) (May 1991):26-28. If you've been
hearing about the WELL, but you're not sure what it is, how to join or
if to join (i.e.,become a "Wellian"), here's a good place to start. In a
way, the WELL is an electronic conference and resource center. The
WELL is home to the electronic Apple Library Users Group (ALUG),
the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and interest groups of
every kind.
See below: Kriz, Harry M., et al. "An Environmental Approach to CD-
ROM Networking Using Off-the-Shelf Components"
Sproull, Lee. Connections : New Ways of Working in the Networked
Organization / Lee Sproull, Sara Kiesler. Cambridge, Mass. : The MIT
Press, 1991. This wide-ranging and insightful book is a must for
anyone looking at the social and psychological implications of
networking. With such index entries as: Access, Electronic groups,
Performance control, Sexpert, and Social control, this is a must
read.
Optical Disc Technology
Clark, Katie "Diskware" CD-ROM Professional 4(4) (July 1991):115-
116. Clark outlines some of the important factors to consider in
evaluating CD-ROMs versus online systems, including database
content, software retrieval features, response time and indexing.
Crane, Pamela "Multifunction Optical Offers Versatility" CD-ROM
Professional 4(4) (July 1991):72-75. This article describes yet
another new optical technology looming on the horizon--
multifunction optical technology, a hybrid combination of rewritable
and write-once capabilities. The author heralds this new technology
as the "mass storage problem solver for the knowledge management
needs of the coming years."
Kriz, Harry M., et al. "An Environmental Approach to CD-ROM
Networking Using Off-the-Shelf Components" CD-ROM Professional
4(4) (July 1991):24-26. This article describes Virginia Tech's new
CD-ROM LAN system which provides access to both on-campus users
and branch libraries over 200 miles away--all for under $19,000.
"Something to Remember Us By: The American Memory Program"
College & Research Libraries News 52(6) (June 1991):375-376. The
American Memory Program is an ambitious project to provide
nationwide access to the collections of the Library of Congress.
This article describes the project and a prototype slated for testing
at 30 libraries during the second half of 1991. Collections in various
formats including photographs, graphic arts, motion pictures,
recorded sound, music, broadsides, manuscripts, books, and
pamphlets, will be placed on compact discs and videodiscs, and will
eventually be available online as well.
General and News Bits
Dillon, Andrew "New Technology and the Reading Process: with
Electronic Journals, How They Look is as Important as What They
Say" Computers in Libraries 11(6) (June 1991):23-26.
Ovens, Cora S.H. "Computer Literacy and Libraries" Electronic Library
9(2) (April 1991):85-88. Mere rote usage of a computer does not
qualify as computer literacy, but for many the anxiety associated
with learning about computers is a stumbling block toward becoming
literate. This article talks about the problems facing computer
literacy and discusses a few basic solutions. One interesting point
made is that age, gender and educational attainment have no relation
to the possible degrees of computer anxiety. And, as might be
expected, patient and thorough training is the most effective
solution to the problem.
"Writable CD-ROM Systems--Where will They Fit in the Digital
Storage/publishing Hierarchy?" CD-ROM Librarian 6(6) (June
1991):32-34.
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Current Cites 2(8)(August 1991) ISSN: 1060-2356
Copyright (C) 1992 by the Library, University of
California, Berkeley. All rights reserved.
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
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