Defines artificial intelligence (AI) and expert systems; describes library applications utilizing AI to automate creation of document representations, request formulations, and design and modify search strategies for information retrieval systems; discusses expert system development for information services; and reviews impact of these…

The National Library of Medicine's Current Information Transfer in English public access online catalog offers unique subject search capabilities--natural-language query input, automatic medical subject headings display, closest match search strategy, ranked document output, dynamic end user feedback for search refinement. References, description…

Provides technical description of system (SOCRATE) used to re-transmit searches from searching terminal to second, remote terminal, where end user or inexperienced searcher can observe search strategy development and interact with search. Use of the system as searching and training aids and experiences at Consorci d'Informacio i Documentacio de…

Higher education and learning calls for a human process, an interaction between facilitator and learner. A customized approach to individualized problems is more than just electronic delivery. The crucial issue is not the mode of delivery, but the skills required to facilitate learning. Unfortunately, evidence of a subtle re-definition of…

Strategies, heuristics, and tradeoffs involved in online searching of bibliographic citation networks are discussed using results from field of citation analysis to describe mathematical structure of citation networks. Discussion of two studies of human information seeking behavior examines the search question and interconnectivity of the…

Discusses health hazards associated with use of visual display terminals (VDTs) and provides guidelines for safe use of VDTs in the following areas: radiation, design of work stations, design of VDTs, illumination, glare, work/rest periods, visual testings, ion depletion. An 11-item annotated bibliography of recommended readings and bibliographies…

Discusses the use of microcomputer-based testing methods in media and community research, with descriptions of the Programme Evaluation Analysis Computer (PEAC) developed for the Ontario Education Communications Authority and of the application of the PEAC system in a study of second-by-second responses to Orson Welles'"War of the…

The integration of data processing and word processing is seen as a new frontier for Management Information Systems. A system developed by the University of Massachusetts for the admissions office is described. Online admissions system, data processing overview, word processing interface, and System/6 programing aspects are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Discusses the problem of access in managing image collections and describes a prototype system for the University of California Berkeley which would include the University Art Museum, Architectural Slide Library, Geography Department's Map Library and Lowie Museum of Anthropology photographs. The system combines an online public access catalog…

Discusses information technology and its effects on developmental psychology and children's education. Topics discussed include a theory of child-computer interaction (CCI); programing; communication and computers, including electronic mail; cognitive science; artificial intelligence; modeling the user-system interaction; and the future of…

Argues that treatments of the concept of interaction in distance education based on Moore's (1989) discussion of interaction are inadequate and presents a concept of learner-interface interaction. Instructional design strategies that will facilitate students' acquisition of the skills needed to participate effectively in the electronic classroom…

Describes the "Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials," a joint venture of OCLC and the American Association for the Advancement of Science that is the first electronic peer-reviewed science journal with graphics and searchable full text. Topics discussed include library automation, document delivery, benefits of electronic journals,…

Describes the design and development of the Mercury Electronic Library Project at Carnegie Mellon University that resulted in a library information system that provides access to the library's online catalog as well as to other databases. The distributed architecture of the system is explained, and future plans are discussed. (two references) (LRW)

Describes 12 constraints imposed by culture on educational software portability. Nielsen's seven-level virtual protocol model of human-computer interaction is discussed as a framework for considering the constraints, a hypothetical example of adapting software for Mexico is included, and suggestions for overcoming constraints and making software…

Describes the redesign of a CD-ROM database interface by the Congressional Information Service (CIS) that addressed the needs of novice, casual, and expert searchers in academic libraries. Topics discussed include the user profile, the task profile, redesign goals, interaction style, menu design and implementation, system structure and the search…