Results of an attempt to extend the capabilities of a previously-existing automatic abstracting system by adding a modification procedure designed to make system-produced abstracts more acceptable to readers are reported. A rationale for this modification phase is presented, along with several modification rules and methods for improving…

Several problems of finding keys in directories are considered. Methods of searching ordered and unordered directories are analyzed. Searching on ranges of key values in also considered. Finally, design tradeoffs among the classes of directory and searching strategies are developed. (4 references) (Author/SJ)

Reducing the difficulty and expense of acquiring textual material in machine-readable form by use of the IBM MT/ST typewriter and tape converter is discussed with the production of "World Aluminum Abstracts" presented as a typical application. (Author/PF)

An operational, comprehensive, economical method for updating and correcting entries in a computerized bibliographic system is presented. The technique was developed in connection with the East African Agricultural Bibliographic Project at West Virginia University. Data modification operations are discussed as well as the limitations of the method…

A model which relates the access control and indexing functions. The model is based on concept protection which allows a practically unbounded number of levels (subsets) of protection without requiring a fixed hierarchy among the levels. This protection is offered independently for each of the user operations allowed. (Author)

An analysis to ascertain which electronic data processing (EDP) systems are most flexible in processing wide ranges of volumes efficiently. A simulation model of the job environment of three common EDP systems provides information on the shape of their cost functions in the neighborhood of optimality. (Author/LS)

This three-part article introduces a population dynamics model of an information processing system. The first part describes the general model and defines the terms used, the second describes the functional relationships between components, and the third explores the hypothesized emergence of increasingly complex, hierarchical information systems.…

Northwestern University's Remote Information Query System (RIQS), an information storage and retrieval system characterized by a mixture of data structures for the internal record organization, is discussed. On-line and batch mode search capabilities handle both textual and quantitative information. Other system characteristics, capabilities and…

Reviews citation analysis literature and explores use of citation analysis to identify core journals and indicate disciplinary structure and interrelationships of journals reporting on reading research. Use of 1980 "Journal Citation Reports" data to generate criterion for selecting high impact journals and list of 33 core journals is…

At BIOSIS, development of a retrieval system from the pragmatic viewpoint of providing viable self-supporting retrieval service from a data base of more than 2 million references has resulted in focusing attention on supporting the forumlation of the information need into an effective computer search specification. (JB)

The mini-computer is found to be a viable alternative to large computer bio-medical information processing. (Author/RS)

Holography is one of the most promising methods now under research for the achievement of high bulk storage with fast random access at a reasonable cost. (Author)

Discusses the use of optical character recognition (OCR) for inputting documents in an information retrieval system and describes a study that used an OCR-generated database and its corresponding corrected version to examine query evaluation in the presence of noisy data. Scanning technology, recognition technology, and retrieval technology are…

Discusses information systems in which information use becomes the prime design factor rather than technology and content. Highlighted topics include the change of useless data to productive knowledge, a value-added process; environments in which problems requiring information exist; and users' perceptions of the benefits and costs of using…