The success of an application programming interface (API) crucially depends on how well its documentation meets the information needs of software developers. Previous research suggests that these information needs have not been sufficiently understood. This article presents the results of a series of semistructured interviews and a follow-up…

In recent years, smartphones and tablets have been rapidly adopted by consumers worldwide. Within the United States, a growing number of school districts have incorporated tablets into classroom instruction. As mobile technology becomes further integrated into households and classrooms, parents, teachers, and students might need information for…

This essay lists elements of a public service microcomputer project--needs, clientele or population, skill level, type of service, type of equipment, site or location--and identifies a number of options under each heading. Examples illustrating how librarians can use the model in planning a service are noted. (EJS)

This introduction to a special report on telecommunications presents several compelling reasons why telecommunications is one of the most practical and beneficial applications of personal computer technology and briefly summarizes the other articles in this section. (MBR)

Sophisticated managers know that reams of data cannot take the place of important information. Planning is necessary to ensure that what is being reported in an organization is necessary and useful and that data are not assembled just because the computer makes it possible. (MLF)

A brief review of some of the papers presented at a seminar on Management Information Systems in Higher Education: The State of the Art, funded by the Esso Education Foundation" which was held at Duke University in June, 1969. (Author/AA)

Offers an overview of issues pertaining to societal readiness to cope with the information explosion. The need for computer literacy, an examination of computers in education, and the role of the National Science Foundation in computer literacy programs are discussed. (MER)

The report discusses the file management requirements of a computer-based information storage and retrieval system for the Language Information Network and Clearinghouse System (LINCS). It discusses a hypothetical structure for the LINCS system, requirements of file management, long-range trends in data management technology of interest to the…

Describes relatively new computer software that can be used to maintain, analyze, and report large sets of educational data. The application of two of these packages to problems faced when manipulating educational data is demonstrated, and administrators are provided with information on the evaluation and selection of software products. (MER)

Information culled from the literature and from the author's experience on criteria for selecting on-line computerized bibliographic services covers user needs, hardware (terminals), transmission, system and vendor, data bases, search strategy and evaluation measures, and user-system interface. (LS)

The Language Information Network and Clearinghouse System (LINCS) Project of the Center for Applied Linguistics was designed to be a formal, adaptive network of individuals and organizations whose objective is to facilitate the transfer of scientific information within the language science community. It is intended to improve on formal channels of…

To realize the ultimate potential of a management information system in a local school district it will be necessary to address problems related to the system's data elements, the compliance mentality of vocational educators, and the lack of local expertise specific to the operation and utilization of these systems. (Author/IRT)

This paper addresses some of the problems of data access and exchange by discussing what an educational research institution should do about data archiving and data facilities. The work undertaken at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education is described. Generally, efforts in the past have been given to computerization of bibliographic…

The Attitude Information System should provide a means of achieving the accuracy and credibility of survey techniques, the speed and specificity of public opinion polls, and the easy access of management information systems for crucial information about attitudes of the university constituency. (Author)