This guide is intended as a brief orientation to the Bulletin Board System (BBS) used by the California Educational Research Cooperative (CERC) in a continuing effort to expand support services to its member districts and ancillary providers through operation of an electronic networking system. This facility provides a means through which…

This fact sheet about the INTERNET Gopher, an information distribution system combining features of electronic bulletin board services and databases, describes information availability, gateways with other servers, how the system works, and how to access Gopher. Addresses and telephone numbers for additional information or news about Gopher are…

Virus programs have become a significant problem in the computer industry. The effects of these programs have been publicized widely. Anyone working with microcomputers cannot have escaped exposure to the term. Yet, there are a large number of people (teachers in particular) who have only vague notions of what viruses are. This paper provides a…

Discusses the history and structure of the online database of the second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and the software tools developed at the University of Waterloo to manipulate the unusually complex database. Four sample searches that indicate some types of problems that might be encountered are appended. (DB)

Presents selection and design considerations to help libraries make informed decisions about hardware configurations of CD-ROM systems. Highlights include CD-ROM configurations, including single drive workstations, daisychains, and jukeboxes; network configurations, including remote access; microcomputer features; CD-ROM drive selection; and…

Describes document image management systems that are used for optical storage to facilitate information retrieval. Document image management applications are described, considerations in evaluating system features and functions are presented, and criteria for evaluating vendors of document image management systems are suggested. (two references)…

Discussion of the design of interactive environments focuses on three types of electronic book metaphors that use optical discs and can facilitate computer-based learning: (1) static picture books, (2) moving picture books, and (3) multimedia books. Guidelines for designing electronic books are presented, and future directions are discussed. (17…

Describes issues an organization must consider when preparing for the creation and installation of an international wide area network (WAN) to help link developing countries. Hardware and software needs are considered; the use of commercial vendors is discussed; a needs assessment is described; and technical and cultural difficulties are…

Discusses applications of optical technology, especially CD-ROMs, to information management needs. Information retrieval problems are discussed; design questions that concern the format of the data, indexing methods, and retrieval capabilities are presented; the need for updates is considered; access requirements are discussed; and the importance…

This book provides effective approaches for designers, information architects, and web site managers who are faced with sites that are becoming difficult to use and maintain. The book is divided into 10 sections. Chapter 1: "What Makes a Web Site Work" considers site users needs when designing the architecture; Chapter 2:…

Describes the hardware components of a CD-ROM workstation and offers guidelines for selection decisions. Components discussed include CD-ROM drives; keyboards; monitors, including color and monochrome; graphics; microcomputers, including memory requirements; disk storage, including hard disks and floppy disks; and printers. Turnkey systems are…

Speech recognition technology helps people with disabilities interact with computers more easily. People with motor limitations, who cannot use a standard keyboard and mouse, can use their voices to navigate the computer and create documents. The technology is also useful to people with learning disabilities who experience difficulty with spelling…

Discussion of factors to consider in purchasing a personal computer covers present and future needs, computing environments, memory, processing performance, disk size, and display quality. Issues such as bundled systems, where and when to purchase, and vendor support are addressed; and an annotated bibliography of 28 recent articles is included.…

This guide introduces information systems security concerns and outlines the issues that must be addressed by all agency managers in meeting their responsibilities to protect information systems within their organizations. It describes the essential components of an effective information resource protection process that applies to an individual…

This paper discusses the factors involved in making decisions about a multimedia display system. Theoretical factors, including gaining and holding learner attention, specific attention-getting devices, encoding and retrieval of information by learners, and presentation of information are considered. Ways that video is associated with computer…