The authors advocate a systematic procedure involving the identification of: fixed parameters, variable options for each variable parameter, factors affecting a choice among available options, factors affected by a choice among available options, and the optimum sequence in which decisions should be made during the design process. (Author/MF)

The main conclusions are: the human factor appears to be the main variable in all components of an information retrieval system; length of indexes affects performance considerably more than indexing languages; question analysis and search strategies affect performance to a great extent - as much, if not more than indexing. (Author/MF)

Describes the six tasks required in the development of an online database: analysis, design, programing, testing, loading, and documentation. Figures illustrate file formats, and a bibliography lists five sources. (FM)

This paper describes the characteristics of a computerized information retrieval system which could be used by attorneys engaged in such complex litigation as (1) cases which involve multi-district litigation; (2) cases involving complex issues of fact, as in regulatory agency actions; (3) cases involving a large number of documents; and (4) cases…

Proposes a microprocessor-based architecture that makes large use of parallelism both in processing and in retrieval operations. The proposed system consists of three functional blocks: the query processor, simple query executers, and the answer composer. Twenty-one references are listed. (FM)

A program is presented for a National Information System for Physics based on a computerized American Institute of Physics (AIP) Information Service which is designed to augment the element of selectivity of the present information system for user interests. It is proposed that the system be developed in discreet stages, each adding to the…

Describes significant attributes of expert systems, contrasts them to conventional computer systems, and provides an overview of the R1 expert system used by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) to put together operational systems that meet customers' requirements. Document handling, particularly pictures and images in documents, is also briefly…

SRI attempts to apply aerospace research results to biomedicine are revealing inadequacies of present information systems when information originates in different discipline from that of user. Author suggests catergorizing characteristics of originator, symbolic vehicle, coding process and user, with possible design of new systems as well. (PD)

Proposes a summarization system for multiple documents that employs named entities and other signatures to cluster news from different sources, as well as punctuation marks, linking elements, and topic chains to identify the meaningful units (MUs). Using nouns and verbs to identify similar MUs, focusing and browsing models are applied to represent…

Describes digital community information systems (CIS) and the need for improvements in system design. Proposes a layered evaluation framework to guide the evaluation of digital CIS from the perspective of information retrieval, following a selective review of digital CIS and evaluation approaches. Contains 59 references. (Author/LRW)

This paper proposes a user designed system, HUC, intended to provide a single index and retrieval system covering all recorded knowledge and information capable of being retrieved from all modes of storage, from manual to the most sophisticated retrieval system. The concept integrates terminal hardware, software, and database structure to allow…

The volume of international marine sciences literature, estimated at 25,000 citations for 1968, is increasing at the rate of up to 20% per year. In view of the limited availability to users of the present and future backlog of information, there is an immediate need to systematically organize and process this material through sophisticated…

Discusses the multilevel information system (MLIS), a retrieval system that integrates functions typical for database management systems and retrieval-oriented systems and provides several levels of data accessing, each developed for a different class of users. Twenty-two sources are cited. (FM)

Proposals are made for practical approaches to the design of electronic office systems to provide for the effective storage and retrieval of the documents that they generate. Problems of records management and requirements to be met by the designer of an electronic office system are highlighted. Nineteen references are cited. (EJS)

With the rapid growth of the global information society, the concept of library has evolved to embrace all kinds of information collections, on all kinds of storage media, and using many different access methods. The users of today's information networks and digital libraries, no longer restricted by geographic or spatial boundaries, want to be…