The purpose of this study was to organize menu items based on a user-process model and implement a new version of current software for enhancing usability of interfaces. A user-process model was developed, drawn from actual users' understanding of their goals and strategies to solve their information needs by using Dervin's Sense-Making Theory…

Explores creating a thesaurus from a cognitive viewpoint, based on a system that organizes its knowledge representation/classification according to the authors' and users' images of the subject domain, in order to increase user-text interaction. Discusses the general framework, methods for implementing author-text structures, and an approach…

This article discusses the benefits of using the Internet to enrich the social studies curriculum and the need to teach students to evaluate every Web site they visit according to three criteria: reliability, authorship, and purpose. Questions are listed to aid students in this evaluation process, along with Web sites. (CR)

Offers criteria for the critical evaluation of CD-ROM encyclopedias. Differences between CD-ROM and print encyclopedias are discussed; search strategies are explained; evaluation criteria are suggested, including help messages, screen format, indexing method, and graphics and print options; future considerations are suggested, including…

Reports on the Johnson Space Center Film Repository and describes the collection and development of its strategy to automate image access. The advantages and problems of a visual thesaurus are explained. (EAM)

Describes how students can exploit the power and flexibility of computers to find, organize, and store information gathered while conducting research. Describes how students can use computers to compose, revise, and edit their research papers. (RS)

Outlines a behavioral approach to information retrieval system design based on the derivation of a behavioral model of the information-seeking patterns of academic social scientists. The extent to which identified information-seeking characteristics are supported by existing systems is considered, and requirements for implementing these features…

Description of the development of the Information Exchange Facility, a prototype microcomputer-based personal bibliographic facility, covers software selection, user selection, overview of the system, and evaluation. The plan for an integrated system, BIBLIO, and the future role of libraries are discussed. (eight references) (MES)

The impact of emerging information technologies on the information industry is discussed in four papers. Topics covered include electronic delivery of full text primary literature; a brief evaluation of new information processing technologies and software; networking technologies; and the use of gateway technologies to create new products and…

Discusses how the lack of information infrastructures supporting scientific and technical research hampers attempts to transfer certain information technologies, such as online database searching, to developing nations. It is argued that laserdisk information storage technologies, such as CD-ROM, conform more closely to the prevailing conditions…

Describes the mechanistic model of language on which automatic indexing is based, and examines the underlying assumptions of the model to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of this indexing. It is argued that theoretical research from the fields of linguistics, psychology, and philosophy need to be incorporated into automatic indexing to overcome…

Argues that it is the responsibility of writing program administrators to determine computers' role in writing instruction. Explores three ways in which computers significantly affect writing instruction: (1) dialogue and collaboration among students increase; (2) students' access to information increases; and (3) the perception and creation of…

Describes research that identified possible uses for general interest magazine articles online in full text. It is concluded that, as no one search strategy works best for all uses, databases and online systems should offer a full range of proximity operators, display features that facilitate browsing, value added fields, and diverse cost options.…

Discusses expected future developments in full text databases (FTDs) in three main areas: host-based menu-driven systems; menu and front end interfaces on gateway and mailbox services; and microcomputer or front end computer-based systems which already have good retrieval interactions and input output processing features. (24 references)…

Discusses the different kinds of databases available on CD ROMs (Compact Disk, Read-Only Memory). Considers the uses of CD ROMs for journalists. (MS)