Presents an online collaborative process that facilitates usability evaluation of Web sites. Describes how the system was designed and used by students and staff at two Australian universities and shows that the process provides feedback on Web site usability and the experience of usability evaluation from the perspectives of a user and a…

A survey of the European online industry that is currently in progress will collect data from questionnaires sent to online users and hosts and a follow-up telephone survey of users. The content of the user questionnaire and topics to be covered in the project report are described. (MES)

Describes the planning, research, and development of the BIOSIS Connection, an online reference service targeted to researchers in the life sciences. Product testing and preliminary response to the system are discussed, and highlights and disappointments of the project are summarized. (two references) (MES)

Describes the Public Access Computer Systems Forum (PACS), a computer conference that deals with all computer systems that libraries make available to patrons. Areas discussed include how to subscribe to PACS, message distribution and retrieval capabilities, subscriber lists, documentation, generic list server capabilities, and other…

Sidebar describes the use of the Biblio-Link software packages to download citations from online databases and convert them into a form that can be automatically uploaded into a Pro-Cite database. An example of this procedure using DIALOG2 is given. (CLB)

Summarizes the two phases in the preparation of an electronic version of the "New Oxford English Dictionary" and discusses possible uses of machine-readable dictionaries. (seven references) (MES)

Provides an overview of the relationships between service providers and network equipment manufacturers that are attempting to gain control of the information superhighway market. Traditional online services are working to develop partnerships with television networks and publishing companies and will continue to play an important role in the…

Examines developments among public record information providers, including a shift from file acquisition to entire company acquisition. Highlights include a table of remote access to public records by state; pricing information; privacy issues; and information about the three main companies offering access to public records: LEXIS, CDB Infotek,…

Describes a study of the current state of computer networks in the countries of the former Soviet Union (X-USSR). Four wide area networks are described; network uses and services are examined; social effects of computer networks are considered; and the development of the computer and telecommunications industry in X-USSR countries is discussed.…

Discusses online communication, including privacy issues, electronic bulletin board systems, attitudes and habits from other types of communication, the proper register for online communication, training students, and teachers as moderators. (LRW)

Describes the conversion of the 22,000-page Oxford English Dictionary to an electronic version incorporating a modified Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) syntax. Explains that the database designers chose structured markup because it supports users' data searching needs, allows textual components to be extracted or modified, and allows…

Discusses the need for distribution systems for the off-site delivery of hypermedia documents. Examines the possibility of using public-access wide-area networking systems (WANS). Examines recent developments in WANS technology and explores how new electronic publishing tools for these networks can assist in the distribution of hypermedia. (SR)

Discusses how to make better indexes for online documentation. (SR)

Discusses issues encountered in converting a booklet to electronic format. (SR)

Describes a relational data model that can be used for knowledge representation and manipulation in rule-based medical consultation systems. Fuzzy queries or attribute values and fuzzy set theory are discussed, functional dependencies are described, and an example is presented of a system for diagnosing causes of eye inflammation. (15 references)…