_Current_Cites_ Volume 2, no. 3 March 1991 Library Technology Watch Program University of California, Berkeley Edited by David F.W. Robison ISSN: 1060-2356 Contributors: Teri Rinne, Vivienne Roumani, Lisa Rowlison, Mark Takaro, Roy Tennant Expert Systems Harmon, Kenneth. "Software for Expert Systems." Expert Systems In Libraries. Norwood, New Jersey: Ablex Publishing, 1990. Chapter 2, pp. 12-23. After a clear and quick review of the fundamentals of expert system architecture, Mr. Harmon summarizes the 3 techniques of ES development: 1) programming the system in Prolog, Lisp or Smalltalk; 2) using an ES environment (basically a large ES shell used mostly for large computers) and 3) using one of the many PC shells: Expert-Ease, ESP advisor, VP-Expert, etc. It is this last option which is the most feasible for expert system development in libraries. Smith, Karen. "POINTER: The Microcomputer Reference Program for Federal Documents." Expert Systems In Libraries. Norwood, New Jersey: Ablex Publishing, 1990. Chapter 4, pp. 41-50. This program offers its users minimal level reference assistance in federal government documents. Although POINTER has sometimes been called an expert system, Ms. Smith explains that it is not. Despite the fact that POINTER does not reason independently (a key feature of an expert system) it is likely to be a valuable reference tool - especially in settings where Reference Librarians are not always available. Furthermore, through this paper Ms. Smith illustrates, though perhaps not intentionally, the differences between conventional programming and an expert system. Hyper- and Multimedia Cisler, Steve. "Sound Advice: New Uses for Audio on the Macintosh." Online 15(2) (March 1991):84-86. An often-overlooked aspect of multimedia technology receives treatment here in the MacMonitor column authored by Apple's Librarian Steve Cisler. Several sound/audio applications are discussed, opening up the possibilities of annotating voice mail, creating audio dictionaries connected to the print or online forms and storing audio data in digital form on hard disks. Compression technologies present one obstacle to mass storage of sound, but the potential for sound to become a manipulable form of data similar to text and graphics presents exciting new prospects for audio technologies to begin catching up to their print counterparts. Nairn, John. "The Proposed Disk Description Protocol (DDP) Standard: Background and Overview." CD-ROM Professional 4(2) (March 1991):56-57. DDP is a proposed standard for the submission of multimedia data to CD-ROM disk mastering facilities. While the method for submitting text, record and still-image data is fairly straight-forward, multimedia data is more complex in its structure. As no common format exists, the current process is difficult and error-prone, necessitating a standard before the diversity of ad-hoc submission methods become too entrenched. Oberhauser, Otto C. "Multimedia Information Storage and Retrieval Using Optical Disk Technology: Potential for Library and Information Services" Osterreichisches Institut fur Bibliotheksforschung, Dokumentations- und Informationswesen, 1990. Beginning with a thorough overview of optical disk technologies, this comprehensive monograph surveys applications of multimedia optical disk media in Europe, Asia and North America. The focus is on current projects from libraries and museums, but extends also to projects that are related to the work of reference librarians in many fields. The well-organized study includes some local projects and provides a glimpse of the type of work that these paired technologies make possible. Networks and Networking Flanders, Bruce L. "KICNET: Interlibrary Loan in a Wide-Area Network in Kansas" Online 15(2) (March 1991): 55-60. The Kansas State Library system found that creating and managing their own e-mail network for interlibrary lending requests was both easier and cheaper than using OCLC, phone, fax, or mail (or a combination of these modes of communication). The software they selected, cc:Mail, seems to have been a key part of their success. KICNET currently handles an average of 1,600 messages daily for 150 libraries. The cost per message is approximately $0.05. Malkin, G. and A. Marine "FYI on Questions and Answers: Answers to Commonly asked 'New Internet User' Questions" Network Working Group RFC 1206 (February 1991): 32 p. The goal of this paper is to document the most commonly asked questions and answers in the Internet. And that it does. This document can also be useful to those with some Internet experience but want more information. Also included are a glossary and list of suggested readings. Available via anonymous ftp from nnsc.nsf.net (128.89.1.178) with pathname rfc/rfc1206.txt. Optical Disc Technologies Jensen, Mary Brandt. "CD-ROM Licenses: What's in the Fine or Non- Existent Print may Surprise You" CD-ROM Professional 4(2) (March 1991):13-16. This article provides a concise overview of CD-ROM licensing agreements. As most CD-ROM products are licensed rather than sold to users, rights and obligations differ quite dramatically when compared to the purchase of printed products. This article explores the restrictions associated with control of the disks and software, back-up copies and warranties, down-loading, multiple user access, and confidentiality. The author points out that the terms in the standard CD-ROM agreement are merely an offer made by the producer, and all the terms should be negotiable. Kesselman, Martin "CD-ROM Trends" Wilson Library Bulletin 65(5) (January 1991):84-86. This article outlines recent trends and developments regarding CD-ROM and other optical media. Among the newest optical consumer products, slated for release this Christmas, is the Sony Data Discman. The postcard-sized Discman includes a 3-inch CD-ROM player, keyboard, and liquid-crystal display screen. It also includes a video adapter that allows the data to be displayed on a TV screen and an earphone for listening to conventional audio CDs. LaGuardia, Cheryl, et al. "CD-ROM Networking in ARL Academic Libraries: a Survey." CD-ROM Professional 4(2) (March 1991):36-39. This article presents the results of a survey conducted by UCSB Library staff. While all responding libraries have some CD-ROMs in place, ranging from 2-85 workstations, a relatively small number of local-area networks were in place, 21 out of 78 responses. However, 50 libraries not currently networking CD-ROMs, plan to do so by 1992 at the latest. Only five libraries have definitely decided against networking: one because of cost considerations, while the other four plan to mount databases on their local mainframe instead. General Pollack, Andrew "Universal Computer Code Due: Rivals Join Forces to Design Standard for All Languages"New York Times 140(48,517) (February 20, 1991):1, 5. Twelve companies, including IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Sun and Xerox, are joining forces to create a universal computer code that will allow computers using any (human) language to communicate. The first release of Unicode should occur this spring with a limited set of 27,000 of characters. Eventually, this code system will be able to accommodate any language in existence, including those that use ideograms and those that are no longer spoken. News Bits Hughes, Carol. "Opening a Universitywide Dialogue about Electronic Information Resources" College and Research Libraries News 52(2)February 1991:84-87. McMullen, Barbara E. and John F. McMullen. "Xerox Introduces Network Fax Server" Computer Currents. 8(19) (February 26, 1991):6. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Current Cites 2(3) (March 1991) ISSN: 1060-2356 Copyright (C) 1992 by the Library, University of California, Berkeley. All rights reserved. Copying is permitted for noncommercial use by computerized bulletin board/conference systems, individual scholars, and libraries. Libraries are authorized to add the journal to their collections at no cost. This message must appear on copied material. All commercial use requires permission from the editor, who may be reached in the following ways: drobison@library.berkeley.edu // drobison@ucblibra // (510)642-7600 -------------------------------------------------------------------