a few steps together

[Alain Vaillancourt]

> From: Matt Theobald <mtheobal at velcome.iupui.edu>
> To: Multiple recipients of list <web4lib at library.berkeley.edu>
> Subject: Re: a few steps together
> X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
> X-PMFLAGS: 33554560
> 
> The current  state of organization on the Inernet is a good example of how 
> history does't always repeat itself.  It is undenyably a problem.  
> Vastly unlike UNIVAC, the problems are radically different because the 
> element of control is lost.  There was never the potential that anyone could 
> access UNIVAC.  

Quite right, History does not repeat itself in its entirety but quite 
a lot of individuals in it seem intent on reinventing the wheel or 
ignoring previous attempts when they are out to make The Better Wheel.

So the trick is not to look only at Univac only but look at it 
at the same time as you are looking at the introduction of cheap 
books (thanks to new hi-tech like steam presses and pulp paper mills)
where for the first time anyone could access books.  Anyone capable 
of reading that is.  And also compare it to the introduction of the 
first cheap newspapers, when anyone could now access fresh news 
instead of rumours.  No radio back then remember, and cheap 
newspapers were made possible by serious breakthroughs in 
technology.

> 
> This is the "golden mean".  Librarians must have an understanding of 
> systems in order to see applications.  Programmers must realize that 
> there are models and standards for organization that can be transferred.
> Alphabetization is easy enough, but somewhere in the education of 
> -computer science- that has been lost to the hope for artificial search 
> agents that do not provide a better way to filter as well as be 
> comprehensive.  As many librarins should be ready and willing to sit at 
> the table with programmers as vice-cersa.  I think the results would be 
> astounding.
> 

True!

I am positive that nothing will get done efficiently if several 
disciplines do not get together on this topic and equally positive 
that before sitting down all concerned should take a look at he 
History of Technology of the last 100 years in order to get acquainted 
with previous attempts at information retrieval which have failed or 
succeeded because of adequate/inadequate technology.

Au revoir!

Alain Vaillancourt