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Date: Fri, 12 Mar 93 11:02:16 EST From: mlc@MIT.EDU (Mark Curby) To: elibdev@MIT.EDU Cc: mlc@MIT.EDU (Mark Curby), mlbarrow@MIT.EDU (Michael Barrow), ij@MIT.EDU, elib folks - Michael Barrow (mlbarrow) and I (mlc) are going to this demonstration of the Dartmouth College Information System. If you would like to go too just let me know and I will get you added (or if you prefer you can call Jeane Fedorka of Apple Computer at 215/557-3123 yourself). If you have info you would like us retrieve from the meeting just send us a query. - Mark ------------ Mark Curby MIT Network Services MIT Room E40-342G (617) 253-7725 77 Massachusetts Ave. mlc@mit.edu Cambridge, MA 02139 ------- Forwarded Message Date: 4 Mar 93 13:56:29 EST From: Lawrence.M.Levine@Dartmouth.EDU (Lawrence M. Levine) Subject: Information system meeting To: jdb@delphi.mit.edu Jim - on 31 March, Apple is sponsoring a meeting in Boston to demonstrate the Dartmouth College Information System to institutions that may be interested in adopting some or all of the information system software being developed at Dartmouth, and which has been in production mode at Dartmouth for two years now as the Dartmouth College Information System (DCIS). Apple has provided much of the support for DCIS, and both Apple and Dartmouth would like to see DCIS software moved beyond Dartmouth. For those "early adopters" we would provide technical support. I hope you can give some consideration to sending someone to Boston - perhaps both a "computer person" and someone from the library? Below is the text of the letter of invitation. If you're interested, let me know, and I'll make sure the "official" invitation from Apple is sent to you or to any others you may name. Many thanks for taking a look at this. I'm interested to hear what you think. Larry Levine Director of Computing Dartmouth College ------------------ Dear Colleague, We write to invite you to try, hands-on, information system software developed at Dartmouth College, and consider whether your institution may wish to adopt this software. The Dartmouth College Information System (DCIS), developed at Dartmouth with support from Apple, has been in production use at Dartmouth for over two years. On 31 March, Apple is sponsoring a meeting in Boston to demonstrate the Dartmouth College Information System to institutions that may be interested in adopting some or all of the DCIS software. DCIS simplifies access to information, providing standardized interfaces to remote and local networked databases, and access to existing and future databases. Examples of databases local to Dartmouth include the OED, Medline, and the Library's on-line catalog. Remotely, DCIS can provide access to Internet WAIS servers, and can provide a convenient and unified access method to terminal-interface based systems. A master application, the "Navigator," acts as a database of databases, presenting a unified view of information accessible over a network. Users can quickly find desired specific sources, or, usefully "browse" through resources in categories of interest. For those interested in implementing DCIS we will provide technical assistance in addition to the software and user and technical documentation. The DCIS software and documentation itself is without charge; however, any costs associated with installing this new network service would be borne by the institution. The attached brief about DCIS will give you a more detailed idea of what DCIS is and what adopting DCIS at your institution will entail. If you are interested in exploring the possibility of incorporating DCIS into your campus' computing environment, please call Jeane Fedorka of Apple Computer at 215/557-3123 to register for this workshop. Directions to the Boston workshop location are also enclosed. Sincerely, Apple, Dartmouth DARTMOUTH COLLEGE INFORMATION SYSTEM The Dartmouth College Information System (DCIS) provides integrated access through a common interface to on-line information resources. The system is based on a distributed client-server computing architecture. Server programs, typically running on host computers, handle search and retrieval requests generated by client programs running on Macintosh workstations. Institutional databases are distributed across a variety of host computers and database servers, which use a variety of operating systems and database management systems. DCIS user interface software resides on desktop computers. Personal computers, workstations, and database servers communicate by means of a campus computer network. The DCIS system, from the point of view of the user at a workstation, consists of a "navigator" application that helps one to browse through the list of available databases. The DCIS Navigator and its system-wide directory server provide a central point of contact with a wide array of resources, providing a way to "advertise" the content of the system and to automate connecting to a resource. (It also provides the software delivery and update features.) Having selected a database of interest, one can start a "viewer" of a database to do searches, manipulate data locally, graphically display and print the results, and so on. The DCIS software allows users to ignore the details of access to information and to concentrate instead on working with the data. DCIS incorporates a generic protocol (InfoSpeak) between viewer and database server. Host server processes convert the InfoSpeak protocol into database operations and return results to the client workstation. InfoSpeak has been implemented for several different commercial database managers running on several different operating systems; it is available as a Macintosh system extension, for UNIX systems, and as a set of XCMDs for HyperCard. The DCIS system architecture accommodates TCP/IP as a stream protocol. Several protocol-translating gateway servers are also available; they provide access to WAIS and Z39.50 services at other campuses. At Dartmouth, over 50 databases and hundreds of external sources of information are reachable by DCIS. Five Dartmouth host computers running a dozen different servers currently provide information services to hundreds of daily DCIS users. THE PROBLEMS DCIS SOLVES Delivering information resources is not merely a technical challenge, but an organizational one as well. An integrated information system benefits all parts of an institution by meeting individuals'--and the institution's--information needs through an accessible and familiar interface. DCIS has been designed to address a number of interrelated objectives. The primary objective is to simplify access to information. The system eliminates as many manual steps as possible from the process of locating and using electronic information resources. For example, DCIS makes connecting to a database as simple as pointing and clicking a mouse. Each step in lowering the barrier to entry has brought more members of the Dartmouth community into daily use of these resources. Another DCIS objective is to harness the power of available personal computers, using them as more than terminals to host systems. Local processing power has been harnessed in a client-server design that provides more functionality with less tedium. More sophisticated presentation is available than was previously possible. Faster response to requests is provided with fewer server resources. DCIS capitalizes on individuals' existing knowledge of the Macintosh's standard software interface. The system complements other Macintosh productivity applications. Skills learned in one application generally apply to others. Data interchange is greatly enhanced. DCIS can handle many resources through the same user interface. The information viewers are able to gain access to functionally different servers with similar content in a manner almost transparent to the user. The effort invested in learning to use a viewer application benefits the user many times on many different databases. Another DCIS objective is to help answer the question, "What's out there?" The system-wide directory pulls together resources from a great many sources. Users can search and browse through the resource collection, discovering useful electronic information sources as they go along. DCIS also helps users locate, acquire, and maintain the client software on their workstations, easing distribution issues and eliminating user frustration with obtaining the latest versions of applications. DCIS provides a mechanism to update its components as they are developed. Users learn about updates to the software as they use it, with the system delivering the new version automatically, if desired. Finally, DCIS is designed to be modular and yet provide an integrated presentation and operation. Many standard Macintosh applications can be used as viewers. In this way, DCIS has been able to incorporate previously existing systems--as essential as providing new ones. The design also provides a minimally disruptive upgrade path as various components change. REQUIREMENTS Other campuses considering implementation of DCIS would require the following, based on the development and implementation to date of DCIS at Dartmouth: * a computer network * Macintosh personal computers as clients * the DCIS validation server, which provides authentication of multiple groups of geographically dispersed users * database servers and database management system "engines" (BRS, PAT, and SPSS database servers running on UNIX and VAX VMS are available as completed DCIS components; the DCIS source code may be used to create versions for other database managers or operating systems. Naturally, commerical database engines such as BRS, PAT, etc., would need to acquired or licensed if they are not already available at a site.) * DCIS software, including InfoSpeak, the DCIS Navigator, and DCIS viewer applications (Online Library, CLASS, Book Exchange, InterNews, and HyperCard) * electronically accessible data and information resources The network layers of DCIS software have been designed and written using protocol stacks so the system may be readily adapted to other institutions' networks. The system currently supports two different stream protocols, MacTCP and Kiewit Stream Protocol (Dartmouth's own protocol, highly related to Apple's Data Stream Protocol -- ADSP), although it is anticipated that adopting sites would use MacTCP. A collection of technical documentation is available for the installation, maintenance, and adaptation of DCIS components. End-user documentation is available for the DCIS Navigator and the DCIS viewer applications Online Library and CLASS. In addition, all DCIS applications contain extensive on-line help. ------- End of Forwarded Message ------- End of Forwarded Message ------- End of Forwarded Message ------- End of Forwarded Message
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