[169] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
X/Windows and the Libraries
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (USENET News System)
Tue May 5 14:11:28 1992
Date: Tue, 5 May 1992 13:05:32 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
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----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l
Path: tdowling
From: tdowling@lib.washington.edu (Thomas Dowling)
Subject: Re: X/Windows and the Libraries
Message-ID: <1992May4.171727.26892@u.washington.edu>
Sender: news@u.washington.edu (USENET News System)
Organization: University of Washington Libraries
References: <MailManager.704588200.7866.daviss@davis.cul.columbia.edu>
Date: Mon, 4 May 1992 17:17:27 GMT
In article <MailManager.704588200.7866.daviss@davis.cul.columbia.edu>,
daviss@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Stephen Davis) writes:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> A campus-wide networking task force here is considering proposing X/X-Windows
> as a presentation standard for networked applications. I wonder if this issue
> has come up at other institutions? I'd be very interested in hearing from
> someone who's thought about this question from the perspective of networked
> library applications generally...
The University of Washington Libraries are currently testing an
X/Motif graphical front end to our BRS/Onsite databases. This interface,
named WILLOW, is being introduced first on X terminals in several in-library
pilot sites, with eventual plans to make it available more widely on campus.
The in-library X terminals also make available the standard ASCII interface
to the BRS databases, and a Motif version of the online staff directory.
There is also a Motif interface to the Oxford English Dictionary, but this
is not currently a choice on our terminals (although it is available on one
of the campus mainframes).
We are also investigating a X-based office automation project for
staff use of word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheets, etc.
Having used X as my desktop environment for a year and a half, I
can say that this will be possible if it's the direction we choose.
Without knowing specifically what kind of networked applications
you're discussing, I'd give a qualified recommendation: there will
be a staff training cost, but probably not much more than assuring
real MS-DOS or Mac OS competence. Someone will devote quite a bit
of time to systems administration, but probably not much more than
total system-wide time spent on PC administration (with a greater
degree of quality control in X environment).
With increasing availability of Mac- and PC-based X servers, you'll
probably also be able to make use of most of your present equipment.
|Thomas Dowling | tdowling@u.washington.edu|
|Engineering Library | (206) 543-0741|
|University of Washington FH-15 | Seattle, WA 98195|
