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DOCUMENT RESUME IR 050 047 ED ;25 567 AUTHOk Smith, Linda C., Ed. TITLE \\ New InformationTechnologies--New Opportunities. Papers Presented at theClinic on Library Applications of Data Processing(18th, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois,April 26-29, 1981). School of Library INSTITUTION Illinois Univ., Urbana. Graduate and Informationtcience. REPORT NO ISBN-0-87845-066-1 PUB DATE 82 NOTE 123p. AVAILABLE FROMPublications Office, 249 ArmoryBuilding, 505 E. Armory St., Champaign, IL61820 ($11.00). PUB TYPE Viewpoints (120) Reports General (140) Collected Works - ConferenceProceedings (021) EDRS PRICE MF01 Plus Postage. PC NotAvailable from EDRS. gESCRIPTORS Computer Programs;Copyrights; Databases; *Information Processing;*Information Scientists; Information Systems; Input OutputDevices; Library Science; Microcomputers;*Technological Advancement; Telecommunications; Videodisc Recordings;Videotex IDENTIFIERS *Information Technology ABSTRACT The papers presented atthe 18th Clinic onLib.rary Applications of Data Frocessingdiscuss current developmentsand applications of new technologiesfor processing, transmitting,and storing information, as well as someissues raised by these new technologies. Ten papers areincluded:(1) a keynote speech on the changing roles of the informationprofessional based-on evolving (3) a information technology;(2) a tutorial on microcomputers; delineation of microcomputerapplications in technicalprocessing, public services, and managementactivities of libraries;(4) a description of the many applicationsof word processing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's(USDA) Technical Information Systems (TIS) unit; (5) a survey of currentlyavailable data entry and display devices; (6) a discussionof U.S. and internationalprojects which are testing the marketfor videotex and teletextsystems; (7) an examination ofrecent developments intelecommunications, including electronic mail,facsimile, two-way cable, anddigital telephones; (8) an outline ofthe basic characteristicsof videodiscs as a storagemedium; (9) an analysis ofcopyright prbtection for computer software anddatabases; and .(10) anexploration of the relationship between technologicalchange and professionalidentity. provided. Brief descriptions ofcontributors and a subject index are (Author/ESR) *********************************************************************** the best that can be made * * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are * * from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL INSTItUTE OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as rem mod froni the person or organization originating it Minor changes have been made to iniprove reproduction quality Lrl Points of view or opinions staed in this docu rnent do not necessarily represent official NIE (N) position or policy New Information Technologies New Opportunities Edited by LINDA C. SMITH "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL INMICROFICHE ONLY HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Earl Plested TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)," Graduate School of Libraryand Information Science rcI University of Illinois atUrbana-Champaign Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Clinic on Library Applications of Data Processing (18 :1981 : University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign) New infOrmation.technologiesnew opportunities. "Papers presented at the 1981 Clinic on Library Applications of Data Processing, April 26-29, 1981"Half-title p. Includes index. Contents: Introduction / Linda C. Smith Technology alone is not enough / Ronald L. Wigington The microcomputer catalyst / Howard Fosdick Applications of microcomputers in librariesLawrence A. Woods [etc.] 1. LibrariesAu toMationCongresses. 2. Library scienceData processingCongresses. 3. Information storage and retrieval systemsCon- gresses. I. Smith, Linda C.II. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Graduate School of Library and Information Science.III. Title. Z678.9.C551981 025.302854 82-10947 ISBN 0-87845-066-1 1982 by The Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois CONTENTS Introduction 1 LINDA C. SMITH Technology Alone is Not Enough RONALD L. WIGINGTON The Microcomputer Catalyst 13 HOWARD FOSDICK Applications of Microcomputers in Libraries 28 LAWRENCE A. WOODS Word Processer Applications at the USDA's Technical Information Systems 43 DAVID R. HOYT New Information Technologies andOpportunities Regarding Input/Output Devices 60 W. DAVID PENNIMAN THOMAS B. HICKEY HOWARD TURTLE VideotexThe New Information Systems 74 RICHARD H. VEITH Telecommunications 80 J.L. DIVILBISS Videodiscs 89 PETER .B. SCHIPMA Copyright 92 JEROME K. MILLER Technological Change and Professional Identity 101 BRIAN NIELSEN Contributors 114 Index 117 INTRODUCTION /- The eighteenth annual Clinic onLibrary Applications of Data Processing was held April 26-29,1981, at the Illini Union, University ofIllinois at Urbana-Champaign. New technologies forprocessing, transmitting and storing information present newopportunities and challenges to libraries. The papers from the clinic discuss currentdevelopments and applications of these technologies, together with someof the issues which they raise. Technologies for information processinginclude microcomputers and word processers. Fosdick presentsa tutorial on microcomputers, while Woods provides many examples ofmicrocomputer applications in technical processing, public services and managementactivities of libraries. Hoyt describes the many applicationswhich the USDA's Technical Infor- mation Systems has found for theword processer. Penniman surveys available data entry and display devices. Technologies for information transmissioninclude videotex and tele- text. Veith identifiesprojects, in the United States and abroadwhich are testing the market for these newinformation systems. Divilbiss highlights some recent developmentsin telecommunications, includingelectronic mail, facsimile, two-way cable, anddigital telephones. To store information, videodiscs now supplement themicroforms and magnetic tapes with which librarians are alreadyfamiliar. Schipma outlines the basic characteristics of videodiscs as a storagemedium. Complementing the papers on technology arethree others whiCh take the form of technology assessmentananalysis of some of the issues and problems raised by these technologicalinnovations and applications. Miller addresses the question ofcopyright protection for computer software and databases.Nielsen explores the relationship betweentechnologi- 1 LINDA C. SMITH cal change and professional identity. In his keynote speech, Wigington cites the changing roles of the information professional as information technology evolves. A recent book defines the "techno-peasant" as "anyone who's techno- logically illiterate." For those who want to learn about the new informationtechnologies,thepresent book offers an overview oftheir characteristics and potential applications. LINDA C. SMITH Editor REFERENCE f Cunningham, Ann M., and Begley, Sharon. The Techno-Peasant Survival Manual. New York: Bantam Books, 1980, (cover). RONALD L. WIGINGTON Director of Research and Development Chemical Abstracts Service Technology Alone is NotEnough Many have traced the evolutionof information transfer from drawings on the walls of caves toinscriptions on stone tablets, to scribeswriting on papyrus or other earlyforms of paper, to "Gutenberg technology."By now it has become trite to mentionthat computer and electroniccommunica- tions together represent anotherrevolution in the transfer and utilization of knowledge. Yet I mentionit because we have only scratched thesurface in understanding and usingthese mechanisms for supportinghuman le:rning and. for facilitating humandecision-making. and We are rapidlyapproaching the point at which the mechanical inherent cost impediments ofmedia and,mechanisms forinformation transfer and knowledge productionwill disappear as limitations to reach- ing the full potential of information systems.With these impediments out of the way, what is left to inhibitknowledge creation and dissemination are the arrangements necessary toderive the revenue for supporting theinfor- mation processing, distributionand use mechanisms, and, mostof all, the limitations of human intelligence todeal with complex situations. .But this is getting aheadof the story. Let us first review thefounda- tions that have been preparedfor improving information handling. Possibilities and Practicalities I had the privilege ofleading a study of the status of information technology and its application tolibraries. It was done under the auspices Council on of the National Academy ofSciences, and was supportedby the Library Resources. The results werepublished in 1972.1 3 RONALD L. WIGINGTON ,When we entered that study, the implied question was: "Why hasn't computer technology brought the dramatic revolution to library functions that had been expected?" And, when we started, we expected to find that some underlying technology improvement was necessary for the expected improvements in library operations to occur. Yet when we finished the study, one of our conclusions was: "The primary bar to development of national level computer-based library and information- systems is no longer basically a technology feasibility problem. Rather it is the combina- tion Of complex institutional and organizational human-related problems and the inadequate economic/value system associated with these activi- ties,"2 That conclt8ion is even

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