Access To Digital Information Research Articles

Perception and interpretation of internet information: accessibility, validity and trust

The way in which humans deal with physical objects has been formed by extensive interaction and, according to the theory of embodied cognition, has led to conceptualization and interpretation that is grounded in physical interaction of the body with elements in the environment. Digital objects are immaterial and cannot show similar external properties as physical objects, and further, they are representational in nature. Specific problems related to their immaterial nature are those of permanence, location, and ownership. In this paper the differences between material and immaterial objects are analyzed with respect to human interaction. Three issues are highlighted: the lack of transparency of digital document handling, security of digital information and accessibility of digital information. It is concluded that the importance of the distinction between direct physical objects and immaterial objects has been vastly underestimated, at the cost of usability, trust and security.

Enhancing digital information access in public libraries

To explore the impact of public digital library resources on urban residents, to elucidate the current usage patterns of public digital library resources/services and levels of satisfaction with the resources/content in urban digital libraries and make recommendations as to steps that would improve service to this population.

Information Technology in Digital Content Protection

Today the most imperative role of communication technology is to provide distribution and access of digital information to people all over the globe. Recordable discs are the widely available medium for delivery of audio, video and digital information to a common man due to their low cost, versatility and durability. Thus immediate need Is not only for securing the entertainment contents but also pertains to the discs that contain valuable copyrighted software whose development and deployment involves crores of revenue. This paper proposes the use of autosophy communication for securing the player specific keys used for retrieval of information. The autosopher libraries are stored in the Content Addressable Memories (CAMs) in the disc reader. The design and simulation of a CAM based logical circuit for key protection has been explained.

Indigenous Australians and the ‘digital divide’

As a result of their disadvantaged socioeconomic position, Indigenous Australians experience disadvantaged digital information access, both in terms of the distribution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the skills-based capabilities required for their effective utilisation (e.g., literacy and information literacy). As social, economic, and political opportunity becomes increasingly wedded to ICT access in the information society, Indigenous digital disadvantage threatens to perpetuate or exacerbate the existing inequalities constraining access. Despite concerns such as the issue of information imperialism, Indigenous Australians have recognised the empowering potential of the Internet as an information resource, communication tool, and publishing medium. Though the policies of government and the information profession commit to maximising equity of ICT and information access, Indigenous digital disadvantage suggests the need for greater intervention and comprehensive strategies in the interests of a socially inclusive information society, of benefit to all Australians.

COLLABORATIVE FILTERING: A NEW APPROACH TO SEARCHING DIGITAL LIBRARIES

At Oregon State University (OSU), the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) and the OSU Libraries are working together on a project to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of digital information created and collected by academic libraries. This project focuses on making digital resources more accessible through an innovative search interface that incorporates collaborative filtering. New approaches to search interfaces will help make the growing wealth of online content more accessible and useful. This paper discusses the problem, explains how collaborative filtering works, describes the System for Electronic Recommendation Filtering (SERF), and then presents initial results from an installation in the OSU Libraries. The productive collaboration at OSU between the Libraries and EECS portends the future of development of search systems; by working together, we can harness the expertise of librarians, computer scientists, and information users to develop more useful search interfaces and increase access to the libraries’ resources and services.

Constructing n-space: establishing a conceptual framework for the management and processing of complex and dynamic networked information flow

This article outlines aspects of a theoretical model of electronic communication design, specifically for the consumption of news. This model allows access to digital information through a process of intuitive, active exploration in a four-dimensional, dynamic and responsive environment: the n-space. I summarise its conceptual foundations and the metaphors used to describe its sense of geography and landscape, relating initially to Jay David Bolter’s notions of ‘writing spaces’ and ‘hard structures’. Spatial relationships between information elements within the n-space are explored, the utilisation and application of axial reading – namely chronological and conceptual hierarchies – aims to develop dynamic, flexible and intuitive systems for using the n-space. Notions of boundaries and fragmentation, and of macro and micro readings are considered with certain aspects of the reading experience in the n-space model outlined, in particular the use of thematic nodes as anchoring devices to aid navigation and user-orientation in what could initially seem a disorienting environment.

Digital Library and Information Services in Southern Africa

Considers Southern African Development Community (SADC) digital library and information service (LIS) developments and observes an uneven regional pattern, the highlights of which are: though a number of libraries, mostly academic, have Web Online Public Access Catalogues (OPACs), these facilities are generally underdeveloped across the region; South African and Namibian public libraries metadata is accessible on the Internet; regionally, there are a few Internet links to SADC based resources; digital information access policies are restrictive; leadership from National Library Associations is limited; and, regionally, a number of digital library projects are under way. The critical issues affecting digital LIS developments are: insufficient finance; lack of focused management strategies; underdeveloped information technology and communications infrastructure; predominance of English and low information and computer literacy rates. It is concluded that information technology advances require libraries to restructure, establish cooperative networks and empower selective target user groups with digital skills to give shape to the nucleus of a regional information society.

Language technologies and technical communication opportunities in FP5

The diversity of languages is one of the main barriers to international trade and a cause of relative isolation for parts of the population. Retaining and supporting this diversity is a determining factor for social and political cohesion within the European Union. European support in the field of language engineering will help to realise and exploit fully the potential of language technologies (LT). Core infocycle tools include: terminology management, for control over use of language at all stages of the infocycle; authoring and author memory, introducing discipline into the creation of information, and reducing redundant re-authoring; translation memory, for near-complete leveraging of existing multilingual material; machine translation, for fully automated translation-possible as a result of using other core tools. Tools which are co-ordinated with these core technologies to implement the infocycle include: document/Web repositories, for versioning and multilingual alignment of information elements; document management to control the use of information elements; multi-platform publishing tools to generate information for different delivery platforms, formats, audiences, environments; information retrieval engines to improve accessibility of digital information; and comprehension aids to assist in multilingual access.

Guest Editorial: Digital Libraries

Digital libraries(DLS) provide access to digital Information collections.Information Content in DLs may include a combination of structured/Unstructured text/numeric data,Scanned images,graphics,audio and video recording etc.Digital librarians are required to select,acquire,organise,make accessible,and preserve digital collections. http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dbit.17.6.3238

TECHNOLOGY AND INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE FOR OIL SPILL PLANNING AND RESPONSE

ABSTRACT EPA Region X has combined the immense storage capacity of CD-ROMs with interactive software to develop a user-friendly tool to provide quick and easy access to digital information for use by oil spill response teams. These CD-ROMs, created specifically for spill planning and response, provide responders with hypertext links and powerful search capabilities allowing uncomplicated access to response information, regulations, nationally recognized standards, and area maps. This format enhances response time by reducing the time needed to access critical information and the volume of materials carried to the site by responders.