People live in an era of social, enterprise-oriented, and increasingly cloud-based technology; a dramatic shift away from stand-alone isolated silos that previously dominated. Computing systems can flourish today only when built to easily exchange data and services. An application that stands alone may provide practical functionality but may not…

The "cyberinfrastucture" is a broad informational network that entails connections to real-time data sensors as well as tools that permit visualization and other forms of analysis, and that facilitates access to vast scientific databases. This multifaceted network, already a major boon to scientific discovery, now shows exceptional promise in…

Extrapolating from current developments in the study of learning and imagining how learning might be shaped moving forward, this article considers 12 trends concerning the future of learning. Learning will become more diverse, more contextual, less discipline-bound, and less institutionally-bound. It will span professional and institutional…

Describes Mosaic, an Internet resource locator and navigation tool developed at the University of Illinois' National Center for Super-Computing Applications (NCSA). Topics discussed include the relationship with the World Wide Web; flexibility; obtaining Mosaic client software; and file transfer protocol instructions. (Contains seven references.)…

The article describes the IBM/Special Needs Exchange which consists of: (1) electronic mail, conferencing, and a library of text and program files on the CompuServe Information Service; and (2) a dial-in database of special education software for IBM and compatible computers. (DB)

Considers issues involving intellectual property rights on information networks. The need for the Internet and the National Information Infrastructure to support both commercial and noncommercial providers of information is discussed; and intellectual property management as services available to information providers rather than as features of the…

Describes the World Wide Web (WWW), a navigational tool to organize information on the Internet into a set of hypertext documents. Hypertext is explained; relationships between WWW, Gopher, and Wide Area Information Servers (WAIS) are discussed; and future possibilities are considered. (Contains three references.) (LRW)

Vendors implementing Standard Network Interconnection (SNI) protocols for computer to computer communications can now test their implementation against the Linked Systems Project/SNI Test Facility developed by Library of Congress. The facility is intended to verify correct functioning of SNI protocols for Open System Interconnection (OSI) layers.…

Stand-alone, single-user software programs for classroom use can be prohibitively expensive, compared to information-sharing network systems. Based on a Kansas district's experience, this article explains three types of networks (device-sharing, operating-system-based, and client-server-based) and discusses network protocols, software choices,…

The use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) units has exploded in recent years along with the computer technology to access this data-based information. Geo-caching is an exciting game using GPS that provides place-based information regarding the public lands, facilities and cultural heritage programs within the Virginia Parks and Museum system.…

During the 1980's, the educational community has been keeping its eye hopefully on several campus-wide networking projects. Included are reports on progress in networks and networking at Carnegie Mellon University, the Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and at Brown University. (JN)

This paper describes the design and construction of a local network of microcomputers at the Electrical Computer Engineering Department at Florida Institute of Technology. The design criteria for such a network and the possible applications are discussed. (JN)

Discussion of software tools for accessing information on the Internet focuses on the WorldWideWeb (WWW) system, which was developed at the European Particle Physics Laboratory (CERN) in Switzerland to build a worldwide network of hypertext links using available networking technology. Its potential for use with multimedia documents is also…

Describes the development of Usenet, the User's Network, a computer network that distributes group discussions (newsgroups) on different topics. Network News software is described, the rapid growth in popularity and heavy network traffic is discussed, and a hierarchical classification scheme to limit the amount of information for users is…

Discusses the features of America Online, a commercial online service designed primarily for use with a Macintosh computer. Several documentation guides are identified, and a step-by-step tour of the service is provided with samples of various screens in the program. (12 references/notes) (EA)