Small computers are emerging as important components of the contemporary computing scene. Their operating systems vary from specialized software for an embedded system to the same style of OS used on a generic desktop or server computer. This article describes a course in which systems are classified by their hardware capability and the…

The "Technology Outlook Australian Tertiary Education 2013-2018: An NMC Horizon Project Regional Analysis" reflects a collaborative research effort between the New Media Consortium (NMC) and Open Universities Australia to help inform Australian educational leaders about significant developments in technologies supporting teaching,…

With the introduction of the digital medium, an abundance of content previously obtainable through other media became available in digital form. Digital delivery implied the necessity for some kind of content modification dictated by the specific characteristics of the digital medium. The situation is further complicated by the convergence of…

Rapid proliferation of different types of interaction devices that use more natural channels (voice, touch, gesture) for interfacing with the digital medium illustrates the trend towards the creation of more "humane" interaction mechanisms. However, the current historical paradox is that modern technological advances are dramatically…

Describes a knowledge management system that was developed to help provide structure for dynamic and static data and to aid in the analysis of complex experimentation. Topics include quantitative and qualitative data; mining operations using artificial intelligence techniques; information architecture of the system; and transforming data into…

Explains transliteration and describes Greeklish, a Windows application that automatically produces English to Greek transliteration and back-transliteration (retransliteration), based on an algorithm with a table of associations between the two character sets. Describes how the table can be modified for personal preferences and discusses its…

Presents a method for augmenting a Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) document repository with database functionality. Introduces an implementation method for a complex-object modeling technique, and describes interface techniques tailored for text databases and concepts for a Structured Document Database Management System (SDDBMS)…

Describes an information retrieval, visualization, and manipulation model which offers the user multiple ways to exploit the retrieval set, based on weighted query terms, via an interactive interface. Outlines the mathematical model and describes an information retrieval application built on the model to search structured and full-text files.…

Considers search histories and their role in human information seeking and identifies potential application areas for history information to enhance information-seeking user interfaces. Reports results related to supporting mental model development and task integration, based on a study of legal information seeking. (LRW)

Reviews automated-systems activities in libraries during the past year and profiles major vendors. Topics include new partnership arrangements driven by competition; library-systems revenues; Y2K issues; Windows-based interfaces; consulting; outsourcing; development trends; global system sales; and sales by type of library. (LRW)

Discusses the use of interface metaphors in computer system design. Describes empirical research that shows users can experience cognitive dissonance with metaphors and suggests that the concept of a logical analogue rather than that of a metaphor should guide system designers. (Contains 66 references.) (LRW)

Extends the discussion of visual rhetoric to the writing spaces and iconic representations of computer interfaces. Examines interfaces of a word-processing and a page layout program for desktop publishing, revealing the visual nature of the interface. Opines that the visual writing space encourages and fosters a writer's consideration of options…

Examines how electronic documents, particularly electronic journals, could be enhanced to make them more valuable to end-users. Describes the development of PROPIE (Proposed Information Environment) that demonstrated the potential to support various interaction needs and discusses the results of an empirical evaluation of PROPIE. (Author/LRW)

Discusses usability as an interface design concept to improve information retrieval on the World Wide Web. Highlights include criteria for a usable Web site; usability testing; usability resources on the Web; and a sidebar that gives an example of usability testing by Hewlett-Packard. (LRW)

Considers some of the most fundamental problems in music information retrieval, challenging the common assumption that searching on pitch alone is likely to be satisfactory for all purposes. Discusses special issues related to polyphonic music, user-interface issues, and the notion of relevance for music information retrieval. (Contains 52…