Search

This article attempts to measure the scientific productivity in terms of number of papers published in journals by authors in the field of information science, compared to the publication pattern for science in general. Information science has been defined by the American Society for Information Science as the science that investigates the properties and behavior of information, the forces governing the flow of information, and the means of processing information, for optimum accessibility and usability. According to this definition, information science emerges as an umbrella-like discipline. If the basic professional society in this discipline is considered to be the American Society for Information Science, then its prime indexing journal may be considered to be "Information Science Abstracts," and its prime review vehicle may be the "Annual Review of Information Science and Technology."

The purpose of this paper is to suggest some of the implications for teachers' roles that might result from the growth of computer technology in education. In the past, technological innovations in education have affected the roles of teachers as much as those of students. An important historical example is the invention of mechanical printing, which created new and more readily available opportunities for individual learning. It also allowed the teacher to move away from such tasks as reading aloud to mature audiences.

Copyright of INFOR is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper reports on the development of a system for the storage and retrieval of graphics-supported, narrative presentations such as blockboard lectures. Human voice and line graphics are stored synchronously as analog signals on stereophonic audio tape, and reproduced via an "audiographic terminal" consisting of a loudspeaker (for voice output) and an electromechanical stylus (for output of line graphics). A configurotion of audiographic terminals connected by telephone to a remotely located "bank" of instructional materials stored in oudiographic form comprises the self-instruction system ALF (Audiographic Learning Facility) developed and in use at the School of Information and Computer Science of the Georgia Institute of Technology. The paper describes several current applications of audiographic technology in education, and it gives preliminary cost estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the use of simulation techniques at SDC in the analysis of time-sharing system operation. The purpose and goals of this research effort are briefly outlined and some comments on the advantages and disadvantages of direct simulation for this type of work are given. The existing simulator models are described in terms of inputs, general flow, and outputs; and the results of initial investigations with these models are given. Work currently in progress is discussed, and some related problems that may possibly be studied in the future by similar methods are noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an experiment concerned with the investigation of presentation formats for Dialectic Information Systems (DIS). DIS are information systems which generate information for a decision maker by means of intense conflict between proponents of two radically opposing positions, theories, points of view, etc. In a DIS, information is generated through the confrontation between "data" and the world-views (Weltanschauungen) of opposing experts. The particular DIS experiment under discussion investigates the effects of explicit DIS training on an individual's world-view. The perception of drama and emotion, the structure of syntehsizing contexts, and the ability to "think" dialectically are also discussed as important features of the particular experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BASED on one of mankind's most significant technological developments, the electronic computer, data processing is a rapidly growing and already important occupation. Because it is so new, data processing is not a well-known field and has not acquired the popular stereotype that many other occupations have. Although such popular conceptions of occupations are frequently inadequate as grounds for vocational choice, the data-processing field lacks even this much reality for many people. Consequently, a measure that can be used to direct the attention of qualified persons to the data-processing field should be especially valuable in counseling, guidance, and recruiting. During 1964 and 1965, therefore, a project was conducted for the purposes of describing the vocational interests of computer programmers and developing a scoring key to measure those interests (Perry & Cannon, 1967). This paper describes the relationships of scores on the new programmer interest key and other Strong Vocational Interest Blank (SVIB) keys to measures of satisfaction and achievement among programmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several alternative aproaches were examined to determine how one might identify the key contributions to "information science." The advice of experts provides some assistance, provided one is prepared to cope with their differing value systems. Reliance on current textbooks can also be helpful, provided it is recognized that they show very considerable variation in point of view, subject coverage and -- apparently -- in the selection of references. For example, of 911 distinct references contained in the six current texts that were analyzed, only 14% of them appeared in more than one of the books. The unclear selective patterns in current bibliographies in the information science field also presented problems. The present attempt to identify key contributions suggests that we are far from common agreement on the conceptual, methodological, or practical contributions to the information science field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PP-T0003-0-1 The increased usage of small computers in the research laboratory has made it necessary for the individual investigator to become familiar with computer science. A survey of sources, availability, and types of information distributed about computer software was made to determine their relevance to psychophysiology. Periodicals are divided into five classes and discussed as to the assets and liabilities of some of the present indexing and source references. The desirability of increasing the accessibility of software applications to psychophysiology is noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article introduces the March 1973 issue of the journal ACM Computing Surveys. The journal received various contributions from outstanding authors mostly computer professionals. The journal helped computer people to catch up on the latest ideas concepts and advances in the field. The effect of this change has created new opportunities and challenges for the authors of survey. An increasing number of readers are capable of benefiting from tutorial and survey papers presented at advanced levels. The author provides the characteristics of a paper acceptable by the magazine. A good tutorial paper covering an area of the computer field that has recently become important and better understood will get top priority. The body of the paper should be interesting. The text of the survey can be brief, letting the bibliography that attends it and the index into it be as long and up-to-date as required. An excellent survey article is likely to be given preference over a tutorial that is rated only good.

New direction in Artificial Intelligence research have led to the need for certain novel features to be embedded in programming languages. This paper gives an overview of the nature of these features, and their implementation in four principal families of AI languages: SAIL; PLANNER/CONNIVER; QLISP/INTERLISP; AND POPLER/POP-2. The programming features described include: new data types and accessing mechanisms for stored expressions; more flexible control structures, including multiple processes and backtracking; pattern matching to allow comparison of data item with a template, and extraction of labeled subexpressions; and deductive mechanisms which allow the programming system to carry out certain activities including modifying the data base and deciding which subroutines to run next using only constraints and guidelines set up by the programmer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of programming languages has raised many issues of language design, definition, and implementation. This paper presents a series of ten mini-languages, each of which exposes salient features found in existing programming languages. The value of the mini-languages lies in their brevity of description and the isolation of important linguistic features: in particular, the notions of assignment, transfer of control, functions, parameter passing, type checking, data structures, string manipulation, and input/output. The mini-languages may serve a variety of uses: notably, as a pedagogical tool for teaching programming languages, as a subject of study for the design of programming languages, and as a set of test cases for methods of language implementation or formal definition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a survey of a number of issues that are concerned with information science, of importance outside the field as well as within, and generally caused by or related to changes in technology. Issues ore considered in four broad categories, those concerned with computers, communications, image recording and information content. Their importance lies in the fact that how they are resolved will affect the transition of the United States from a primarily industrial to a post industrial society. The intent of the article is to present the issues and their possible impact rather than to offer solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A statistically based method for automatically identifying keywords in machine-readable text has been developed which produces keyword lists that agree better with composite lists produced by panels of human indexers than do lists produced by five statistical criteria previously suggested, and also better than lists produced by most of the individual panel members. The method makes use of both the indocument word- occurrence frequency and the in-corpus relative occurrence frequency as measures of word importance. Each statistical criterion was compared with the performance of human indexers by the use of rank correlation statistics. The simple word count was found to be superior to the other four previously suggested criteria-all of which made use of the in-corpus relative occurrence frequency. The tests were conducted over 19 documents dealing with the subject of information Science, a total of over 66,000 word occurrences. Seventeen indexers representing eight different information centers participated in experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article evaluates a practical examination for bachelor of science in computer science (BSCS) students in Israel. Results of the second generation of the practical examination for BSCS students have been reported. Generally these results are similar to those obtained in 1969. A scoring grid, to improve measurement of achievement, was designed and employed. More insight into the performance of students and an additional measure of reliability were obtained through the use of this grid. Moreover, A considerable impact of the practical examination on instruction has been detected.

In seeking a new sense of identity, we ask, in this article, the questions: What is information science? What does the information scientist do? Tentative answers to these questions are given in the hope of stimulating discussion that will help clarify the nature of our field and our work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on literary works related to information science. The article "The Use of Context for Correcting Garbled English Text," by Charles M. Vossler and Neil M. Branston, describes two methods for using context to correct garbled English text. The first makes use of a dictionary of English words containing their probability of occurrence. The second uses letter diagram frequencies to roughly approximate English word probabilities. Another article "SIR: A Statistical Information Retrieval System," by C. D. Parson, describes the techniques and results of an information retrieval system utilizing an IBM 7094 installation at Phillips Petroleum Co.

The article focuses on the research paper "Glossary of Terms in the Field of Computers and Automation." It reports meanings as used rather than meanings which should be used.

A clustering algorithm which is tree-like in structure, and is based on user queries, is presented. It is compared to Bonner's Method, Rocchio's Method, Dattola's Method and the Single Link Method in three different aspects, namely system effectiveness, system efficiency and the time required for clustering. Experimental results using the Cranfield 424 collection indicate that the proposed method is superior to the other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desirable improvements in college-level accounting pedagogy are now possible through the use of computer science technology that provides efficient student input using optical scanners or mark-sense cards and permits information retrieval using direct access storage devices. Optimum application of this technology requires that students receive error analyses capable of increasing their level of retained knowledge and that instructors receive output which identifies student strengths as well as emerging weaknesses. Instructor output should also provide data for statistical evaluation of class sections. We have developed the COMPACT system in attempting to meet these needs. Our article deleneates the minimum computer configuration as well as the one currently in use. We discuss the contents of student and instructor feedback. Through examples we show the role of the input error analysis routines and demonstrate the use and current limitations of these routines in their ability to provide algorithmic error analysis. We then illustrate a heuristic set which, under certain circumstances, is required to analyze multi-entry transactions occurring as subsets of student problem solution input. We conclude by indicating the probable extensions of our system both in terms of subject matter and computer hardware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the ever increasing impact of technology upon society. Particular emphasis is paid to the computer sciences, including a simplified overview of the operation of computers. The final section presents several potential applications of computer usage in special education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Pattern recognition" is a field of techniques for distinguishing significant phenomena, for determining on the whether a phenomenon is a known type or into a number of groups, etc. cybernetics which develops common properties of some basis of these properties not, for clustering phenomena into a number of groups, etc. Pattern is a name of a set of objects or phenomena distinguished according to a specific problem, bearing resemblance to each other and differing from the objects of other sets. Depending on the specific objective of the research one and the same pair of objects may be related to one pattern or to different ones. The hypothesis of "the simplicity of structural regularities" assumes the construction of a decision rule describing special features in the structure of the set of points in the given pattern. The points may be by no means "solidly" beside each other, but if there is some regularity in their array it should attract the attention. In order to secure the regularity against the influence of arbitrariness because of choosing scales of devices which measure properties, the isomorphism between the considered system with relations and the numerical model of this system is required.

Copyright of INFOR is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Now that they are aware of the possibilities opened up by mechanical data-processing systems, research workers concerned with the sciences of man are looking for guidance on the methods likely to ensure efficiency or greater efficiency in their use of the machines. In order to use an electronic machine designed for data-processing, one must be able to communicate with it. The term "language" is applied to any organized system of signs calculated to bring about such communication, and the words "syntax" and "semantics" are used in reference to languages of this kind. These terms, language, syntax, semantics, and a number of others, have been borrowed by data-processing specialists from the linguistics of natural languages. The purpose is to suggest that, although linguistics, mathematical logic and data-processing cover entirely different fields, the problems arising in each of them in connection with the relations between syntax and semantics must be formulated on lines which, if not exactly the same, are at least fairly similar in each field.

The article offers information on several life sciences meetings. The theme for Fifth National Biomedical Sciences Symposium that was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on May 15-17, 1967, was advances in dynamic bioinstrumentation for medicine and research. The sixth annual symposium on biomathematics and computer science in the life sciences will be held in Houston, Texas, on March 14-16, 1968. A symposium on the ocean sciences and engineering of the Atlantic Shelf will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 19-20, 1968. It also presents a calendar of life sciences meetings for January-February 1968.

The article presents a commentary from John M. Flynn on an article about computers and instruction. He claims that the study of the benefits of computer assisted instruction gives an optimistic picture of the potential use of computers in the instructional process. While such findings are particularly compatible with his conceptual scheme, he was disappointed to find many weaknesses in the study that gave these results. If computer assisted instruction is worthy of a role in the educational process, its merits should be demonstrated by well designed and well conducted studies.

The article presents "The Flora North America Project" that aims to initiate a feasibility study to consider the production of diagnostic flowers in North America. The author mentions that this project was started by John Torrey and Asa Gray, two pioneers of botany in North America. It was sponsored by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists in 1965. The author also mentions that the project aims to develop modern biosystematics with the advancement in computer science. He explains that it is the project's goal to have greater accumulation of knowledge concerning plants.

This article presents corrections to two articles published in the March-April issue of "Journal of the American Society for Information Science." On page 136, a correction has been displayed in an equation. On page 138, another error has been cited in a sentence.

This article focuses on a method to solve boolean equations through the use of term weights to the base two. While not satisfying a simple weight-limit, the technique does afford a unique solution to a Boolean equation when used in conjunction with a table-lookup following assessment of the truth-value of each term in the set. This technique is often used in computer programming where, for example, any of 2n different subroutines or branches must be taken depending on the truth subset of n elements.