Internet-Based Information Systems
453
others have gone some way toward overcoming the need for practical and easy
information delivery by offering a much simpler user-interface for the individual who
wishes solely to use the information stored in the GIS, but who does not necessarily
want or need to be familiar with a GIS to the same extent and level that a specialist
would need to be.
Such software developments have provided the decision-maker with a simple
desktop tool whereby they can retrieve and display information, and subsequently
incorporate it into other documents, e.g. a planning report.
Decisions require information, and in the modern workplace information must
be readily available to those responsible for supplying information to the decisionmakers, or to the decision-makers directly. Computers have revolutionised our
workplace and have had a major impact upon work practices. With the rapid
developments in desktop computers, networking and communications technology
access to information has become increasingly easy. Desktop GIS running on PCs have
been developed and as demand has grown more and more of these systems have
focused on emphasising ease of use, not so much as GIS, but as information retrieval
and display systems, which in some cases have been designed to deliver information in
a decision-making environment.
Recent developments in Information Technology (IT) (hardware, processors,
software), Human Computer Interfaces (HCIs), and multimedia have all enabled
greatly improved access to information stored on desktop computers, and have enabled
access for a much wider range of users than ever before. Whilst most of the above
examples offer single users access to information provided on a disk or CD-ROM, the
LCGISN (Louisiana Coastal Geographical Information System Network), however, has
shown the benefit of a networked approach for access to information.
Networking, Communications and Information Technology
The concept and benefit of network provision for access to marine and coastal data and
information is not new (see for example, Amber (1993)). It is widely recognised as an
ideal way to provide for data exchange, and can operate at any level or scale, whether
it is local, national or global. With the development of the appropriate Information
Technology (IT), the potential to develop digital equivalents of the networking concept
has rapidly become a reality.
With recent developments in Information Technology (IT), both software and
hardware, it is now possible with the aid of a Client-Server system (Fig. 1) in
conjunction with Internet Browsers, e.g. Netscape, to deliver multimedia information
over a global network. Although the technology is not that old, the adoption of MS
Windows (3.1, 95, 98, 2000 and NT) for example, in conjunction with Internet
browsers (Netscape and Internet Explorer) offers the potential to deliver information in
a simple yet effective manner. The advantage of a Windows environment is that it
provides a user with a simple, intuitive interface, which together with the Internet
Browser, offers tools designed to simplify the search for, retrieval, display, capture and
output of a information - all the basics needed. Such information can easily be ‘cut and
453
others have gone some way toward overcoming the need for practical and easy
information delivery by offering a much simpler user-interface for the individual who
wishes solely to use the information stored in the GIS, but who does not necessarily
want or need to be familiar with a GIS to the same extent and level that a specialist
would need to be.
Such software developments have provided the decision-maker with a simple
desktop tool whereby they can retrieve and display information, and subsequently
incorporate it into other documents, e.g. a planning report.
Decisions require information, and in the modern workplace information must
be readily available to those responsible for supplying information to the decisionmakers, or to the decision-makers directly. Computers have revolutionised our
workplace and have had a major impact upon work practices. With the rapid
developments in desktop computers, networking and communications technology
access to information has become increasingly easy. Desktop GIS running on PCs have
been developed and as demand has grown more and more of these systems have
focused on emphasising ease of use, not so much as GIS, but as information retrieval
and display systems, which in some cases have been designed to deliver information in
a decision-making environment.
Recent developments in Information Technology (IT) (hardware, processors,
software), Human Computer Interfaces (HCIs), and multimedia have all enabled
greatly improved access to information stored on desktop computers, and have enabled
access for a much wider range of users than ever before. Whilst most of the above
examples offer single users access to information provided on a disk or CD-ROM, the
LCGISN (Louisiana Coastal Geographical Information System Network), however, has
shown the benefit of a networked approach for access to information.
Networking, Communications and Information Technology
The concept and benefit of network provision for access to marine and coastal data and
information is not new (see for example, Amber (1993)). It is widely recognised as an
ideal way to provide for data exchange, and can operate at any level or scale, whether
it is local, national or global. With the development of the appropriate Information
Technology (IT), the potential to develop digital equivalents of the networking concept
has rapidly become a reality.
With recent developments in Information Technology (IT), both software and
hardware, it is now possible with the aid of a Client-Server system (Fig. 1) in
conjunction with Internet Browsers, e.g. Netscape, to deliver multimedia information
over a global network. Although the technology is not that old, the adoption of MS
Windows (3.1, 95, 98, 2000 and NT) for example, in conjunction with Internet
browsers (Netscape and Internet Explorer) offers the potential to deliver information in
a simple yet effective manner. The advantage of a Windows environment is that it
provides a user with a simple, intuitive interface, which together with the Internet
Browser, offers tools designed to simplify the search for, retrieval, display, capture and
output of a information - all the basics needed. Such information can easily be ‘cut and