Internet-Based Information Systems
457
The FEF Pilot Information System
In 1993, the Forth Estuary Forum produced a folder containing detailed information
about the users of the Firth of Forth in the File on Forth. Although a very useful
reference document, the File on Forth had a number of distinct disadvantages. The
most obvious of these was the paper format, which by the time it reached the Forth
Estuary Forum user base, was already becoming out of date.
Acquiring new information and reprinting a paper-based product can be quite
costly. Updates are time consuming and the format means that such updates could only
realistically be produced every so often rather than at the times when they are most
needed and would be most useful. Another disadvantage is that such information may
not necessarily reach the widest community who would be interested in the Firth of
Forth.
A logical development of this initiative was to investigate the production of a
computer-based equivalent to the File on Forth. A number of options were open. One
was to utilise a standard software package such as a database. However, although this
offers users a digital equivalent of the paper-based information that can be queried for
selective retrieval this does not really overcome the need to reach as wide a range of
users as possible. Furthermore, it does not make use of the full range of computerbased information delivery possibilities that now exist, e.g. delivering multimedia
information in the form of text, images, graphics, and video; nor does it permit the use
of, e.g. animation in the presentation of information. The Internet and the WWW
browsers, however, offer an ideal solution providing users with a simple interface,
tools, multimedia presentation, and also the benefits of networking, thereby
maximising the delivery of information to as wide a user-base as possible.
Some Basic Considerations
STRUCTURE
For an information system to 'work' on the WWW there is a need to provide a clear
structure for the material that will be posted. One of the current drawbacks of the
Internet is the difficulty of locating information.
The initial structure defined by the FEF is shown in Fig. 2. This provides a
starting point for the separation or break down of the proposed information into HTML
WWW pages.
SYSTEM DESIGN
Within the Windows framework, there is an obvious need to ensure that the
information system, as a working, customised system, is easy to use for a wide range of
different users from different backgrounds; ‘usability’ being the appropriate term to use
in this context. This is above and beyond the need to have a familiar and intuitive
457
The FEF Pilot Information System
In 1993, the Forth Estuary Forum produced a folder containing detailed information
about the users of the Firth of Forth in the File on Forth. Although a very useful
reference document, the File on Forth had a number of distinct disadvantages. The
most obvious of these was the paper format, which by the time it reached the Forth
Estuary Forum user base, was already becoming out of date.
Acquiring new information and reprinting a paper-based product can be quite
costly. Updates are time consuming and the format means that such updates could only
realistically be produced every so often rather than at the times when they are most
needed and would be most useful. Another disadvantage is that such information may
not necessarily reach the widest community who would be interested in the Firth of
Forth.
A logical development of this initiative was to investigate the production of a
computer-based equivalent to the File on Forth. A number of options were open. One
was to utilise a standard software package such as a database. However, although this
offers users a digital equivalent of the paper-based information that can be queried for
selective retrieval this does not really overcome the need to reach as wide a range of
users as possible. Furthermore, it does not make use of the full range of computerbased information delivery possibilities that now exist, e.g. delivering multimedia
information in the form of text, images, graphics, and video; nor does it permit the use
of, e.g. animation in the presentation of information. The Internet and the WWW
browsers, however, offer an ideal solution providing users with a simple interface,
tools, multimedia presentation, and also the benefits of networking, thereby
maximising the delivery of information to as wide a user-base as possible.
Some Basic Considerations
STRUCTURE
For an information system to 'work' on the WWW there is a need to provide a clear
structure for the material that will be posted. One of the current drawbacks of the
Internet is the difficulty of locating information.
The initial structure defined by the FEF is shown in Fig. 2. This provides a
starting point for the separation or break down of the proposed information into HTML
WWW pages.
SYSTEM DESIGN
Within the Windows framework, there is an obvious need to ensure that the
information system, as a working, customised system, is easy to use for a wide range of
different users from different backgrounds; ‘usability’ being the appropriate term to use
in this context. This is above and beyond the need to have a familiar and intuitive