Terena Networking Conference — Dresden 1998 DESIRE http

Terena Networking Conference - Dresden 1998 DESIRE http: //www. desire. org/ DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Why DESIRE ? HThe technology of the World Wide Web is now widely-deployed to provide on-line information services. In applying that technology to largescale, distributed information services to serve the goals of research users some interesting challenges emerge to which no off-the-shelf solutions yet exist. DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Researchers HExacting requirements – – – comprehensive survey and search quality speed and cost review reliable and repeatable HExpectations of technology DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

DESIRE background H The WWW is increasingly used as a means of co-ordinating and publishing research data … … and of locating it ? ? H Existing WWW services fail to meet the needs of researchers H DESIRE seeks to maximise the potential of the WWW for – end-users of research data – information providers DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

DESIRE 1 Development of a European Service for Information on Research and Education Jan 1996 - Mar 1998 http: //www. desire. org/ DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Specific objectives H Tools for indexing and cataloguing information servers H Tools for the management and maintenance of information servers H Demonstration and evaluation of tools and techniques for information caching and secure access to information servers H Background information for developers of networked information systems H Training materials DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

User groups H Engineers H Social scientists H Art historians H Network managers H Research students H Network operators H Content providers H Server maintainers H Orthopaedic practitioners and researchers H Teleworkers DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

DESIRE 1 - key areas. . . H Indexing and Cataloguing – Mechanisms for locating information H Caching – Mechanisms to improve speed of retrieval H Training – Training to support evaluation projects H Evaluation – Technology demonstration and evaluation DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

… DESIRE 1 - key areas H Quality of Service – Measurement and monitoring of service levels H Security – Applications of secure information services H Information Tools – Development of tools for information providers H Home Access – Information access from the home office DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Reliability HJava based system HDiagnoses and anticipates faults HWorks across distributed servers HCharts performance over time HMetrics reflect users’ perception but can be derived from standard management information DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Security HSmartcard system built HAllows students to download commercial software if they are licensed HSupplied as part of network access kit, ready configured HProtocol extensible to variety of smartcards and 3 rd party authentication DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Cataloguing and Indexing H Objectives – To enable European researchers to locate relevant and high quality information through: – – – subject based services (information gateways) automated indexing harvesting of high quality resources H Results – Methods and tools for – – – development of quality controlled catalogues automatic indexing of WWW content harvesting of high quality resources DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

European Web Index - EWI HDoes not try to collect the Internet HSmaller, easier to maintain collections HStandard search protocol HExpandable and flexible HAdaptable – national, linguistic, subject groups DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

SBIGs HSubject Based Information Gateways HHuman intermediaries HMeaningful and accurate metadata HCommunities of interest DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Information Gateways HDistributed contribution and cataloguing from a WWW interface HCross-searching and cross-browsing HBuilding the framework for a truly international distributed digital library DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Information Gateways Future directions H Integration of harvesting and cataloguing H Multilingual subject based thesauri H Intelligent redirection for failed searches H Semi-automated resource selection tools H Subject caching? national mirroring? DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

ROADS HProduced in the e. Lib programme HUnderlies the DESIRE SBIGs HFree software and toolkit H 350 downloads of v 2. 0 in 1 month HDublin Core compliant HZ 39. 50 compatible Hhttp: //www. ilrt. bris. ac. uk/roads/ DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Gateway Guidelines HProcedures HSelection Criteria HResource Description Formats HClassification HInternationalisation HDistributed Catalogues DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Efficient Retrieval HCaching HLarge benefits available HHighly complex to plan and configure HTopology, selection, reliability DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Caching in DESIRE 1 HNational caches created in Norway and The Netherlands HThe core of an emerging European caching network HGuidelines for good practice HEnhancements to HTTP and ICP DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Benefits Hweb traffic can be reduced by 30%-50% HNorway saved 50, 000 ECU in one year HIf widely used, could be 500, 000 ECU HAlso reduction in latency DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Training HRunning workshops for information providers HDeveloping a system for delivering on-line training HTONIC-NG helps real and virtual training H The Internet Detective - a web based tutorial on evaluating the quality of Internet information DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

Deliverables and more Hhttp: //www. desire. org DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

DESIRE 1 - partners DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

DESIRE 2. . . HSmaller, more focussed HJust underway HCritical issues such as : – caching/indexing distribution – digital libraries and rdf – developing efficient distributed search for people and things HWill be just as good as DESIRE 1 ! DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers

DESIRE Funded by DG XIII of the EU 4 th framework Telematics for Research Programme. DESIRE - developing the Internet for researchers