Using Diverse Information Communication Technologies to Exchange Information

Using Diverse Information Communication Technologies to Exchange Information: Viable Solutions for ICF and Related Organisations Professor Holly Crawford Department of Ceramic and Materials Engineering Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey hcrawfor@rci. rutgers. edu

What is an information communication technology (ICT)?

ICT: Definition from Social Informatics Artifacts and practices for recording, organizing, storing, manipulating and communicating information. ICTs include a wide array of artifacts such as writing tools, telephones, faxes, computers, movies, music, and books. They also include practices such as software testing methods and approaches to archiving, digitizing, cataloguing and indexing documents.

ICTs and the International Crystal Federation • Annual technical meeting • Desire to exchange information synchronously and asynchronously • Information dissemination • Public • Proprietary • Educational • Regulatory

Selected ICTs for ICF—Roles and Functions • Website (link to related organisations) • Intranet (in-house, link from website)

Asynchronous Communication: Webboards

Real Time Communication Using IRC

Real-Time Webcasting • Audio and/or video • Conferences • Education • Tech. presentations • Breaking news • Vendor meetings

Digital Libraries/Archives

Tying Everything Together: The Virtual Collaboratory

What is a Virtual Collaboratory? A collection of web-based information communication technologies (ICTs), tailored to scientists in the applied sciences and technology, that facilitate (synchronous and asynchronous) z. Scholarly communication z. Proliferation of scientific skills across multiple domains z. Archiving of and access to data sets and documents z. Alternative teaching/learning methods (Crawford 1999)

Remote access to laboratory experiments in progress Interdisciplinary collaboration Greater industrial participation in universitybased research programs Use of wired and/or wireless environments

Foundation of the Virtual Collaboratory 1989 -1992: Schatz et. al. conduct ethnography of nematode researchers to ascertain how they can take advantage of ICTs to improve communication within their community: Work/collaboration practices Scholarly communication methods Use of current computer technologies (e. g. email, bulletin boards, listservs, y-Talk) Information needs (personal and communitywide)

Based on Engelbart’s telesophy concept wisdom at a distance; an all-inclusive network that supports transparent manipulation of knowledge across computer and communications networks Proprietary UNIX servers (email, bulletin boards) Networked databases containing yarchival data yformal/informal literature yunpublished data (e. g. researcher contact info) ydata analysis software y. Worm community lore (“war stories”)

ICF and Nematode Researchers — Similar Information Needs • The WCS utilized late 1980’s, early 1990’s ICTs to share information and communicate • The virtual collaboratory builds upon the WCS infrastructure and uses current and nextgeneration technology However, the goal remains the same: create a human-centered information system

Beyond ICF: Using ICTs to Disseminate Critical Information about Lead Management and Abatement to Targeted Audiences

Challenges: • Time constraints (regulatory pressure) • Uneven access to “fat pipes” • Access to “fat pipes” costly • Absence of hardware/software; presence of antiquated hardware/software • Technological literacy • Language issues • Economics/politics

Proposed Solutions and/or Workarounds • Learn about target audience and region • Ascertain technological infrastructure • Make use of existing information dissemination schemes (e. g. distance education content delivery— Africa, India, Cuba) • Deliver content in native language • Tailor content to audience

• Archive all media for ready access • Make all websites user-centered (e. g. dynamic, navigable, simple, flexible and adaptable) • If technology is utilized to deliver content, provide technical support (7/24, if at all possible) and training • Paper documents and face-to-face contact still “tried and true” methods

Document Manipulation • Regular mail • Email • Webcasting • Satellite • Hand delivery

Similar project for ICF; design document to be adapted to all media in cost-effective manner; multiple versions—full text, FAQ, multilingual, regionspecific, lead problemspecific; disseminate via traditional and digital means

Concluding Remarks • ICF can and should implement ICTs selectively • ICTs must facilitate the exchange of information • The design of the virtual collaboratory is such that it allows for internal and external information control; security is transparent and access is seamless • Information dissemination about lead management and/or abatement can be relatively easy provided one is willing to consider a variety of ICT options. Knowledge of the target audience is key.