CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Focus Group Research
Published Author, Rod
Marketing SDS, Communication Metrics
Paperless Office
Intelligence, Delivery Medium for Business
Online Books
Paperless Office Failed
Virtual Office, Networked Computers
Online Books
Web Site Book Review, Smith Research

1312 -    ..
1313 - Summary/Objective
1314 -
131401 - Follow up ref SDS 10 0000, ref SDS 9 0000.
131402 - ..
131403 - Converted Smith's questionaire, ref OF 1 0000, into HTML, so it
131404 - can be integrated into the record.  This will demonstrate how to apply
131405 - the idea of an "on-line" book, which is one of the issues being
131406 - evaluated by the focus group session. ref OF 1 5225
131407 -
131408 -       [On 990126 attended Focus Group. ref SDS 11 0000]
131409 -
131410 -       [On 990209 contacted Smith Research. ref SDS 12 0000]
131411 -
131412 - This is an extensive exercise.
131413 -
131414 - There are approximately 160 questions covering 4 web sites.
131415 -
131416 -     1.  ref OF 1 1050">http://www.oreilly.com, ref OF 1 1050
131417 -
131418 -     2.  ref OF 1 1540">http://mpress.microsoft.com, ref OF 1 1540
131419 -
131420 -     3.  ref OF 1 1560">http://www.mcp.com, ref OF 1 1560
131421 -
131422 -     4.  ref OF 1 3162">http://www.computerliteracy.com, ref OF 1 3162
131423 - ..
131424 - There is detailed evaluation on each web site under the
131425 - heading...
131426 -
131427 -                       Book Information
131428 -
131429 -     ... ref OF 1 6061
131430 -
131431 - The final general section is...
131432 -
131433 -                       Computer Book Web Site Features
131434 -
131435 -     ... ref OF 1 5161
131436 -
131437 - There are about 20 essay questions which require narrative
131438 - explanation.
131439 - ..
131440 - Several questions begin with the hypothetical...
131441 -
131442 -      Imagine you are preparing to take an MCSE exam on Exchange
131443 -      Server. for example at ref OF 1 0416
131444 -
131445 - However, there is nothing in the materials that define or otherwise
131446 - explain "MCSE" nor "Exchange Server."
131447 -
131448 -
131449 -  ..
131450 - Online Books - Intelligence in Knowledge Space, Paperless Office
131451 -
131452 - The survey covers online books. ref OF 1 5225
131453 -
131454 - This capability supports, indeed is critical to Communication Metrics
131455 - objectives for a "paperless office" by positioning information in
131456 - Knowledge Space, defined on 960620, ref SDS 2 3516, so connections can
131457 - make it practical to deliver intelligence via Internet, as reviewed on
131458 - 971021, ref SDS 3 2635, and later on 971105. ref SDS 4 1459
131459 -
131460 -      [On 990221 Max Wideman provided online glossary for project
131461 -      management. ref SDS 13 8488]
131462 -
131463 -      [On 000307 reviewed advantages of online books for providing an
131464 -      environment that facilitates making the connections that convert
131465 -      information in books into useful knowledge. ref SDS 14 1122
131466 -
131467 -      [On 000419 reading books online was reviewed. ref SDS 15 4782
131468 -
131469 - It greatly reduces the time and cost required to scan books in order
131470 - to position information in knowledge space, as formulated on 960620.
131471 - ref SDS 2 3516
131472 -
131473 - Online books support the "repository of information" goals that are
131474 - part of the "virtual office" reviewed on 980613. ref SDS 8 2498
131475 -
131476 -
131477 -  ..
131478 - Online Manuals May Facilitate Implementation of Command Strings
131479 -
131480 - Turns out that O'Reilly is the publisher of...
131481 -
131482 -                  HTML The Definitive Guide
131483 -
131484 -    ...which we purchased on 971112. ref SDS 5 2934
131485 -
131486 - Online books might solve problems using the printed HTML guide caused
131487 - by fine print, as reported on 980318. ref SDS 6 4481
131488 -
131489 - See also discussion with Microsoft on 980320. ref SDS 7 5200
131490 -
131491 - If we can simply use cut and paste to capture a command string, then
131492 - the chance of misreading it would be reduced.
131493 -
131494 -
131495 -  ..
131496 - O'Reilly Offers Online Books on Only Two Subjects
131497 -
131498 - The contents window on the left side of the web page lists "Online
131499 - Books."
131500 -
131501 - It has only books for Java and for web page design.
131502 -
131503 -
131504 -
131505 - O'Reilly Publications and Links to Open Source, Linux
131506 -
131507 - Question 9 on the Smith Research questionaire asks for opinion on
131508 - various features. ref OF 1 4480
131509 -
131510 - Open Source is one of these features.
131511 -
131512 - Open Source is a generic name for an alternative Unix based OS to DOS
131513 - and Windows.  Key features of Open Source software is that users get
131514 - the source code and can modify it to suit particular needs.  The
131515 - software is free, but changes have to be made available to everyone.
131516 -
131517 - Linux is a current popular version or product using Open Source
131518 - standards.  There is a link to a site that explains the correlations
131519 - and differences to DOS and Windows...
131520 -
131521 -      http://metalab.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/DOS-Win-to-Linux-HOWTO.html
131522 -
131523 -
131524 -  ..
131525 - Oreilly Web Site Seems Slow
131526 -
131527 - This is a fairly big annoyance.
131528 -
131529 -
131530 -
131531 - Annoyances on Oreilly's Website Provides Useful Tips for W98
131532 -
131533 - Question 9 leads to review of a source for reference and help on
131534 - common Annoyances using various system, including W98. ref OF 1 3645
131535 -
131536 - Should consider obtaining this source.
131537 -
131538 -
131539 -  ..
131540 - Write for Us - Oreilly Offers Publishing Support
131541 -
131542 - O'Reilly is looking for new authors and book ideas.
131543 -
131544 - There is a section called "Write for Us" that explains procedures for
131545 - submission of manuscripts that O'Reilly will review for publication.
131546 -
131547 - I submitted a book proposal for the NWO.
131548 -
131549 -
131550 -  ..
131551 - Microsoft Does Not Offer Ideas on Making Software Useful
131552 -
131553 - Question 8 under Microsoft asks for comments. ref OF 1 4729
131554 -
131555 - I made the observation that Microsoft's web site offers effective
131556 - references for Microsoft products, and since it dominates the market,
131557 - this is useful.
131558 -
131559 - Suggested idea at ref OF 1 7200 of using software to support an
131560 - "intelligence" role, as explained in the POIMS paper. ref OF 2 0582
131561 -
131562 - Also noted Landauer's point in his book "The Trouble with Computers"
131563 - about the lack of usefulness in computer software, and consequent need
131564 - for reference materials on formulating a conceptual framework that can
131565 - support increased usefulness, as reviewed on 950710. ref SDS 1 2004
131566 -
131567 - See, as well, Landauer's analysis reviewed at ref SDS 1 3045, and
131568 - further on the failure of the paperless office. ref SDS 1 2850
131569 -
131570 -
131571 -  ..
131572 - Macmillian's Web Site Offers Online Books - Personal Bookshelf
131573 -
131574 - This site is evaluated in the questionaire at ref OF 1 1560.
131575 -
131576 - The "Personal Bookshelf" seems to be the same feature that is
131577 - available on the Oreilly site for Online Books. ref SDS 0 6388
131578 -
131579 -         http://www.mcp.com
131580 -
131581 -
131582 -  ..
131583 - Computer Literacy Site Does Not Offer Online Books
131584 -
131585 - This site is evaluated in the questionaire at ref OF 1 3162.
131586 -
131587 -         http://www.computerliteracy.com
131588 -
131589 - This site seems easy to understand and they have a rich inventory of
131590 - books, but they do not seem to offer online books, as do Macmillian,
131591 - ref SDS 0 8388, and O'reilly. ref SDS 0 6388
131592 -
131593 -    [On 990126 Focus Group said Computer Literacy is best bookstore
131594 -    online, but does not offer online books. ref SDS 11 7803]
131595 -
131596 -
131597 -
1316 -