Date: Sat, 4 Apr 1998 18:21:58 CST From: Gerry McKiernan <mailto:JL.GJM@ISUMVS.IASTATE.EDU> Subject: Music to My Ears: Auditory Functionality in Web OPACs To: mailto:WEBCAT-L@WUVMD.WUSTL.EDU
Music To My Ears:
Auditory Functionality in Web OPACs
In the process of developing a new clearinghouse devoted
to Auditory Browsing in Web and non-Web databases called
_The Next WAVe(sm), I have been inspired to consider the
use and/or potential application of speech and non-speech
sounds to facilitate the use and navigation within OPACs
and other bibliographic databases. _The Next WAVe(sm)_
is intended to complement my clearinghouse devoted to Information
Visualization called _The Big Picture_. _The Big Picture_
is available at URL:
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/BigPic.htm
_The Next WAVe(sm)_ is currently in development at URL:
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/Wave.htm
[BTW: _The Next WAV(e)_ is the new name of a previously announced
initiative called _Auditorium(sm) : The Sound of Meaning (sm)_]
While I am finding that there are a number of relevant
projects relating to Auditory Display in a variety of contexts
including some in the focus area of _The Next WAVe(sm),
I have not yet identified project that apply Auditory Display (AD)
technologies to OPAC searching and navigation. While I believe
that in the near future that the types of sophisticated AD
techniques will be incorporated with OPACs and other bibliographic
systems, I am interested in knowing the current technological and
organizational baseline for Auditory functionality. I am therefore
greatly interested in learning about
1) Library practices and policies relating to
patrons access to Audio files in public
venues
2) The use of speech and non-speech sound
within institutional and/or library
Web pages
3) Speculation on the technical and/or
institutional incorporation of Sound
to augment current GUI interfaces
for patron assistance.
[I personally see great instructional
benefit in Distance Education in the
use of Sound within appropriate Web Page
contexts
4) The architectural requirements needed to
accommodate future Audio-Enhanced OPACs
Any and all current efforts will be added to my
Onion Patch(sm) my clearinghouse devoted to New Age
Public Access Systems. Onion Patch(sm) is accessible at
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/Onion.htm
and/or in Coffee URN(sm) my clearinghouse that will
be devoted to Java-enhanced OPACs that is currently in
development.
As always, Any and All contributions, comments,
questions, suggestions and/or critique would be most welcome!
Regards,
Gerry McKiernan
Curator, CyberStacks(sm)
Iowa State University
Ames IA 50011
mailto:gerrymck@iastate.edu
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/
"The Best Way to Predict the Future is To Invent It!"
Attributed to Peter Drucker