BioSYNTHESIS: bridging the information gap

• Published in: Bulletin of the Medical Library Association Vol. 77; no. 1; pp. 19 - 25
• Main Authors: BROERING, N. C, GAULT, H. R, EPSTEIN, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL Medical Library Association 1989
• Subjects: BioSYNTHESIS; Computer Communication Networks; Computer Systems; Computerised information retrieval; Computerized information storage and retrieval; Exact sciences and technology; Gateways; Georgetown University (Washington, DC) Libraries; Humans; IAIMS (Integrated Academic Information Management Systems); Information and communication sciences; Information and document management systems; Information processing and retrieval; Information retrieval systems. Information and document management system; Information science. Documentation; Information storage and retrieval; Information Systems; Information work; Intelligent gateways; Medicine; Miscellaneous; Multiple database searches; Online information retrieval; Sciences and techniques of general use; Searching; Software; Strategies; Subject indexing; Technical services; University libraries; Evaluation; Prototype; Information system; United States; Information retrieval; Knowledge base; University library; North America; Remote access; Medicine; User interface; Gateway; America; Database; Computer; User assistance
• ISSN: 0025-7338

BioSYNTHESIS is a prototype intelligent retrieval system under development as part of the IAIMS project at Georgetown University. The aim is to create an integrated system that can retrieve information located on disparate computer systems. The project work has been divided in two phases: BioSYNTHESIS I, development of a single menu to access various databases which reside on different computers; and BioSYNTHESIS II, development of a search component that facilitates complex searching for the user. BioSYNTHESIS II will accept a user's query and conduct a search for appropriate information in the IAIMS databases at Georgetown. For information not available at Georgetown, such as full text, it will access selected remote systems and translate the search query as appropriate for the target system. The search through various computer systems and different databases with unique storage and retrieval structures will be transparent to the user. BioSYNTHESIS I is complete and available to users. The design work for BioSYNTHESIS II is under development and will continue as a multiyear technical research effort of the proposed Georgetown IAIMS implementation project.