Get documents about "Technical Specifications of an Information Database
Document Sample
SYMPOSIUM: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN EXTENSION EDUCATION
Technical Specifications of an Information Database
DEWAYNE EDWARD DILL1
Department of Animal Sciences
University of Illinois
Urbana 61801
ABSTRACT The microcomputer is generally not utilized
Construction of an information data- for delivery and management of information in
base involves translation from traditional the dairy sector (1). Current microcomputer
printed media to electronic media. Elec- technology enables delivery of printed text,
tronic form inherently increases the func- charts, figures, full color photos, sound, and
tionality of the original information. video. Thus, information traditionally deli-
Unique features and functionality of each vered by conventional media can be delivered
element type must be fully exploited. in electronic form (2). In addition, the elec-
The element types include text, outline, tronic form permits the management of infor-
picture, line art, graph, schematic, work mation, including rapid searching, integration
sheet, table, database, equation, video, of mixed forms of media, and automatic con-
and sound. A common nomenclature for struction of user documents.
key words, data fields, graph titles, graph The need for an improved method of infor-
labels, table headings, variable names, mation delivery is evidenced by the degree of
and input labels is necessary to enable sophistication required to manage a dajl farm
integration of all elements. Common properly. Many top managers have begun to
functions include opening and closing make use of consultants that serve as highly
files, displaying an element, processing specialized sources of expertise and informa-
user input, exchanging data among ele- tion. Agri-businesses now offer services in ad-
ments, and matching element content to dition to the product that they sell to address
a search key. the informational needs of individual
(Key w r s information, database,
od: producers. Veterinarians no longer restrict their
computer, multimedia) business to the health and well-being of the
dairy herd; they now consult with producers on
broad aspects of dairy management as well.
INTRODUCTION
However, the responsibility for the correct de-
Information is essential for decision mak- cision still ultimately rests with the farm
ing. Diy producers utilize diverse sources for manager or individual producer. In addition,
ar
acquisition of information needed to manage this individual must resolve conflicts that arise
their operation properly (4). Magazines and from differing information sources. Thus, a
other printed publications are used most fre- reliable source of information and expertise is
quently by producers as information obtained a necessity.
from a particular source. However, the extent
to which management decisions are made on CHARACTERISTICS OF INFORMATION
the basis of information obtained from a par-
ticular source is a better indication of the value Five characteristics of information are ac-
of the information source (3) than how fre- curacy, relevance, timeliness, usability, and
quently information is obtained from the cost. These characteristics can be used as
source. criteria to evaluate a specific medium to deter-
mine the appropriateness of the medium for
delivering a particular type of information.
These criteria also serve as constraints in de-
Received September 30, 1991. velopment of an electronic information data-
Accepted April 20, 1992.
IPresent address: CenexlLand O’Lakes Ag Services, base.
PO Box 64089. St. Paul, MN 551644089. Mi Station
al The need for accurate information is obvi-
670. ous. However, potential for miscommunication
1992 J Diy Sci 75:3238-3241
ar 3238
SYMPOSIUM: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3239
between the author and user of information material contained in electronic media are
make accuracy especially important. First, in- quite rapid relative to other media.
formation may be accurate but presented in a Usability addresses the need for information
manner that leads to misinterpretation and the to be in the form that enables maximum utility.
appearance of inaccuracy. Second, the infor- For example, a video that illustrates the proce-
mation may be incomplete. This is often the dures to follow to repair the refrigeration unit
case with material originally prepared for a on a bulk t n is of little value unless the user
ak
narrowly defined audience but subsequently can play the video while making the repair. It
distributed to a wider audience. Exceptions and is also desirable to have a remote control that
constraints that the author omitted for the permits the user to stop the video periodically,
original audience are now essential for the review previous segments, and skip forward to
broader one. Third, information can become provide more detail about a specific question.
dated. Information that was originally accurate A printed manual with detailed pictures that
can become inaccurate over time. Finally, per- illustrate each procedure might be a more usa-
sonal bias cannot be entirely eliminated from ble form for this type of information.
the information that the author generates. The ability to integrate various types of
When differing opinions or interpretations of information and media also increases usability.
data exist, personal bias can also exist. Integration of information about a displaced
Relevance of information can only be deter- abomasum that includes printed text explaining
mined by examination of the information with the condition, diagrams illustrating the condi-
reference to a potential application. With most tion, and an audio reproducing the characteris-
media, the issue of relevance is largely the tic sound used to diagnose the condition makes
responsibility of the user. Although the author each information type more useful than when
can indicate the general application of the in- each is used separately.
formation, the author cannot reasonably be Cost intersects with all other characteristics
expected to enumerate all uses and potential of information. A tradeoff exists between max-
misuses. Electronic media offer the author imizing a particular characteristic and cost.
more opportunity to ensure the relevant appli- The degree of accuracy of information is a
cation of information. However, this capability function of how rigorous a review and evalua-
must be explicitly developed as a feature of the tion the information underwent. The extent to
electronic information database. which only relevant information is presented to
Timeliness has two components: 1) how the user depends on the sophistication of the
rapidly the information can be distributed from search and retrieval mechanism used. The
the author to the user and 2) how quickly the timeliness with which information can be dis-
user can find the appropriate information. Both tributed and searched is directly related to the
components of timeliness vary depending on medium used. The usability and integration of
the type of medium and organization. Printed information also depend on the type of
material can be generated rapidly but searched medium and the extent to which the informa-
rather slowly unless an index is provided. tion was organized to maximize utility.
Transmission of the spoken word via telephone
or radio is instantaneous but nearly impossible INFORMATION ELEMENTS
to search.
Electronic media can utilize a variety of Information collectively presented and dis-
distribution methods, depending on the time tributed consists of a variety of elements. Each
sensitivity of the material. Material requiring element type contains certain properties that
immediate distribution can be broadcast over a can be utilized by the originator of the infor-
wide area network to all subscribers of a serv- mation to maximize understanding or utility.
ice. Less sensitive information can be placed Similarly, electronic media contain various ele-
on an electronic bulletin board and accessed at ments. Historically, most information has ex-
the user’s convenience. Material with the least isted in printed form. The electronic equivalent
time sensitivity can be periodically distributed of printed form exists. However, information
using more traditional channels. Regardless of contained in an electronic medium can alterna-
the method of distribution, searches for tively exist in a form that extends the function-
Journal of Drury Science Vol. 75, No. 11, 1992
3240 DILL
ality of the information beyond display for emerged; the .DBF, developed by Ashton Tate,
human recognition. However, a translation is the most common format.
from printed form to electronic form is re- The table element is similar, except that
quired to achieve this functionality. The essen- each row does not represent a unique item, and
tial components of information in electronic the emphasis is on the relationship between
media include the unique characteristics of data fields. Like the database element, mean-
each element and the functions associated with ing is derived from the data field labels or
each element. column headings. The principal function of the
For all elements, meaning and understand- table element is to enable various calculations
ing are derived from the words or group of to be made within contents of the table. These
words associated with the element. These calculations include interpolation between
words or groups of words have different desig- values, derivation of equations defining the
nations, such as key word, data field, axis relationship between values, and calculation of
label, and drawing label, depending on the various statistical measures. Spread sheets are
element type. However, these words unify all well suited to these types of calculations. Thus,
elements, thus enabling integration and deter- to maximize utility, this element is best con-
mination of element meaning. tained in a spread sheet format.
Text is the fundamental element type. It Work sheet and equation elements are also
consists of words organized into sentences and well suited as spread sheets. A work sheet
paragraphs. It might also contain headings and consists of numerous equations and step by
other labels that in well-constructed text can step instructions for performing various calcu-
serve as key words to the subsequent para- lations to derive the desired output. The user
graphs. For this element, meaning is derived must supply values for certain necessary inputs
from the element content. The only function of and can alter other values as desired. The
text is display. Associated with the display of essence of the work sheet element generally
text are numerous formatting and display op- can be determined from the label assigned to
tions, which do not affect the meaning of the inputs supplied by the user or the final value of
element. The standard computer form of text is the calculations. An equation is a special case
ASCII. However, several word processing and in which a work sheet contains only a single
desk top publishing formats or hybrids thereof calculation. The associated function of the
have gained widespread use. work sheet and of the equation elements is to
Outline is an element type similar to text. It perform the calculations to generate the final
also consists of words; however, the words are value.
organized as headings and subheadings. Mean- Graph is an element type that combines
ing is derived from the element content. The certain features of the database element, table
only function of an outline is display. element, and picture element. The graph ele-
Database and table element types are differ- ment contains data field values displayed in
ent variations of the typical table contained in pictorial form. The meaning or principal con-
a printed publication. Each contains data cept of the graph element is determined from
fields, generally labeled by a column heading. the graph title and axis labels. Functions as-
For a database element, each row in the table sociated with the graph element include dis-
represents a unique record identified by a key play of the graph and return of a specific
field and described by several data fields. An value, given certain input coordinates supplied
example is a table of the nutrient compositions by the user.
of feeds. Each row in the table describes a Line art, schematic, picture, and video ele-
different feed, and each data field contains the ments are similar but have very distinct differ-
value of a different nutrient. The meaning or ences. Line art and schematic elements are
principal concept of a database element is der- black and white drawings. Line art might con-
ived from the data field labels or column head- tain labels identifying specific features of the
ings. The principal function of the database drawing. The meaning or description of this
element is to return a data field value for a element must be supplied and attached to the
record with a specific key field value. Several element as key words or might possibly
industry standards for database formats have originate from interior labels. The primary
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 75, No. 11, 1992
SYMPOSIUM:INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3241
function of line art is to display the drawing technology, both phonetic and nonphonetic
or, perhaps, to perform simple animation. wave forms require attached key words to
Many line art formats have been proposed and determine the meaning of the audio element.
adopted as pseudostandards throughout the in- The function of this element is to generate
dustry. sound.
A schematic element originates from
computer-aided design (CAD) technology. A COMMON ELEMENT FEATURES
schematic is a drawing that contains dimen- AND FUNCTIONS
sions, labels, titles, and notes. The essence of
the schematic is determined from the title and The essential components from which to
labels or, if necessary, must be supplied and build an information database are a common
attached to the element as key words. The nomenclature and common functionality. The
function of this element is to allow modifica- features of each element type must be utilized
tion of dimensions or features by the user and to construct a common nomenclature. Text,
to display the drawing. key words, data fields, graph titles, graph
A picture element consists of multiple labels, work sheet headings, input labels, varia-
colors or shades of grey. It contains certain ble names, and key words describing features
human-recognizable features but is without of picture, video, and audio elements must use
meaning in an electronic form. Thus, key the same nomenclature or must reduce to a
words describing the content and essence of common nomenclature to enable complete in-
the picture must be attached to this element. tegration of each element.
Displaying the picture is the only function The specific function is unique for each
associated with this element. The present stan- element. However, at the lowest level of data-
dard for the picture element is the Tagged base construction, common functions can be
Image File (.TIF) format. A new standard pro- identified. These functions include opening
posed by the Joint Photographic Expert Group and closing the file containing each element,
(PEG) is emerging. displaying the element, processing user input if
A video element is an extension of the the element allows user input, exchanging data
picture element with the added feature that it between elements, and matching the meaning
contains a sequence of images. Like the picture or central concept of the element to a search
element, it contains human recognizable fea- key.
tures but must rely on attached key words to
determine content meaning. The function as- REFERENCES
sociated with this element is to illustrate mo- 1 Batte,M. T., E. Jones, and G. D. Schnitkey. 1990.
tion by a rapid display of a sequence of im- Computer use by Ohio commercial farmers. Am. J.
ages. Digital Video Interactive (DVI) (Intel Agric. Econ. 72:935.
Corp., Santa Clara, CA) is an early de facto 2 Dill, D. E., M. F Hutjens, and B. R. Eastwood. 1990.
.
standard in this emerging technology. Status of the national dairy database program. J. Dairy
Sci. 73(Suppl. 1):257.(Abstr.)
Audio is a unique element containing a T.
3 Howad, W. H., 0. Knight, C. R. Shumway,R. W.
sequence of wave forms used to generate Blake, and M. A. Tomaszewski. 1987. Information
sound. The audio element may contain both and herd health management practices in Texas
phonetic and nonphonetic wave forms. Speech dairies. South. J. Agric. Econ. 19:l.
recognition is an emerging technology that W.,
4 Wunder, W. and R. L. orth. 1989. Production and
management practices of high and average producing
may enable the understanding of phonetic ar
Iowa dairy herds. J. Diy Sci. 72(SuppI. 1):
wave forms. However, in the absence of this 586.(Abstr.)
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 75, No. 11, 1992
Related docs
