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Re: Summary of IT Online WG discussions thus far

Syd and fellow WG members, 
     First, about the recent summary of ITOWG
comments, it seems to be an accurate record of the
traffic I have seen since I was added to the WG.  I
also found earlier comments illuminating and helpful
in my thinking.
     Second, I would like to make two further
observations. One is somewhat related to my earlier
comments, which end the recent summary.  The other
relates to the CD of the IT G Online draft.
     One of the things I've noted about the collected
comments and suggestions, mine included, is that they
sometimes do not overtly pay sufficient attention to
an overall business plan for IT Online.  The
enterprise is to be undertaken for the good of
crystallography, yes, but it has also got to pay for
itself and it would be better if it were a net
generator of revenue for IUCr.  So we must be careful,
for example, about institutions purchasing the service
and providing access to its members.  Of course, this
is not a new issue; it must also be faced with our
journals.  It is also true that some of the volumes of
IT will be more in demand online than others and it
would be better to concentrate on those and use the
experience to help with conceptualizing online
versions of the others.  The early focus on IT A is a
reassuring indication of movement in just that
direction.  I also suggest that as we develop novel
uses and adaptations of IT Online for our own work, we
will also be generating new and marketable uses of IT
Online for others and the non-IUCr journals I
mentioned in my earlier comments are just one example.
 I guess the point is that IT Online must be thought
of as an evolving resource and the direction of that
evolution will be one to which users will contribute.
     Finally, I see both IT F and G as particularly
useful from my perspective in macromolecular
crystallography and Acta Cryst. F.  I also see them as
presenting different challenges and opportunities. 
For example, I think the union should do everything in
its power to promote the use of CIF and I am
particularly interested in encouraging wider usage of
mmCIF.  I see in the CD I was sent for evaluation the
makings of a tool to help with greater dissemination
of CIF and, if it isn't already, it might be better to
think of G Online as just such a tool, as more than
just a volume of IT Online.  Because of the fact that
mmCIF is in such a dynamic development phase at this
point (again from my perspective), I suggest that, as
we consider how G Online should marketed, we include
the prospect of providing customers with regular
updates or revisions.  We might also consider tweaking
the initial version to target it to customers we want
as new users of CIF like software developers, etc.,
give it to them (for a limited period, perhaps), and
charge for upgrades or revisions instead.

I realize time for discussion is drawing to a close. 
I hope this is of help.

Howard
===========================================
--- Sydney Hall <[email protected]> wrote:

> I am conscious of the rapidly approaching congress
> and
> likelihood that there will be diminishing time to
> spend on
> working group recommendations as we get into the
> northern
> hemisphere summer. To gather my own thoughts on this
> task
> I have reviewed what has been said thus far and
> drafted a
> summary of the main points made. This is not a
> complete
> record of our communications but I think that it
> captures
> the major issues and suggestions. If you think any
> important points are missing please let me know.
> 
> I hope the attached summary document will stimulate
> some
> additional ideas and suggestions on ways to present
> IT data
> online. If it does not I will have to assume that we
> done
> our collective best on this issue, and I will work
> with
> Nicola to formulate some recommendations for
> circulation
> and your approval.
> 
> I would appreciate a response to the attached
> summary,
> with your preferred recommendations, by May 1st.
> 
> Many thanks
> Syd
> ------
> Professor Sydney R. Hall
> School Biomedical & Chemical Sciences
> University of Western Australia
> Crawley, 6009  AUSTRALIA.
> Ph: +61 (8) 6488 2725
> Fx: +61 (8) 6488 1118
> "Data data everywhere but not a thought to think!" -
> Theodore Roszak
> 
>