Information Services Section

 

This issue's attraction...

Since our last issue of Network Computing, profound changes have taken place in the Computer Centre. Now that the Centre has reached a stable and more mature stage, it is time to re-examine the pertinent roles played by the Computer Centre. One of the major goals of Network Computing is to help our readers gain a better insight into the day-to-day operations of the Computer Centre. A thorough understanding of how the Computer Centre operates will of course enable the readers to easily identify and obtain useful resources. With this in mind, we have decided to include in each and every issue of Network Computing an article introducing a Section in the Computer Centre.

To let our readers obtain a better picture, we have included a diagram showing the organizational structure of the Computer Centre. Apart from the General Office, the Centre is divided into two main services : Technical Services and User Services.

In this issue, we have chosen one of the functional units under User Services, the Information Services Section, as our first area of interest. We shall start with a narration on the Section itself, followed by a detailed description of various information services that the Section supports. We hope that you will enjoy reading this article and at the same time benefiting from it.

Information Services Section

Goals and objectives

The Information Services Section was established to promote and support office automation in the City Polytechnic, and to provide information service systems which enable the delivery, sharing and distribution of information over the network. To achieve these objectives, the section has committed to the following goals:

1. To identify the kinds of information services required for the Polytechnic, and source or develop the corresponding facilities for providing such services.

2. To keep abreast of the development of office automation, and render advice and assistance to departments and offices in their office automation activities.

3. To conduct training to users on office automation tools and on the information services and facilities related thereof.

4. To ensure user-friendliness in all the information service systems provided for ease of use by the general users.

5. To keep users in the Polytechnic aware of the services and facilities provided by the Computer Centre.

Achievements

1. Information service systems

   The Information Services Section has identified, developed and implemented the following facilities and services:

   • Electronic Mail

     Electronic mailing service in the Polytechnic is accessible to eligible users either via a networked PC or from off-campus through modem or Internet. To cater for various requirements, needs and preferences of different users to communicate in-campus as well as off-campus, we have provided four compatible mailing systems, say, Pathworks Mail for staff, PolyLink E-Mail for students and registered external users, VAX-Mail and UNIX-Mail for technical users.

     Pathworks Mail is a user-friendly E-Mail system with mouse support facility. PolyLink E-Mail opens up the premises of electronic communication to all members of the Polytechnic. PolyLink E-Mail is designed to be an easy-to-use mailing service with readily available on-line help features and broadcast mailing. VAX-Mail and UNIX-Mail do not provide the user-friendliness features that general users require but allow technical users extra capabilities to perform tailor-made and/or complicated functions.

   • Electronic Message Board - CPHK Daily News

     It is a message broadcasting facility which enables the efficient circulation of notices, memorandum, news, etc., on CPNET.

     Messages so broadcasted will appear on the screen when a staff PC is invoked. Alternatively, users can select to view the messages individually at any time. Messages put on the board are mainly categorized into two main groups : Polytechnic and Departmental. The former is for campus-wide public announcement while the latter is for users within a department. An extension of the latter is the establishment of Staff On Leave Board for posting the up-to-date staff leave information within the department.

   • PolyLink

     PolyLink is an integrated electronic message system which was developed in response to the need of easy day-to-day communication amongst students, staff, departments and external contacts. Believe it or not, more than 2000 messages are coming in and out through PolyLink everyday. It has become an indispensable campus facility among members of the Polytechnic. Apart from the E-Mail facility, PolyLink also provides the following:

     1. Electronic Locker

        Electronic Locker is an extension to PolyLink's electronic mail feature and is specially designed to enhance communication between the organizer and its participants, i.e. a closed user group. As an organizer, say, a lecturer can create an electronic locker for issuing of assignments, messages and course notes electronically. He/She can also set deadlines for a particular assignment. As a participant, for example, a student can check the locker for messages, pick up course notes and assignments. On completion of assignments, participants can submit them to the locker where the organizer can collect for marking. Participants can also post electronic messages through the locker. Up to now, more than 90 lockers have been opened.

     2. Bulletin Board

        Bulletin Board is a place for sharing information, experiences, knowledge and ideas on topics of common interest . Here PolyLink users are able to discuss, exchange views and share new discoveries among their members through the posting of electronic messages. In particular, there are two types of bulletin boards serving two distinct groups of users: private and public. A private board has an associated membership list for confining its access to members only. A public board has no membership constraint so that messages in the board can be read by all users. At the moment, there are more than 40 boards operated by various user groups. All the boards are warmly received.

        The "Staff Channels" is a bulletin board service restricted for the Polytechnic staff. It serves as an additional channel for staff announcement, open discussions on topics of interest and activities alike. It is widely read amongst staff.

        The "School Bulletin" is another popular bulletin board service exclusive for secondary schools in Hong Kong.

     

   • Library Information Services

     Available library information services include:

     1. Bauhinia - the CPHK Library System

        The Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) of Bauhinia is made available for staff and students to enquire online about books and references available in the Run Run Shaw Library, new arrivals and on-order book lists. An user can also make a reservation on a particular item instantly. Also available with the OPAC are news about the library.

     2. CDNET

        CDNET is a facility providing access to the CD-ROMs in the Run Run Shaw Library. The current CD-ROM collection includes directories, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, statistics, bibliographic citation and abstracts of papers in various subject fields.

     3. Inter-Institute Library Catalogues

        This is a facility for accessing the library catalogues in the other six UPGC funded institutions in Hong Kong.

   • International Library Databases & Information Services

     In addition to local library catalogues & databases, access to library information overseas is also made available.

     • Gopher

       Gopher is an Internet based distributed document delivery service. It has a nested menu structure that allows users to explore, search and retrieve information residing on either local Gopher server site or remote sites. In addition, Gopher offers gateways to other information systems (World-Wide Web, WAIS, ARCHIE, WHOIS) and network services (Telnet, FTP).

     • HYTELNET Server

       HYTELNET Server provides telnet address information with which users can access Internet-accessible libraries, Free-nets, CWISs, BBSs, and other information sites.

     • Lynx - World Wide Web Browser

       The World Wide Web is a large-scale networked hypertext information system started by CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Geneva, Switzerland. Hypertext is text that is not necessarily linear. The text contains links to other text or to graphics, videos or sound. Links are words/phrases designated in colour, bold or highlighted.

     • MELVYL System Databases

       The MELVYL system from the University of California functions as an on-line union catalogue and gateway providing access to databases and catalogues within and outside the University. Databases within the MELVYL system include a ten-year MELVYL Catalogue, a full MELVYL Catalogue, periodical titles etc. Databases outside the MELVYL system include ASIA, NASA, OCEAN, WEATHER etc. California catalogues/campus-wide information systems outside the MELVYL system include ANTPAC, GLADIS, HAYSTAC, INFOCAL etc. It is also possible to access library catalogues outside California such as ASU, BOSTON, CAMBRIDGE, CARL, HARVARD etc.

     • The University of Washington Information

       With UWIN (The University of Washington Information Navigator) which is a character-based program, CPHK users are able to access to UW's campus, regional and Internet information resources and services.

     • Wide Area Information Service

       The WAIS (Wide Area Information Service) system provides an easy and convenient means for information distribution over wide area networks. Tools for both "publishing" and accessing information sources are provided. The Simple WAIS (SWAIS) interface is a basic access tool designed for ease of data retrieval. The functionality supported includes source selection, keyword entry, and automatic document retrieval.

   • International News Services

     Read access to two kinds of news services are provided: the Listserv and Newsgroup. Listserv stands for "List Server" and Newsgroups are international electronic news distribution services which cover more than 2000 topics on academic subjects, technical matters, hobbies, etc.. Many of them are of high academic and research values.

   • Others

     There are still a lot more information services and facilities put on CPNET for use. Such include:

     1. PolyData - a facility where all faculties, departments, offices, the College, and Students Union put up their static information such as objectives, structure, committee members, procedures and regulations, etc.

     2. Computer Shop Buyers' Guide - an on-line information service that provides up-to-date handy price information on computer products available in the CPHK Computer Shop.

     3. Poly Yellow Pages - a computerized campus telephone directory which stores the most updated phone numbers, room numbers and E-Mail addresses of Polytechnic staff. It has functions for enquiry, printing, and making personal phone list.

     4. PolyFax - an electronic facsimile system which enables the sending of local fax from a networked PC through CPNET.

     5. UPGC Inter-institutional Equipment List - a consolidated list of major academic and administrative equipment, costing more than $500,000 each, held by the seven UPGC-funded institutions.

     6. Software Catalogue - gives a handy and comprehensive reference to the software available on various computer systems in the Centre.

     7. Telecom Datapak Utilities - a service provided by Hongkong Telecom through which CPNET users can gain access to various information services such as real time arriving and departing flight schedule, interest and exchange rates of foreign currencies, telephone and fax directories.

     8. School-Data - set up separately for the exclusive use of secondary schools in Hong Kong with a similar user interface as PolyData.