Date: Mon, 24 May 1993 11:07:20 +0200 (METDST)
From: Peter Hausken <peterh@usit.uio.no>
Subject: Re: Gopher subject tree
To: Hunter Monroe <econhkm@vax.ox.ac.uk>
In-Reply-To: <0096CE66.A11C5458.18871@vax.ox.ac.uk>
Message-Id: <Pine.3.07.9305241119.A10299-c100000@samson.oslo.uninett.no>
On Sat, 22 May 1993, Hunter Monroe wrote:
> I am setting a gopher subject tree for an Oxford University gopher. I found a
> discussion about gopher subject trees using Veronica, but I have not found a
> really thorough subject tree. Is there one I have not found? I have found
> "Selected Topics by Discipline" at UNT and "The Electronic Library" at
> anu.edu.au, but which I have incorporated into my tree (not on-line yet).
>
> Your assistance is appreciated.
>
> Hunter Monroe
> Oxford University
To make a "really thorough subject tree" is not easy task. Each "subject"
or "interest group" has to be made by people who can evaluate the information
in it from a professional point of view. For a while the library system looked
interesting, but why should a mulitdimensional tool be forced into ancient
linear systems, that were made linear because of lacking technology?
Someone ought to write proper guidelines for setting up a Gopher server and
how to organize information within it. Then an authority is needed to link
these servers together so the information in each server comes up as something
interesting for people looking for information in an area of interest.
We need tools to verify the tree. That is test that all references made by
links to other Gopher servers are valid and make changes if something is not
accessable any more. If each server is tested, our users will not have to
many problems getting to the information.
The current organisation of the Gophertree is done by geography, but that
only serves as a way of finding all the gopher servers out there. The
interesting part is when someone make links for specific areas of interest
to the valuable information.
------------------------------------------------------------
Peter.Hausken@usit.uio.no
Center for Information Technology Services, (USIT)
University of Oslo, PB.1059, Blindern, N-0316 OSLO, NORWAY
Telephone: +47-22-852470 / 852751 (or +47-22-493926 private)
Telefax: +47-22-852756 / 852730 (or +47-7-532586 UNINETT)