Developments towards a computer-based information service in physics, electrotechnology and control

Abstract A research and development programme is discussed which is required for the mechanization and expansion of the services provided by the Institution of Electrical Engineers' INSPEC organization (Information Service in Physics, Electrotechnology and Control). At present INSPEC publishes three abstracts journals and corresponding current-awareness publications. The work necessary to mechanize the production of these publications and their indexes, by setting up a machine-readable file from which the information required to produce each publication may be extracted and typeset by computer, is described. An outline is given of some of the projects which will support these developments by investigating methods of improving the present services and expanding the range of services to include SDI, facilities for retrospective searching and the supply of copies of the file in machine-readable form.