Challenges to Comprehension Implied by the Logo of Laetus in Praesens
Laetus in Praesens
28th April 1989

International Organization Information / Research: 1989

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Prepared for Union of International Associations (Executive Council, 28th April 1989)
See also searchable PDF version (original titles, sub-headings, order and typography); also reports 1959-2006
Document also in segmented format in the Kairos indexed database

Organization profiles / networks

Yearbook of International Organizations: Series composed of the following 3 volumes.

Organization descriptions and index (Volume 1): Editorial work, and production of tapes, was successfully completed on schedule on 12th April for publication in June 1989. As indicated in November 1988, a radical change in structure was necessary to permit inclusion
of essential sections into the Volume due to the impossibility of further editorial compromises on space and typography and to the impossibility (from Saur's marketing perspective) of splitting Volume 1 into two volumes. These changes are described in a separate note (see Annex
1).

Essentially they involve dropping approximately 80,000 title keywords (in English or French) from the Volume 1 index and replacing them with subject category words referring the user to the appropriate category in Volume 3. Volume 3 becomes a vital extension to Volume 1 -- in
effect the "second volume" which Saur was unwilling to produce. The opportunity was taken to simplify the index which had been rated as too complex by reviewers. In addition some valuable aids to users were Incorporated into the "abridged" index:

The merit of this compromise is that it makes Volume 1 index simpler and easier to use whilst increasing the number of entries published, without however losing the multilingual merits of the index. Users are referred directly, where appropriate, to listings of organizations by
subject or by country in Volumes 3 and 2 respectively.

The disadvantage -- the price paid in this compromise -- is that users will not be able to trace a specific organization via a keyword, withgout using Volume 3. Direct access using the Volume 1 index will only be possible via the title or the abbreviation of the title -- in
whatever language. The merit is that the user should not need the Volume 3 index unless unsure of the title or abbreviation. The Volume 1 index becomes a kind of rapid index. Volume 3 is more of a research index for groups of organizations.

Standard editorial changes and improvements were also made:

(a) Number of organizations (and treaties) is now 24,209. This is a reduction on the number in the last edition because it was decided to omit many purely national bodies which had accumulated and to omit unconfirmed bodies from the past. In contrast the number of bodies in Sections A through F has increased from 9, 702 to 10, 182, of which 94 are in Sections A through D. With the new structure of the book, permitting publication of Sections H, R and T, the number of additional bodies printed is 4, 741. (See Annex 2 for a summary) In preparing the 1989/90 edition, a more ruthless approach continues to be taken to organizations on which no new information had been recently obtained. Such bodies, because their addresses are "inactive" or out-of-date, bring the whole Yearbook into disrepute. Even if no confirmation of the inactivity of these bodies was obtained, they were transferred into the inactive section (Section H) or, in the case of Section G, simply omitted from the book (if not from the database). Despite this policy, it is nevertheless clear that the number of "conventional" international bodies is now increasing at a slower rate in comparison with the less conventional bodies which are allocated to Sections F and E.

(b) Entry quality: The quality of the entries on the existing organizations continues to be improved to the point where a significant number of organizations now take the trouble to congratulate the editors.

(c) Keywords In text: Work continues on identifying keywords In the text of entries which are extracted into the index and which are also used to identify organizations grouped by subject in Volume 3.

(d) Section modifications: Because of the increase in available space from the abridgement of the index. it has become possible to include sections which have had to be omitted or abridged from recent editions:

H: Inactive organizations (last included In 1984)
R: Religious orders, secular Institutes (last included in abridged form in 1987)
T: Multilateral treaties (last included in 1983)

International Organization Participation (Volume 2): This publication was completed on schedule for publication in July 1988. For the third time, it was produced on the in-house computer using a specially commissioned set of programmes. Introductory pages and appendices, including the extensive statistical tables, were produced, in-house with final films being produced either at a Brussels printing company, or in-house on the UIA's laser printer.

The main modification made was the use of the new typeface (as for Volume 1 ), thus allowing more information per page. Thus, although the number of entries In the Members' section increased from 146,249to163,838 (12%), and the number of entries in the Secretariats' section
increased from 19,335 to 21,012 (almost 9%), the number of pages was reduced from 1609 to 1487 (over 7%). The 1989/90 edition ls in preparation.

Global Action Networks (Volume 3): This volume was completed on schedule in October 1988, and was available in December 1988. For
the third time, it was produced on the in-house computer using a specially commissioned set of programmes. Introductory pages and appendices, including the extensive statistical tables, were produced, in-house with final films being produced either at a Brussels printing company, or in-house on the UIA's laser printer.

The main modifications made were:

(a) Size: The use of the new typeface (as for Volumes 1 and 2) allowed more information per page. Thus, although the number of entries overall increased from 228,293 to 234,683 (almost 3%), the number of pages was reduced from 1634 to 1428 (over 12%).

(b) Matrix: As part of the work on rationalising rows 7, 8 and 9, "Modes of Awareness" headings from the Human Development section of the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential have been used as categories in row 9. All other row 9 headings have been grouped as W90. This is in line with previous years' work on rows 7 and 8 and, as with those rows, organizations, problems and strategies indexed under row 9 headings appear together In matrix cell W90, the third digit of the matrix code reflecting the overall headings of the matrix columns.

(c) Section W: In addition to entries from Volume 1 of the Yearbook (using keywords both from the title and from the "Alms" paragraph), and entries from the Problems and Strategies sections of the Encyclopedia (using main and subsidiary titles), Section W now includes entries from the Human Development Concepts part of the Human Development section of the Encyclopedia.

(d) Section Z: Two categories which had to be excluded from the previous edition due to lack of space are included again in this edition.

World problems / Strategic potential

Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential (2nd edition): The first copies of this publication were delivered in June 1986. As of November 1988, the stock was virtually sold out. Reviews have varied from simply descriptive to very positive. No negative reviews appear to have been received. Positive comments focus on the richness of the publication, negative comments focus on its complexity and the weaknesses acknowledged in the book (e.g. lack of bibliographical citations, problems of classification, etc.)

Third edition: Sales are considered sufficiently satisfactory that an agreement has been reached to produce a third edition for May 1990. Editorial work was started in June 1988. The plan is to restructure the book In a number of ways to increase the ease of use and to bring out new levels of significance (e.g. links between problems, values and human development) and to address the question of the comprehension and use of such information more directly than was done in Sections C and K in the last edition.

In particular much more effort will be focussed on clarifying the relationships between problems and elaborating hierarchies. This is also important in relation to the proposed Atlas of International Network Relationships. Saur is providing less coverage of editorial costs than for the past edition. This will force the UIA to do a less extensive update since funds from other sources are difficult and time-consuming to obtain.

Meetings scheduled / Conference organization / Associate Membership

International Congress Calendar (quarterly): The report on the editorial and publishing aspects of this publication will be made separately.
Production of the Calendar, prior to final typesetting, Is now done completely on the UIA's in-house computer system. This work is now much more thoroughly integrated at the computer level with that on the organizations organizing meetings.

A final phase, as yet uncompleted, is the transfer of the computer files (previously maintained by the service bureau) for the period 1981 to 1984 onto the UIA's own system.

By-products / CD-ROM / Online

Guides to International Organization: Saur has indicated that, because of difficulties in selling the four volumes so far produced in this series (in 1984 /85), no further plans can be made at this time. The problem is largely a result of Saur's own policies requiring publications of a certain size (400-600 pages) to be sold at an unreasonably high price, with minimum marketing effort.

Mini-directories: The first of these was produced for UNESCO in January 1987 as a "Directory of NGOs in Consultative Status with UNESco·. A further edition has been discussed with UNESCO in relation to their intention to produce such a directory from their own database. Where possible such directories will be sub-sets of the Yearbook Volume 1. Modifications may however be made, as well as
inclusions of information characteristic of the presentation in Volumes 2 and 3, as well as the Encyclopedia.

At the February 1987 meeting Saur examined a summary of 17 mini-directory possibilities provided by UIA. He had suggested producing four, if this could be done at the 10 DM/page rate (see paragraph above), but this suggestion was not followed by a definite proposal as to which four possibilities he would be willing to produce.

As of the November 1988 meeting with Saur, the priority is to be given to:

Associations review / journal

Transnational Associations / Associations transnationales (bimonthly)

[NB: Versions of the UIA periodical: La Vie Internationale, 1912-21; Bulletin des associations internationals, 1943-44; Bulletin mensuel, 1951-53; International Associations, 1954-76; Transnational Associations, 1977-2001]

Statutes / Legal status

International Association Statutes: Editorial work was completed on the first volume of this new series in January 1988, and the
publication was available in March 1988. The statutes of 393 organizations were included in this volume.

In order to demonstrate the legal context within which associations operate, several appendices were included, containing lesser known
or forgotten documents and proposals dealing with the legal status of international associations. Also included are the texts of conventions In related areas. Sales and rnartketing have been slight to date, as was to be expected, and no further publication is planned for the immediate future.

Research / Statistics

Most of the UIA research capacity through 1989 will be concentrated on work in relation to the 3rd edition of the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential. Specific concerns will be articulating relations between world problems, and in relation to human development. The main preoccupation will be with clarifying understanding of the challenges of ordering complex patterns of information for more effective use. In relation to the celebration of the 80th anniversary, an examination is being made of a possible study of regional organization in relation to international organization (see Annex 6).

Research publications: The main research papers in 1986 /1987 are the following:

(a) Comprehension of appropriateness
(b) Governance through metaphor

Both are for the project on Economic Aspects of Human Development of the Regional and Global Studies Division of the UN University. They are currently in process of being revised for inclusion in a book emanating from that project. Two earlier papers associated with earlier projects of the UN University are embroiled in the usual administrative delays associated with UNU procedures which are exacerbated by the current budgetary restrictions.

(c) Development through complexity using policy alternation Final form of a paper for a book on Alternative Paradigms. Results from UIA participation in the Goals, Processes and Indicators of Development project of the UN University (1978-82).
(d) Review of frameworks for the representation of alternative conceptual orderings as determined by cultural and linguistic contexts
(e) Paper prepared for the sub-project on coding and socio-cultural context of information of the project on Information Overload and Information Underuse of the (now non-existant) Global Learning Division of the UN University.

Further work in the course of 1988, In relation to the theme of metaphors resulted in the following
papers:

(f) Metaphoric revolution; In quest of a manifesto for goverrnance through metaphor (Paper presented to the 10th World Congress of the World Futures Studies Federation, Conference, Beijing, 1988. Theme: The future of development).
(g) Reordering of networks of incommensurable concepts In phased cycles; and their comprehension through metaphor (Paper presented to the International Symposium on Models of Meaning (Bulgaria, September 1988, under the auspices of the Institute of Bulgarian Language of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences).

In connection with the publication of the first volume of the International Association Statutes Series, the opportunity was taken in 1987 to gather together relevant texts on the legal status of international associations, especially the texts of the 13 proposals for international conventions made since 1912. A comparative analysis of the provisions of these proposals was made in the form of an extensive table covering some 300 topics. This material appears as a 100 page series of appendices to the statutes volume.

Publishing / Marketing

Contractual relationship with publisher (K G Saur): The firm of KG Saur Verlag was taken over in June 1987 by a multinational corporation, Reed International (based in the UK), which also owns other major publishing companies, including Butterworths and Bowker. Saur himself is now on the board of these companies but currently retains responsibility for publishing decisions within KG Saur Verlag. New marketing arrangements for the complete range of publications are being elaborated.

The contractual relationship up to June 1987 took the following form:

These contracts stipulated monthly payments by Saur to cover editorial costs, minimum royalties (whatever the sales; payable on publication) and royalties arising from sales above the minimum (payable at the end of a budgetary cycle). This arrangement proved so complicated that it was agreed to pay a fixed monthly amount covering all publications and then to balance the accounts at the end of each budgetary period.

The problem with this approach is that in Saur's view the fixed monthly amount gradually ceased to be perceived as a "prepayment" to cover editorial costs. The act of balancing the accounts at the end of a budgetary cycle resulted in UIA "owing" amounts to Saur. Negotiations focussed on the size of the monthly amount, irrespective of the production cycle. Because of the claims by Saur that the library market was In a difficult state, it became possible for him to argue for a reduction in the monthly amount.

The complexities of this situation have been clarified under a new contract, signed in June 1987, which covers all publications. ·
The contractual situation is not particularly satisfactory but it is unclear that any more satisfactory formula could be found, whether with Saur, with another publisher, or if the UIA were to return to publishing its own books. Such possibilities should of course be explored to anticipate
any future change in the fortunes of K G Saur Verlag within the new context.

Pattern of sales:

Marketing:

Future development strategy / Proposals / Fund-raising

Dependence and diversification

Comprehension of information

Current explorations in presenting information

New edition of Encyclopedia (and its by-products): The original contractual obligation with Saur was for two editions of the Encyclopedia. Clearly there is little point in pushing for a second edition before the sales of the first warrant it.

Nevertheless it must be borne in mind that such a.publication takes time to prepare.

Reprint of 1910 Yearbooks: Some consideration could usefully be given to negotiating a reprint of the 1910 edition of the UIA Yearbook, possibly on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary celebrations.

Computer conferencing facility: In this context, the possibility of the UIA actually hosting an electronic mail system for international organizations should not be ignored. The costs of doing so are relatively low and the long term benefits to participants, including the UIA, make it easily justifiable. Such systems are in effect the contemporary concretization of the international networking activity which the UIA seeks to facilitate and for which it is now well-equipped. (This question is the subject of a separate note).

Growing pains: As indicated above, most of the early difficulties have been overcome with various hardware and software developments and with the experience of staff using the system. The difficulties currently foreseen are due to the increasing integration of the different parts of
the database (organizations, meetings, world problems, bibliographical, etc). Editors now move freely between these parts, updating cross-references between them, and eliminating much paperwork.

Consequences are:

(a) This tends to require that all major database files be on the disks together, thus reducing the free working space (for sorts and production files).

(b) A more worrying consequence of this integration is that the software used for simple text editing now also performs complex simultaneous updating of indexes (when titles change or when the pattern of relationships between entries changes) -- but this extra work, including complex index searches during editing and the possibility of online spellchecks, is time consuming on
the older (slower) models of computers. Such delays are a significant production penalty for some editorial operations which take from 2 to 4 times as long to perform as on the faster AT machines (one of which was originally intended as a backup to the network server).

Since the meeting in November 1988 three new ATs have been acquired for editorial work. These have demonstrated quite conclusively the improvement in productivity and the work satisfaction associated with faster machines. This advantage is increasingly apparent in comparisons with those people who are still performing such tasks on slower machines. It is not simply the case, as was initially assumed, that people prefer such machines for the convenience and status. Speed in certain operations in very important to maintain a working rhythm and to avoid frustration and distraction whilst an operation takes 15 seconds rather than 5. Faster machines will be required for effective editorial work if the Revelation software is upgraded as explained below. Use of the faster machines, when available, for major production operations has also demonstrated their advantage with some operations. For example, a reduction from 103 hours on a PC to 45 hours on an AT. There is obviously some reluctance to run such jobs on free PCs, given the accumulation in delays if the job must be restarted. It is increasingly questionable whether using spare PCs in this way is appropriate, given the current cost of ATs.

(c) The degree of interlinkage continues to raise concerns of data security in the event of hardware or power failure.

(d) The future will also raise the question of the relationship between any such internal system and external online access.

(e) Increases in the amount of information on certain large organizations (e.g. UN, UNESCO) despite the fact that dependent bodies are treated in separate entries, has encountered a limitation in the Revelation software which only permits a maximum of 64 K of data per record. Already many entries have "appendix" records to contain the overflow. This creates editorial difficulties, especially when the large entries encounter memory limitations in the 640K machines. It is possible that these could be circumvented with improvements to the UIA programmes or with the use of match co-processors.

(f) It is increasingly clear that it will be necessary within the next year to upgrade the basic Revelation software to Advanced Revelation (already purchased by UIA) to remain compatible with future upgrade facilities and with external bodies to with whom the UIA may wish to exchange files or jobs. This may be particularly relevant to the provision of files for CD/ROM.

The way in which the current system upgrades to further releases of Revelation in order to remain compatible with developments in hardware and software also calls for attention. The current challenge of "Advanced Revelation• and whether, or when, the upgrade is made to it bears
continuing review.

Increasing amounts of information: The amount and quality of information held and maintained by the UIA continues to increase. As
indicated by Annex 9, in the case of the Yearbook before the current radical restructuring, this exceeded by over 1,300 pages what could be contained in the current Volume 1 of the Yearbook. Saur has rejected the option of producing some form of "Supplement" to Volume l for
marketing reasons. The UIA is however free to do this at its own risk. This problem has been urgent for several years. A radical decision has been taken for the current edition of Volume I (as described in Part I above and in Annex 1). This solves the immediate problem, but the problem will continue to be raised for forthcoming editions. Such decisions will have to be taken in relation to both the new compact disk initiative (see below) and also to marketing questions concerning the viability of certain types of information (eg. Volume 2).

Data dissemination challenge: online access: As has been indicated in this report in recent years, the challenge to the UIA to make information available in some form compatible with the emerging growth of data networks continues to increase. This question is discussed in more detail In Annex 2. Basically the UIA is faced with two possibilities:

(a) subscribing to an electronic mail service, allowing other subscribers to submit queries which can be submitted by UIA staff to its internal database and then sending the replies back to the inquirer.
(b) placing the UIA database in some sort of direct access mode, which at this stage would involve giving a copy to some external host.

These two possibilities could be activated in one or more of the following ways:

(a) subscribe to one or more of the standard electronic mail services in order to have "an address" through which their subscribers could contact UIA. Note that users of such services can often have their messages transferred through from one service to another, so it is not usually necessary to subscribe to more than one or two.
(b) subscribe to one of the electronic mail services which shares the UIA non-profit, associative philosophy, such as GREENET/ECONENT/PEACENET or GEONET, with a view to exploring the future transfer of a copy of the UIA database to them to enable them to market it to their subscribers.
(c) subscribe to a commercial service such as ONTYME/TYMNET under conditions which offer the UIA greater control and the opportunity to develop a network identity for an NGONET, with the possibility of offering database access at some future stage under UIA control.
(d) negotiate participation in the university network EARN-BITNET-NETNORTH on the basis of the UIA 's role as a research institute

Data dissemination challenge: compact disk (CD-ROM): As indicated in Annex 8, the UIA continues to be faced with requests for access to its database. The online opportunities for the UIA seem to necessitate a phase of simple electronic mail before integrating in any database facility -- if that proves to be desirable. Our publisher, K G Saur Verlag, is now distributing some major reference works on compact disk
and is now actively negotiating the means of distributing UIA information in this form for 1990. This is no longer a possibility but a definite commitment, provided the technical problems can be satisfactorily solved. The UIA position on this is outlined in Annex 10. Although the hardware is evolving , as outlined below, libraries and distributors are now committed to the simplest form of CD/WORM hardware (point (a) below).

The hardware for optical disk storage is now evolving:

(a) The current widely available form (CD/ROM) does not allow the user to write onto the disk, and requires expensive means of production. UIA would certainy lose control of any data produced and distributed in this way -- especially through Saur.
(b) Less widely known is the form in which the producer writes once to the disk and the user accesses it as often as is required (CD/WORM). This form is relatively inexpensive for the producer, permitting tailor-made one-off products, and would allow the UIA to develop its own independent relationship with users. The problem of losing control of the data remains but at least distribution control becomes easier. This could be implemented immediately. (The IBM product costs 103.500 BF for the disk drive and 2.867 BF per disk) The snag is that the technology is evolving so rapidly that it is unclear how long any particular hardware standard will last, especially with the emergence of the third variety below.
(c) Eraseable optical disks are now being released onto the market (price as yet unknown). These will almost certainly prove to be a more attractive proposition than either of the above. The snag is that the price will initially be high and there will probably be the usual standards battle which will make it difficult for the UIA to commit itself to a device which potential users may have less confidence in.

At this point in time, however, if the UIA did wish to offer access to its data, the one-off cost for the WORM drive to the UIA would be around 100,000 FB, and the same to the user, plus whatever charge was made for the database (or some portion thereof)..

Challenge of openness: The UIA Is faced with a basic multi-factor dilemma:

(a) By statute it is committed to disseminating information on international organizations and their preoccupations as widely as possible.
(b) The conventional means for doing this has been through books, and these will continue to have their place. However it is also clear that the amount of information and the production/marketing options continue to force up the price of such books which are completely inaccessible to the bodies that the UIA most seeks to serve.
(c) It is also clear that the traditional purchasers of books, libraries, etc. are under considerable pressure to reduce the scope of their purchases. (Saur is eloquent on this point.)
(d) At the same time non-profit bodies are not prepared to pay more than token amounts for the kinds of information which the UIA might provide.
(e) In order to survive and maintain its clearinghouse function the UIA is obliged to make available its information through a high-priced channel.
(f) Simultaneously there is considerable evolution of data networks and services of various kinds, many of which enable the formation of electronic organizations or groups (as on computer conferences). These modes bypass, and often reject, the book farm' as inadequate ta the real needs for selecting, reordering and using information.
(g) Finally there Is the challenge of the quantity and complexity of the information itself, as currently handled by the UIA. Users are effectively disempawered by the mass of impenetrable information, however well It is indexed. Users do not have tools to assist in comprehending the complex patterns of information, and there is a developing opportunity for those who claim, or
attempt, to provide such tools.

The problem for the UIA presumably lies in some formula under which It could Increase its degree of "openness" - offering to users the kinds of tools currently used by UIA editors in maintaining and developing the database, and developing new tools to supplement them (cf the Atlas of International Relationships and the discussion of metaphors). The challenge is how to do this with out completely placing at risk the basic UIA income.

The key question is what Is the risk of making available information, whether online or on optical disk? Can the distribution be usefully controlled - or is this an inappropriate question? Are there any clever tricks for encrypting data and using software to permit "reasonable" access but prevent"unreasonable" access - and do these terms have any real meaning?\

It would also be preferable If the UIA could formulate a positive philosophy of openness rather than be forced into openness by the evolution of the information society. Such a positive philosophy might include:

There will clearly come a time when associative activity will shift Its centre of gravity from physical meetings/hardcopy documents/post to electronic metlngs/electronic documents/data networks. This Is an important opportunity for the UIA to which others are adapting already.

Computer-related infrastructure

Current hardware situation: The system currently consists of the following elements:

(a) Micro-computers: 6 AT clones, 1 AT Novell network server, 2 XT and 10 PC clones, of 640K RAM each. Of the 12 XT /PC clones, one is principally used for printing and tape-backups, one is principally used for batch jobs and cassette-backups, one is shared with FAIB/IAPCO/MAI, two have 1 OMB internal hard disks, and one is used for development purposes outside the network. Of the 16 screens, the 12 which are used intensively are equipped with polarizing filters. Accelerator cards have been used with some success on 3 machines, but only one is in current use because of the incidence of failure (apparently due to slight incompatibility). An 8087 chip is used on two machines. There is also a machine which is not compatible with the network; it was used briefly in 1987 to enter statutes, which were then transferred to the network.

(b) Main memory: 3 hard disk drives, totalling 291 mB (291 million characters).

(c) Backup units: 1 Thorn EMI streamer tape unit for backups and transfer of tapes to Computaprint (London) for photocomposition; 1 Emerald 60mB cartridge tape unit for routine backups.

(d) Printers: 1 Hewlett Packard LaserJet; 1 HP Thinkjet, 1 Brother M1409, 1 Brother M1209, 1 Facit 4512, and 1 Olympia ESW 3000 daisywheel.

(e) Modem: 1 Daisy 21, 300 baud modem, permitting access to electronic mail systems (especially in the USA)

Improvements to the network and network security: In contrast to 1987, when serious problems due to hardware failures were encountered in the summer and again in the fall, 1988 has thus far been relatively problem-free. It appears, therefore, that the decision made last year to upgrade the network hardware and software was correct; at that time the Omninet network cables and interface cards were partially replaced by an Arcnet system, and the network software was upgraded. Those problems that have been encountered so far this year have been largely solved by a further hardware upgrade, namely the replacement of the remaining Omninet network cables and interface cards with Arcnet cables and cards.

The problem of disk failure remains, and resulted in a decision in October 1988 to upgrade the network software to a version which, among other features, duplicates essential disk allocation tables, and automatically checks for and marks bad blocks on the hard disks. The implementation of this upgrade caused significant difficulties and necessitated the purchase in January 1989 of a dedicated Novell 286A file server.

The practice of making daily internal backups (as well as external backups) for the most important files continues. This however requires disk space, which is often at a premium, especially now that work on the new edition of the Encyclopedia has begun. As has been mentioned in previous years, there is some doubt concerning the vulnerability of the computer equipment to surges in the power supply. However, there is still no certainty that the security offered by a UPS system justifies the high cost - especially as, for complete security, several surge suppressors would be needed.

Consideration could still be given to a further upgrade in the network software which would automatically duplicate all the data. This would require that we double our disk capacity.

Current software situation: The following software is currently in use:

1. Network operating system: Novell Netware 286 v2.12.

2. Text data base: Revelation, 18 user network version, (Release G2B). A copy of "Advanced Revelation" has been purchased and its possibilities (and potential problems) are being explored.

3. UIA Revelation programs: The total number of Revelation application programs developed by the UIA (whether by consultants or internally) continues to increase. In 1988 many of the major programmes have been reviewed, refined, and made more sophisticated, in line with UIA's increasing competence at exploiting its computer system. In particular the central text
database program now handles in real time (rather than a occasional batch jobs) the complex tasks of updating the pattern of links between records (e.g. membership relationships), subject/name Indexing/retrieval, and the hierarchical listing of networks.

A spellcheck facility has been developed. It is appropriate to note that the UIA-developed dictionary, numbering 50,000 words, now permits access to the principal databases via English, French, German, Spanish and transliterated Russian subject categories.

4. Word-processing: RJWRITER (compatible with Revelation) and Wordstar (convertible to and from Revelation format) are in continuous use.

5. Graphics: Interactive Easyflow was used to redraw some of the organization charts reproduced in the Yearbook, Vol 1, 1987 /88. A number of other graphics and network analysis packages have been acquired in the process of investigating means of mapping networks.

6. Occasional use is made of other packages such as dBase II and a wide range of utilities.

Usage of the system:

1. Hard disks: The current disk capacity of 291 million characters is used for the
following major groups of files:

(a) Organization entry file (30,781 Kb); index file (1,751 Kb); auxiliary files (8, 143 Kb)
(b) Calendar file (7,721 Kb); index file (3,920); auxiliary files (3,605 Kb)
(c) World Problems file (15,419 Kb); index file (744 Kb); auxiliary files (6,312 Kb)
(d) Human Development file (2,709 Kb); index file (164 Kb); auxiliary files (283 Kb)
(e) Contacts file (660 Kb); Index file (296 Kb); auxiliary files (86 Kb)
(f) Correspondence files (4,338 Kb)
(g) Thesauri (thematic 1,901 Kb; geographical 5,810 Kb)
(h) Reference files (procedures 1, 733 Kb; bibliographies 604 Kb)
(i) Production files, including intermediary address files (3,825 Kb) and print files (4, 189 Kb). Output files vary in size up to 20,000 Kb
(j) Work areas for sorting
(k) Copies of essential files (45,000 Kb)

Whilst a core group of files is always accessible on the network, the pattern of non-priority files held on it changes a great deal throughout the year. The increase in disk capacity last year reduced some of the need for such maneuvering and now permits internal copies of major (30mB) files as part of the backup procedure. With the addition of the ·Encyclopedia files, however, it has again become necessary to plan the use of disk capacity to allow maximum simultaneous production and editorial work.

2. Work stations: These are fully used by editors during working hours. Machines are seldom"free". Outside office hours, there are often times when several machines are running over-night on production jobs.

3. Printers:

(a) Laser printer: This is fully used. In fact, its use must often be scheduled.
(b) Other printers: These are extremely convenient, and all are increasingly used.

4. Tape units: These are in daily use for backups.

Adaptation of working methods: All staff working on publication production in one capacity or another have now adapted their
working methods to take advantage of the computer system. All editorial work is now done directly onto the network without any intermediate "secretarial" phase. Administrative, mailing and editorial operations are now integrated. Because of the complexities of the many operations involved, and the flexibility of the system and consequently of working methods, it has been considered inefficient to attempt to
rationalize the system beyond a certain degree. Procedures are being progressively streamlined and improved. Most procedures have now been
documented In considerable detail. This process progresses as time and production priorities permit.

Future developments: There is continuing pressure to replace PCs by faster ATs, especially in the case of editorial workstations, but also for production jobs run through the day. At this point in time there is no immediate justification for installing the new generation of 386 machines, although this development must be kept in mind. The amount of memory available for Revelation applications reamins a concern in processing large records.

It ls expected that a compact disk reader will be installed in 1989 to facilitate development of the CD /ROM programme.

It is desirable to upgrade the Revelation G2B to Advanced Revelation in the coming year or else the Revelation files and applications will be left behind by future developments. The upgrade has been purchased for testing but calls for several weeks effort to ensure that no problems
are created by the change. One drawback of the upgrade is that it requires the faster AT machines to function effectively.
Investigation into the graphics development required to produce network maps indicates that a Revelation compatible-product CAD /Base may provide a vital link between maps and the database (see Annex 7).

There remains the possibility of linking into the network from distant locations, whether external bodies or home computers (in order to control jobs running over the weekend). This can be implemented using software already obtained, but requires modems at both ends. It could be used to allow some people to work from home (see Annex 8).

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