An example of the use of the WWW as a tool and environment for research and collaboration
Freddie Quek, Ian Tarr · 1996
This paper, being a practice paper, addresses the conference theme directly by reporting on and demonstrating how one idea, in the biomedical field, has been implemented and works in practice. It presents BioMedNet as an example of a new work environment akin to the definition of IOF, as a means to illustrate: one design option (that is actually implemented); one solution strategy (that is currently used and evaluated) and one environment which researchers and practitioners can interact (that can be used as a model). BioMedNet is a virtual club or cyberclub built on the Internet to provide professional and focused services of interest to its members anywhere in the world. In essence, it is more than just a club. It is a laboratory or office-based working tool giving users powerful resource on their desktop. If all goes according to plan, BioMedNet hopes to become a model workplace of at least the biomedical research community if not the world research community, not only in changing the way researchers work, but also in the way information and service providers such as publishers and online service providers communicate with their customers. In conclusion, the authors point out the two-fold mission of this paper — to get researchers onto the Information Superhighway, and to show an example of the use of BioMedNet as the way biomedical scientists will work in the future.