Information module in a scientific/engineering workstation: a proposal for utilizing electronic information for interdisciplinary research

A typical electronic information environment today characterizes multidimensionality, integration of primary and secondary information, and decentralization of self contained information systems. While electronic publishing makes information more readily available, these characteristics are also the causes for some of the problems in using the electronic information. Intelligent tools need to be developed to help scientists and engineers cope with these problems. The paper proposes a conceptual design of information module for scientists and engineers' workstations, with an emphasis on the functions of distributed information retrieval and post search processing and analysis. The research agenda for developing information module includes knowledge structure in subject domains, tools for information module development, and distributed information retrieval.