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Exploit Interactive: The Development of a Web Magazine

Bernadette Daly Email

Information Officer B.M.Daly@ukoln.ac.uk

UKOLN

University of Bath URL

Bath, BA2 7AY http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/

UKOLN is funded by the British Library Research and Innovation Centre, the Joint Information Systems Committee of the Higher Education Funding Councils, as well as by project funding from the JISC’s Electronic Libraries Programme and the European Union. UKOLN also receives support from the University of Bath where it is based.

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ContentsIntroduction• Who are We? Ariadne Web Magazine, Ariadne:

Problems, New Experience, What is Exploit Interactive? When & Where?

Magazine Overview• Infrastructure & Design• Delivery & Functionality• (technology specifications, MS Site Server 3.0, functionality,

searching, metadata, additional functionality)

• Content Production (software used, guidelines, content & style, crossword)

• Challenges

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Who are we?

UKOLN is: • UK Office for Library & Information Networking• Provides awareness, research and information

services• This includes: metadata, distributed systems,

Web & Interoperability Focus posts, Ariadne

Exploit Interactive Team:• 5 people (3 involved on a regular basis)• Editorial /Content Production /Systems Support• Infrastructure and Design (external consultant)

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Ariadne Web Magazine

Ariadne:• Parallel print / web publication• Launched January 1996• Funded under the Electronic Libraries

Programme• Now on issue 20• 14000 user sessions per month

• URL: http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/

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Ariadne: Problems

1. Article Submission:– Via email (little automated processing carried out)– Receive files mostly in WORD, RTF (conversion)

2. Article Processing:– Using simple authoring tools– No systematic management possible

Web Server Used for Ariadne:– Standard Apache server (UNIX) with SSI for

metadata inclusion

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New Experience

We are interested in:• Gaining experience using NT• Making use of widely available software

Reasons: • Evaluate use of such solutions • See if they can be used without being drawn into

proprietary practices• Making comparisons with UNIX solution

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What is Exploit Interactive?

• A Pan-European web magazine for the Library and Information / Networking professional

• A forum for dissemination for EU Telematics for Libraries projects and users of deliverables

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When and Where? Issue 1: • Available April 1999• Frequency: every 3 months • 7 issues

URL:The URL: http://www.exploit-lib.org/

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Overview

DELIVERY &FUNCTIONALITY

INFRASTRUCTURE & DESIGN

CONTENT PRODUCTION

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Infrastructure & Design

Simple Interface • Easily navigable and downloads quickly• External consultant used (ILRT)

Dynamic Delivery• Uses Microsoft Active Server Pages• Serves content together with header/footer

Software Used• Adobe Illustrator 7.0, Adobe Photoshop 5.0

INFRASTRUCTURE & DESIGN

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Delivery & Functionality

The following technologies will be used:

• Windows NT 4 server: with IIS 4.0 (Internet Information Server)

• Microsoft Site Server 3.0 softwareWeb management system providing a suite of tools; used in conjunction with the IIS server.

Provides a shrink-wrapped solution for delivering interactive features & services.

DELIVERY & FUNCTIONALITY

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Microsoft Site Server 3.0

The following features and services may be added over the life of the magazine:

Personalisation & Membership: • Web view based on stored user preferences

• delivery of targeted content via email

(e.g. updates, table of contents)

DELIVERY & FUNCTIONALITY

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Functionality

The magazine will include:

• Browsing of current & past content• Searching (using MS Site Server facility)• Online feedback to articles • Virtual meeting place for real-time feedback • Language negotiation (limited)• Support for visually impaired and other

disabled readers

DELIVERY &FUNCTIONALITY

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Searching

Using MS Site Server's indexing tool

• Search for articles:– about project PRIDE– by John Smith– Restrict searches to

the Features section

DELIVERY & FUNCTIONALITY

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Metadata

Metadata will be used:• Resource discovery metadata (Dublin Core)• Admin metadata (e.g. DeleteBy, ReviewBy)• Auditing metadata (project and section category)

Evaluating deployment of applications to:• Automate notification for admin procedures• Process by search engine• Automatically flag obsolete articles

DELIVERY &FUNCTIONALITY

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Additional Functionality

Author Upload Centre• to enable contributors to upload files (articles,

graphics) using a web browser (MS HotMail model)• author to supply relevant metadata

Language negotiation• to provide automatic delivery of pages available in

additional European languages (at a later date)• language metadata to support searching

DELIVERY &FUNCTIONALITY

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Content Production

1. Commissioning & Liaison:• Telematics for Libraries community• Commercial organisations (sub-contractors)• Various subject experts

2. Administrative/Editorial Responsibilities

3. Content Mark-up/Conversion:• MS FrontPage 98 (using purpose-built templates

for HTML fragments)

CONTENT PRODUCTION

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Software used

4. Site & Content Administration:• MS Visual InterDev 6.0 • MS Site Server 3.0 (suite of tools)

5. Further Content Development:• Centron Internet Crossword Creator 3.0• Adobe Photoshop 5.0 (graphics)• Paint Shop Pro 4.0 (e.g. screen captures)

CONTENT PRODUCTION

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Guidelines

Authors: • Content coverage and writing style, editorial

and document flow processes.

Editors:• Definition of editorial processes

Advisory Group and Editorial Board: • Role and responsibilities (international input)

CONTENT PRODUCTION

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Content and Style

Feature Articles, Regular Columns, Et cetera:• Updates/explanations of technological developments• Discussion of challenges in Telematics Projects• Organisational profiles of partners/sub-contractors to

Library community (Fifth Framework Partners?)• European news, events, job postings

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Interactive Crossword Puzzle

Software• Centron Internet Crossword Creator 3.0• Crossword building programme with Applet converter

Java Applet• Electronic counterpart

to the familiar crossword puzzle

• Reiterates key words and phrases from articles

• Adds a little fun

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ChallengesChallenge Comment

Appropriate content Avoiding simple publicity

Quality Including writing style

Minimising editorial role Esp. for non-English speakers

Coverage Full coverage of projects

Too much content! Personalised views?

Document conversion Imposed document structure

Proprietary practices Site Server (catalogue: won’t accept Dublin Core full stop in metadata)

Style Sheets Problems when using Netscape

Being read Ensuring magazine is read

The audience Read by right people

Coverage Europe and CEE countries

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Related Article

Launching an Electronic Magazine: an overview of value-added features and services

URL: http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue18/web-magazine/

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Thank you

Enjoy the Conference