Utilizing laser optical technology through Reference Technology's read-only DataPlate*
Issue title: Special Issue containing papers from the Fall 1984 Meeting of the Association of Information and Dissemination Centers on “Planning for the Future”
Guest editors: A.W. Elias, C. van de Weteringh and T. Matsumura
Affiliations: Reference Technology inc.: 2070 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 500, Vienna, VA 22180, USA; 1832 North 55th Street, Boulder, CO 80301, USA
Note: [*] Based on a presentation delivered at the Fall Meeting of the Association of Information and Dissemination Centers (ASIDIC) in Georgetown on 17 September 1984.
Note: [**] Bettie A. Steiger is Vice President, Information Resources at Reference Technology, and Jane Ryland is Director, Systems Engineering.
Abstract: In discussing the opportunities presented to information providers and publishers by laser optical technology it is important to distinguish the several different approaches being developed or now available that use that technology. Reference Technology has developed a read-only medium which essentially provides a solution for delivering large volumes of machine-readable information to multiple sites for access by mini- or microcomputers for reading and manipulation. The ‘direct-read-after-write’ (DRAW) approach being developed by Schugart, Philips, Thomson CSF, and STC is essentially a solution for archiving or storage of vast volumes of information, and is not intended for the delivery of that information to many points of access. Once this difference is understood, it is a simple step to identifying which information belongs on which technology. A second and vital difference is that Reference Technology uses the proven videodisc as the native component for receiving the data for distribution. This disc, originally developed for movies, and more recently used for interactive training programs, offers a proven stability and assured availability. The videodisc, as used by the Reference Technology concept, takes advantage of the native analog mode, while encompassing the advantages of magnetic discs for information delivery.
