Katydid CD ROM

[Hugh Wilson]

Since professional societies are the logical source of firm
(reviewed) scientific data products, the various issues involved with
this thread are relevant to many 'communities'.

It seems to me that the fundamental problem relates to a simple fact
- if it can be put on a CD, it can be put on the web.  If it is put
on a CD it is fixed (obsolete at placement) and access is limited.
If it is put on the web it can be curated, current, and open for
public access.  The difference is, in my view, a *very* big deal.

If you are doing Science, why put it on CD?  If you are looking for
returns on investment, why put it on the web?  These conflicting
options pose a problem for both individual scientists and
professional societies or other working groups operating with public
funding, 'non-profit' constraints, or mission statements that focus
on the discipline or Science in general.

I have no solutions to offer but suggest that the 'Bill Gates'
analogy is probably applicable and relevant to professional societies
with a web presence and an inclination to pool member-generated data
at a society-based website.  However, as indicated by MS browser
software, its not 'sell cheap'; its more like 'give it to them free
of charge'.  The approach seems to be working well for various info
providers on the web (CNN, Weather Channel, etc.).  If professional
societies or working scientific groups can provide useful information
on the web for open public access, it will be *used*, and home sites
providing access to the data will be visited by many.  Given the
nature of web economics right now, this usage could (should) be used
by professional societies as leverage to harvest community returns
for community investment.  If professional societies were active in
this area, the potential for returns to those providing the
information, or at least the discipline, are high.  This is not the
case for web info nodes controlled by institutions, agencies, or
individuals that do not have direct contact with data contributors.

So, I agree with Mary that "there is a potential here" that
professional societies should *make* time to explore.

Hugh D. Wilson
Texas A&M University - Biology
h-wilson at tamu.edu (409-845-3354)
http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/Wilson/homepage.html