Waiting for Mr. Know‐It‐All or scientific information tools we could have now
DOI: 10.1063/1.3058011
The New York Times and Senator Humphrey have been talking about the plight of the poor scientists who find it easier to measure a quantity than to locate the results of earlier experimental work in the library. But instead of making a straightforward attack on the problems of handling the data explosion, everyone seems to be standing by for the day when that popular robot, Mr. Know‐It‐All, will roll himself into the laboratory and speak as follows:
References
1. Science Overwhelms the Scientists, Leonard Engel, New York Times Magazine, Oct. 1, 1961.
2. Humphrey reported that information services “are often so weak, or are presumed so weak, that innumerable scientists and engineers state that it takes less time to perform research than it takes to try and find if the research has already been performed”. Washington Post, Oct. 5, 1961.
3. The ideas presented here have evolved through many discussions, particularly with C. L. McGinnis, R. Nakasima, G. H. Fuller, and F. Everling.
4. Directory to Nuclear Data Tabulations, R. C. Gibbs and K. Way, 185 pp., 1958; Supplement, 1959 Nuclear Data Tables, pp. 1–38. Both US Government Printing Office.
5. A Directory of Continuing Numerical Data Protects, Office of Critical Tables, National Academy of Sciences‐National Research Council, August 1960.
6. As is shown, for example, by abstracts in Nuclear Engineering Abstracts, a Silver End Documentary Publication, London.
7. The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution, C. P. Snow, The Rede Lecture 1959, Cambridge University Press.
More about the Authors
K. Way. National Academy of Sciences—National Research Council, Washington, D.C..
N. B. Gove. National Academy of Sciences—National Research Council, Washington, D.C..
R. van Lieshout. National Academy of Sciences—National Research Council, Washington, D.C..
