The role of workstations in the information utility

Abstract

This paper describes the central role that personal workstations were foreseen to play in future generation of information systems. The particular project, the Information Utility, was meant to form the foundation for libraries of the future. The paper describes the components and layered structure of a nationwide information utility. The focal point of this information system is the personal workstation. Intimately tied to this is the local computing environment, supported by powerful microcomputers dedicated as servers in the local environment and supporting workstations. Relationships between the workstation, its local environment and regional/national environments are also described.