Computer-related infrastructure

International Organization Information / Research: 1997 (Part #12)

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On the software side, improvements have been made to the backup systems and the ability to send faxes. This has been rendered possible and associated with a partial transfer to a Windows 95 environment, also seen as a test for the possibility of continued work with the non-Windows Revelation software widely used within UIA. The Windows development has also facilitated testing of a number of Web-oriented packages.

Much focus is now on the challenges of UIA publishing on the Web or of accessing information from the Web of value to UIA publications -- notably as a source of information on international organizations. To this end the software challenges of a UIA web-server are being investigated, notably by a partial upgrade of the obsolete DOS-based Revelation software to OpenInsight (its Windows equivalent). This has an integrated web-server facility.

On the hardware side, several Pentium based machines have been purchased over the past year. At the end of 1996, the UIA abandoned the "maintenance contract" philosophy in favour of a replacement or "time and services" philosophy. It has become clear that "maintaining" old machines is usually a matter of "replacing" or "upgrading" them and that "maintenance" is an inappropriate use of resources.

Annexes

Annex 1 Yearbook statistics (international organizations by type)

Annex 2 World Guide to Logos, Emblems and Trademarks of International Organizations

Annex 3 UIA "Home page" on the World Wide Web

Annex 4 Procedures de traduction "automatique"

Annex 5 Benefits and challenges of Web use for UIA work

Annex 6European Commission contract (Info2000)

Annex 7Checklist of recent papers / Participation in meetings