The Impact of Information Technology and Networks: New Perspectives for Scientific, Technical and Medical (STM) Publishing

Abstract

This contribution can only be a small collection of ideas and experiences from my (personal) publishing point of view. The subject area assigned is very generic and there are indeed many developments going on, so I had to be very selective and restrictive, while avoiding redundancies as much as I could. I have included some metaphors and paradigms, such as the shift from print publications to electronic information. The traditional role of publishers in the information chain is compared with the new opportunities that electronic publishing is offering now and may offer in the foreseeable future. From DTP to DTD, unplugged and unbundled information, linearity, appropriateness, packaging and customizing, filters, intelligent agents, quality, integrity and authenticity are some of the items hidden in the text. The overall conclusion is: the Internet still can learn a lot from print...!