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Summary of a Workshop on Information Technology Research for Crisis Management (1999) / Chapter Skim
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2 Information Technology Trends Relevant to Crisis Management
Pages 13-24

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From page 13...
... In the area of computing and storage, Paul Smith discussed trends in high-performance computing, including supercomputer speeds and very large storage devices. Barry Leiner discussed software issues in finding, integrating, and sharing the enormous amount of information available in current and future information networks.
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From page 14...
... Systems must advance in a balanced manner. The balancing process also must take into account storage capabilities, speed of data access, and network speed.
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From page 15...
... INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Barry Leiner of the Corporation for National Research Initiatives discussed software issues in finding, integrating, and sharing the enormous amount of information available in current and future information networks, as well as issues related to availability. These are issues that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
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From page 16...
... Neither approach seems optimal.5 One alternative being explored would selectively provide key information to areas that incur great damage. For example, when communications are degraded, only relatively recent information would be transmitted to affected areas, with "propositioned" information resources providing the rest of the information needed.
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From page 17...
... Support for application logic then emerged in both database engines and affiliated tools. An example of the former is database engines storing multimedia types; an example of the latter is tools that convert data into HTML the language used to represent Web pages to support user interfaces.
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From page 18...
... Database developers are realizing that users want their products to provide support for executing complex decision support queries on the same systems that process online transactions, spanning multiple data sources. At one time, it was believed that relational databases would enable users to run complex decision support queries.
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From page 19...
... Also at that time, DARPA began funding a substantial amount of research in packet radio. The concept was that packet radio networks could be dropped into remote areas For an extended discussion of the history of wireless communications development see Computer Science and Telecommunications Board (CSTB)
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From page 20...
... The major innovation was its use of digital control channels, so that calls could be switched automatically from one cell site to another, allowing the user to treat an AMPS cellular telephone in much the same manner as a wireline telephone. In the late 1980s, demand for cellular telephone service increased.
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From page 21...
... Today, as cellular telephones and other commercial systems are meeting most of the operational requirements for disaster communications, the primary role of amateur packet radio has shifted toward technical experimentation and education.
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From page 22...
... TRENDS IN WEARABLE COMPUTERS Daniel Siewiorek of Carnegie Mellon University discussed trends in wearable computers. He demonstrated an early-generation wearable computer that was designed in about 1994 and supported a marine in performing a 600-element inspection of an amphibious tractor.
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From page 23...
... On the other hand, the degree to which device weight and thickness affect task performance and comfort can vary with body location. Body heat and device heat conduction also can affect wearer comfort significantly.
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From page 24...
... But compression and transmission of video would require about 10 grams of batteries. The battery weight required to distribute real-time data with full-color video among mobile users in the battlefield would be quite large.
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Key Terms

  • information management
  • application logic
  • wearable computer
  • packet radio
  • wearable computers

  • wireless communications
  • packet data
  • support queries
  • decision support
  • data types

  • battery weight
  • technology office
  • multiple access
  • future information
  • enormous amount

  • discussed trends
  • complex decision
  • user interfaces
  • cellular telephones
  • software issues

  • cellular coverage
  • barry leiner
  • division multiple
  • emergency communications
  • database engines

  • relational databases
  • amateur packet
  • cellular telephone
  • data services
  • storage devices


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