Packet Radio: Applications for Libraries in Developing Countries (1993)

*UDT Series on Data Communication Technologies and Standards for Libraries* Packet Radio: Applications for Libraries in Developing Countries (1993) Gary Cleveland National Library of Canada Ordering Information TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1.1 Scope and Terminology Developing Countries Devloping Country Libraries Packet Radio Focus of the Study 1.2 Goals of the Study 1.3 Organization PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRY LIBRARIES 2.1 The Role of Information in Developing Countries Information Users Information Sources Efforts to Provide Information 2.2 Review of Current Problems of Developing Country Libraries Economic Factors Information Resources Organizational Structures Human Resources Political Factors 2.2.1 The Problem of Isolation 2.3 Overcoming Isolation Through Electronic Communication 2.3.1 Networking in Developing Nations Lack of a Telecommunications Infrastructure Packet Radio OVERVIEW OF PACKET RADIO TECHNOLOGY 3.1 Underlying Concepts of Packet Radio 3.1.1 Wireless Communications 3.1.1.1 Point-to-Point and Broadcast Communication 3.1.1.2 Frequency Modulation 3.1.1.3 Physical Constraints on Radio Broadcasting 3.1.2 Spread Spectrum Techniques 3.1.3 Packet Switching 3.1.4 Application of Packet Switching to Broadcast Radio 3.1.5 Capabilities of Packet Radio 3.1.6 Other Wireless Technologies Wireless LANs Mobile Data Services Cellular Radio Satellite Communication 3.2 Components of a Packet Radio Network 3.2.1 Packet Radio Hardware Radio Transceiver The Terminal Node Controller Commercially Available Packet Radio Modems Microcomputers Solar Panels 3.2.2 Packet Radio Protocols 3.2.2.1 The OSI Reference Model 3.2.2.2 Packet Radio Protocol Issues 3.2.2.3 Specific Packet Radio Protocols 3.2.3 Performance 3.3 Example Packet Radio Networks 3.3.1 Centralized 1-Hop Packet Radio Network 3.3.2 Multi-Hop Packet Radio Network 3.3.3 Packet Radio Network Connected to External Networks 3.3.4 Packet Radio Network With Satellite Connections PACKET RADIO IN DEVELOPING COUNTRY LIBRARIES 4.1 Approprioate Design and Use of Packet Radio in Developing Country Libraries 4.1.1 Appropriate Technology and Applications Packet Radio as an Appropriate Technology 4.1.2 The Needs Assessment The Needs Analysis Synthesis of options 4.2 Library Applications of Packet Radio 4.2.1 Information Retrieval 4.2.1.1 Access to Remote Online Databases in the Industrialized World Obstacles to Online Access Use of Packet Radio for Online 4.2.1.2 Remote Access to CD-ROM Source Disks Obtacles to CD-ROM Use Use of Packet Radio with CD-ROM 4.2.1.3 Accessing Locally Developed Databases Obstacles to Local Dtabase Use Use of Packet Radio with Local Databases 4.2.2 Access to International Computer Networks 4.2.2.1 The Internet 4.2.2.1.1 Internet Regources and Services 4.2.2.1.2 Developing Country-Oriented Internet Information Resources 4.2.2.1.3 International Access 4.2.2.1.4 Use of Packet Radio to Link to the Internet 4.2.2.2 Development Networks Example Networks Obstacles to the Use of FIDOnet Technology Use of Packet Radio with FIDOnet 4.2.3 Document Supply 4.2.3.1 Interlibrary Loan Obstacles to ILL Use of Packet Radio for ILL 4.2.3.2 Document Delivery 4.2.3.2.1 Use of Packet Radio for Electronic Document Delivery Electronic Mail Document Imaging and Transmission Systems Fax Satellite Transmission 4.2.4 Cooperative Cataloguing Obstacles to Cooperative Cataloguing Use of Packet Radio for Cataloguing 4.2.5 Professional Communication Library-Oriented Lists Developing Country-Oriented Lists PACKET RADIO PROJECTS 5.1 General Packet Radio Network Projects 5.1.1 The ALOHA Project 5.1.1.1 PRNET 5.1.2 Netherlands Packet Radio Messaging Consultancy Group 5.1.3 Packet Radio Internet Extension Demonstration 5.2 Packet Radio and Library Projects 5.2.1 University of California DLA Wide-Area Packet Radio and San Diego Packet Radio Internet Extension (PRIE) 5.3 Packet Radio Projects in Developing Countries 5.3.1 Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) Republic of Djibouti Sierra Leone Tanzania 5.3.3 HealthNet 5.3.4 Lesotho Project 5.3.5 Mindanao Packet Radio Network: The Philippines 5.3.6 CEAMNET: Central America 5.3.7 ERNET: India 5.3.8 TCP/IP Wide-Area packet Radio Network: Indonesia CONCLUSION Issues and Obstacles in the Use of Packet Radio Benefits of Packet Radio References ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Funding for this study was provided by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) as part of the 1991 Work Plan of the Universal Dataflow and Telecommunications (UDT) Core Programme. The author would like to express his appreciation to Leigh Swain, UDT Programme Director, for his overall direction of the study and to Paula Tallim, UDT Programme Officer, for her editorial support. Parts of this document were produced in collaboration with consultants at Software Kinetics Ltd., Stittsville, Ontario. The author would therefore like to acknowledge written contributions in parts of Chapter 3 of Pery Quan, Joe Zeeman, and Dennis MacKinnon, of Softare Kinetics. Special thanks to Dr. Clifford Lynch, Director of Library Automation, University of California, and to Gary Garriott of Volunteers in Technical Assistance, for reading an earlier draft of this study and for providing many valuable comments, suggestions, and additional information. All errors and omissions, however, remain the author's. Gary Cleveland National Library of Canada


Latest Revision: April 27, 1995	Copyright © 1995-2000 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions www.ifla.org

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