A compatibility study of two information systems

The systems analyzed are the one used by the American Society for Metals Information Searching Service developed at Western Reserve University and the one adopted by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and proposed for wider development by the Engineers Joint Council. One system (ASM‐WRU) is designed for computer processing and a centralized information service; the other (AIChE) is designed primarily for manual or simple card files and for use by individuals, although it can — and has been — adapted for a machine system as well. Despite this wide difference in use of the systems, the principles of information analysis on which both are based are strikingly similar. Both employ a threefold approach encompassing terminology control (thesaurus in the AIChE system, code dictionary in the ASM‐WRU system), role indicators, and links. The similarities and differences in these three areas are examined, and representative documents are analyzed by both systems as illustrative examples. Possible future coordination is discussed.