| EMC Society Webmaster Activity |
By Andy Drozd,
Webmaster Committee Chair |
In November 1998, Len Carlson, Vice President of Communication Services, appointed a Webmaster Committee to survey and oversee World Wide Web activities across the EMC Society. This committee reports directly to the EMC Society Board of Directors and is charged with ensuring that the web pages containing the official IEEE and EMC Society logos are being maintained in accordance with IEEE policy. The committee is also evaluating how our web resources are being leveraged by the various committees under the EMC Society for the benefit of the members. Working with me on this are Dave Southworth and Doug Smith with assistance from Todd Hubing and Tom Chesworth. Our attention very recently has been on the EMC Society's main web site, the Technical Activities Committee (TAC) web page and its component entities (TCs 1-9, RAC, and Education), and the Standards committees.
The administrative role of the Webmaster Committee is to identify web page problems, alert the committee or entity concerned, and coordinate corrective actions with an individual who is assigned the responsibility of maintaining the page (usually the committee secretary, webmaster, or chair). The technical role of the Webmaster Committee is to provide specific recommendations, guidance and direct support for web page development and maintenance.
One of our immediate goals is to ensure that the technical committee web pages contain, as a minimum, the following information presented in a concise, consistent, readily usable format:
Why all the fuss? The obvious answer is that we are relying more and more on web-based means to network and communicate with members around the globe. We want to make sure that the information conveyed to members via the web is current, accurate, and as complete as possible. Also, we are in the starting block to extend the Society's current web configuration to facilitate coordinated electronic paper reviews among our technical committees. This involves the use of specialized document routing and database software; but first, a stable and consistent internal web "infrastructure" must be achieved. Several options are presently being investigated to handle documents electronically. Last but certainly not least, the web can be an effective tool for apprising members of Society projects and opportunities as they arise. In this way we can encourage the active involvement of members - strike while the iron is hot! Members can be informed of committee and project status, important events, meeting schedule updates, and new opportunities in a very timely way.
To achieve these goals, it was necessary for us to carry out several important tasks this past year. One of these was to establish individual web page accounts for each of the Society's technical committees under the IEEE's Entity Web Hosting (EWH) server. Dave Southworth made this happen in 1999. In parallel with this, we also transferred the EMC Society web site from the University of Missouri-Rolla server to the EWH server while retaining the familiar www.emcs.org URL address. Doing so allows us to take advantage of the IEEE's web resources and technical support that are provided to us at no cost. Other subtle changes were made to standardize the manner in which the home and directory pages are displayed for the purposes of enhancing efficiency. Additional modifications are in the works to update links and page contents. This activity is ongoing.
We will continue to periodically monitor the status of the Society's technical committee web pages over the coming months to identify outdated, erroneous or missing information that would either indicate under-utilization or lags in maintenance activity. We plan to notify the committee webmaster or secretary of any problems that are found and ask that updated information be uploaded as necessary. Our intention is to cooperate with the committees and offer constructive suggestions for improvement, rather than be an "enforcer".
Several web-based initiatives are underway that are expected to benefit communications services, membership development, and education programs within our Society. One of these is a web advertising and sponsorship program. In this program, which will be launched during the Fall 2000 time frame, companies and labs that are suppliers of EMC products and services can purchase advertising/sponsorship space on the EMC Society Web Site. This will amount to posting proportionally sized company logos on a dedicated page. Company logos placed on this page would be grouped by the primary type of product or service provided. The logo would actually be a hot link to the subscribing company's web site. Subscribers would pay a fixed fee of $1,500 per year for this service allowing for an unlimited number of "hits" to the company's web site. A "Directory EMC Products/ Services" button has already been posted on the EMC Society home page in anticipation of the launch of this program. This button links to another page that is presently under construction. Eventually, this page will be populated with hot link buttons for each paid subscriber. The proceeds from this advertising and sponsorship program will be used to support new communications services and member benefits programs. These include an electronic magazine, web-based educational instruments, new information delivery systems, and web-based professional development resources.
The program will be restricted to traditional or institutional suppliers of EMC products and services. A list of prospective subscribers has already been compiled. The terms and conditions as well as subscription policy and renewal forms (i.e., "agreements") will be available in electronic form on the EMC Society Web Site. These forms are currently being reviewed by the IEEE as the final step in formalizing and initiating the program. Two items being carefully examined include intellectual property rights and ensuring appropriate web site safeguards at the vendor's site. This process of ironing out these and other web-related issues has taken some time, but we are nearly there. If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact me at a.l.drozd@ieee.org or go to the EMC Society Web Site and forward an email inquiry to the Webmaster.
As part of the Webmaster activity we are also looking at leveraging new web delivery systems, web-assisted educational instruments and multimedia tools. Several new information delivery systems have been looked at such as electronic conferencing and white board technologies, real time video streaming on demand, and synchronized multi-media formats. Such capabilities are envisioned to support professional development and distance learning as well as enhance the Society's communications infrastructure. Other applications could include the creation and rapid dissemination of project and career materials "any time, any place, at a reasonable cost". We are in the early stages of assessing and considering such options for the EMC Society. We anticipate some exciting developments within the next several years.
Any Volunteers?
We are always looking for dedicated volunteers. If you are interested in getting aboard this train please contact Dave Southworth, Doug Smith or me. We are also interested in your comments and suggestions.
Happy web surfing! EMC