Research Seminar - August 30, 2000

Abstract

Fundamental issues in information systems include: volume, heterogeneity (e.g., numeric, non-numeric, 2D, 3D), mode (e.g., multimodel, multimedia and geospatial), nature (e.g., off-line, realtime, mission-critical), language (e.g., lingua, context), and culture (e.g., meaning and use of information and therefore their relative relevance). On the other hand, operational issues such as, storage, management, retrieval, linking, security, effectiveness and efficiency of use of information systems play vital roles in the performance and quality of service provided to both individuals and organisations. What components therefore constitute to making information, knowledge and intelligence are therefore difficult to fathom.

In this seminar some of the fundamental and operational issues will be described and illustrated through few case studies where I have been involved in terms of research, design, development and analysis. Examples will be drawn briefly from the areas of computer architecture, performance modelling and measurement, test data generation for large software systems, fact extraction system, speech processing system and geospatial data management system. In addition, issues in data fusion and their relevance to information management will also be included, where required.

Issues in software engineering (a la OO paradigm), visualisation, pattern engineering, interoperability and composability form the technical foundations to total information management and exploitation for the future. The proposed visionary statement has a strong underpinning based on these areas, but will also allude to the moral dilemma between ethical issues and human ambitions.

The works reported are based on CORBA and Java/C++, but other technologies such as HLA and COM+ also have relevance and significance to information management.