Ketchell D S, Freedman M M, Jordan W E, Lightfoot E M, Heyano S, Libbey P A
Health Sciences Libraries and Information Center, University of Washington Libraries, and Computing and Communications, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
J Am Med Inform Assoc. 1996 Jan-Feb;3(1):27-37. doi: 10.1136/jamia.1996.96342647.
The objective of the Willow Project is to develop a uniform search interface that allows a diverse community of users to retrieve information from heterogeneous network-based information resources. Willow separates the user interface from the database management or information retrieval system. It provides a graphic user interface to a variety of information resources residing on diverse hosts, and using different search engines and idiomatic query languages through networked-based client-server and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocols. It is based on a "database driver'' model, which allows new database hosts to be added without altering Willow itself. Willow employs a multimedia extension mechanism to launch external viewers to handle data in almost any form. Drivers are currently available for a local BRS/SEARCH system and the Z39.50 protocol. Students, faculty, clinicians, and researchers at the University of Washington are currently offered 30 local and remote databases via Willow. They conduct more than 250,000 sessions a month in libraries, medical centers and clinics, laboratories, and offices, and from home. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is implementing Willow as its uniform search interface to Z39.50 hosts.
柳树项目的目标是开发一个统一的搜索界面，使不同的用户群体能够从基于网络的异构信息资源中检索信息。柳树将用户界面与数据库管理或信息检索系统分离。它为驻留在不同主机上的各种信息资源提供图形用户界面，并通过基于网络的客户机/服务器和传输控制协议/互联网协议（TCP/IP）协议使用不同的搜索引擎和惯用查询语言。它基于“数据库驱动程序”模型，允许在不改变柳树本身的情况下添加新的数据库主机。柳树采用多媒体扩展机制来启动外部查看器，以处理几乎任何形式的数据。目前有适用于本地BRS/SEARCH系统和Z39.50协议的驱动程序。华盛顿大学的学生、教师、临床医生和研究人员目前可通过柳树使用30个本地和远程数据库。他们每月在图书馆、医疗中心和诊所、实验室和办公室以及家中进行超过25万次会话。麻省理工学院正在将柳树作为其对Z39.50主机的统一搜索界面来实施。
