The problems of internation - as seen in Western-Europe

Abstract

A recent OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) meeting of ministers of the member countries dealt among others with the scientific and technical information problem. The most important findings and resolutions of thie meeting are reviewed by the article; one of the main causes of the technological gap between Europe and the United States may be attributed to the unorganized situation in information transfer. The most essential means for communicating technical development and technological transfer seems to be a unified processing and an organized exchange of scientific and technical information. Therefore, high-level governmental measures have to be taken by the OECD member states in order to bring about compatible and convertible information systems, both on national and international level to eliminate the present confusion in processing and disseminating information. The remarkable progress of communication and the computer technology provides promising means for the adequate processing, storage and retrieval of information; in order to utilize them effectively, however one major requirement remains to be met; the standardization and the application of internationally usable, compatible and convertible information systems and methods.