Some remarks upon the feasibility of an international information system

Abstract

There is a permanent interaction between acientists, specialists and the achievement of science and technology. International relatoions thus evolved may speed up scientific and technological development, and their effect may be very positive. Much consideration is being therefore, given to the problems of establishing a possible international information system. The most important problems arising in this respect include the following: should the system be a uniform one, or should it be made up of certain parts; if the system consists of sub-systems, what type of division seems to be feasible and what organizations should establish the connection between the individual sub-systems; what sources of information may be built in an international system; and what efforts, if any, are already being made which might possibly promote the organization of an international system?
These questions are closely related, and the reply given to any one of thes will have an effect on the replica to be given to the rest of the queetions.
The conditions for organizing an international information system are summed up by the study as follows:
a/ The step-by-step development of the system should be started as soon as possible. The system will have to process any type of documents (scientific and technical literature for the first step) irrespective of the publishing country and of the language of the document. Information to be published should be recorded in two world languages, whlle translations into other languages should be performed by machines. The system should make use of the various forms of international cooperation which have already evolved in the field of information. The activities of the system will be divided into thematic groups, although other methods of division may also be adopted if neseseary. The individual units will thus be incompatible, but the user will always be given appropriate instructions.
b/ In the second phase, possibilities should be afforded to unify the work carried on by the individual units and to integrate the international documentation of data in the system.