Overview of the Project
Collaboratories and on-line facilities are beginning to revolutionize
DOE's ability to solve large, complex problems. On-line instruments and
real-time conferencing capabilities allow remote scientists to collaborate
on scientific tasks. A missing piece of infrastructure for these
collaboratories is an electronic notebook, which allows scientists
located across the country to share the record of ideas,
data, and events of their joint experiments and research programs.
Through a multi-lab collaboration,
LBNL,
ORNL,
and
PNNL
are developing a modular, extensible, notebook framework
and using it to produce cross-platform interoperating
prototype implementations.
The prototypes will conform to a common notebook architecture
and communications mechanism, thus allowing them to interoperate
and to share components for input and display of
sketches, text, equations, images, graphs, and other data types,
as well as tools for authentication and other services.
In addition there are close ties between this project and the
Collaborative Electronic Notebook Systems Consortium and their
efforts to create and expand the markets for
scientific laboratory software.
The goals of the project
Primary
design a modular, extensible, notebook architecture and
define a base set of notebook functionality.
-
develop reference notebook implementations and
make them available to interested collaboratory efforts across DOE.
Secondary
demonstrate the flexibility of the architecture
via connection to different databases and
the use of different presentation metaphors.
-
show interoperability between architecturally compliant notebook systems
within the base functionality.
-
demonstrate a set of common input and display tools for notebook systems.
-
compare and evaluate different notebook interface designs.
-
support active scientific research collaborations
in existing/ developing collaboratories.
Research Plan
Our electronic notebook research covers the three basic areas
listed below. All three of the labs are working together to complete
the specified subtasks. Progress is being made in all three areas and
documented in a shared project notebook, which is password protected.
Notebook Architecture Design
- Define generic notebook object
- Specify basic functionality that a compliant notebook supports
- Define how the base functionality can be extended
- Specify how different notebook implementations interoperate
- Provide specification to Team Science Notebook Consortium
Develop Compliant Notebook Implementation(s)
- Develop at least two prototype implementations.
These may be formed by merging and modifying existing notebooks
or starting from scratch from the architecture specification.
- Demonstrate interoperability between implementations
- Expand the base functionality by developing input and display tools
that can customize the notebook to specific collaboratory needs.
Make Electronic Notebooks Available to Collaboratories
- Offer existing notebooks and early compiliant prototypes to pilot projects
- Make technology available to other collaboratories
- Provide electronic notebook software to interested individuals
- Use feedback to refine the notebook design and functionality
May 2000 Status Report
March 1999 Status Report
Electronic Notebook Demonstration to Vice President Gore
A Photo Essay January 21, 1998
If you are interested in learning more about the DOE 2000 Electronic
Notebook project or about the availability of software, follow
the links to LBNL, ORNL, PNNL above, or send email
to our research group.
Email: doe2000-en@emsl.pnl.gov
If you would like to join a mail list for notebook discussions among users,
then email:
Doe2000-en-discussion and put the word SUBSCRIBE in the message
body. (the list is pretty quiet at the present time)
Last Modified February 25, 1999