Sonderband 2. International Council on Archives. Dritte Europäische Archivkonferenz, Wien 11. bis 15. Mai 1993. Tagungsprotokolle (1996)

4. Session / Séance. Strategies for Links with Historical Research / Stratégies de Communication envers la Recherche historique - Gonzalez, Pedro: Data Bases and Long Distance Communication. A Spanish Éxperience / Bases de données et information a distance. Une expérience des archives espagnoles (english 319 - français 343)

4. Session/Séance: Gonzalez, Data Bases and long distance Communcation

6. 3. Present Possibilities

Taking into account these conditioning factors, we find ourselves with several possibilities which are being analyzed at this moment (services provided, cost of development for the system, cost for the AGI, cost for user centres, ease of access, quantity of centres which can have access):- adaptation and simplification of the data base for its dissemination by the Ministerio de Cultura’s central computer and its PIC network- use of the IBERPAC public packet switching network- use of the new ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)- integration within the academic information exchange networks, through the IRIS network- integration within a private network such as the IIN (IBM Information Network).

6.3. 1. Ministerio de Cultura - PIC-Network

The first possibility which was proposed, right from the start of the project, was to use the PIC-Network (which as we said may be entered though the STN (Switched Telephone Network) and the Iberpac Network), as an access gate to the AGI’s computer system. It was assumed that only information in the form of text, not pictures, could be distributed.

The practical development of the system has led to a very different configuration of it for the services which the Ministerio de Cultura offers: ASCII data bases, with STAIRS and AQUARIUS, as opposed to relational data bases with SQL, distributed process, etc.

The changes to be undertaken to achieve this option, simplifying the access to information system, are therefore a great many and, in fact, many of the AGI system’s services would be lost.

6. 3. 2. Iberpac Network

The second option, also considering only access to textual information, is the Iberpac network, the Spanish Packet Switching network, with X-25 protocol.

This is a relatively easy option and has been amply tested out internationally. The only conditioning factors are that the bandwidth does not allow images to be sent, and the user would have to have the system user station hardware and software (except the image display and processing part).

6. 3. 3. Integrated Services Digital Network (RDSI)

This is an option which apparently has a great future. It would even allow digital images to be sent at a not excessively high cost.

In Spain the geographical areas which could have access to the system would still be few, but this will increase with the passage of time, since this appears to be a area of telecommunications which it is worthwhile pursueing.

At present this possibility is being evaluated, even with the collaboration of Telefonica SA, the Spanish telecommunications monopoly, which is interested in colla336