Cataloging/Indexing of Embedded Multimedia in E-Journals

Among the journals currently utilizing EM are:

• Earth Interactions
  The design of this Web-based e-journal is described in "Earth Interactions: Transcending the Limitations of the Printed Page" at http://www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/Morning3.htm
• Institute of Physics (IOP) Journals
  

  Good examples can be found in the following titles ; demonstrations are available at the follwoing URLs

  • Nanotechnology
  • Combustion Theory and Modelling
  • New Journal of Physics

• Internet Journal of Chemistry An e-journal with great embedded multimedia at:
  • http://www.ijc.com/articles/
  • http://www.ijc.com/multimedia.html It has a separate left-hand frame index with a "Multimedia" index! [Impressive!]
  • http://www.ijc.com/

• Internet Archeology
  Here is a citation to an excellent review article I learned about from a previous posting http://intarch.ac.uk/news/eva97.html. It details the early experience with embedded multimedia in an Internet journal of archaeology.

  I believe that the use of EM will be a major trend over the next few years! which will have major ramifications, notably on the nature of Next-Generation WebPACs as well as cataloging of e-journals.

  I have searched the OCLC records for the Internet Archaeology journal as well as the Internet Journal of Chemistry as well as Combustion Theory and Modelling and find *no* mention of the multimedia functionality

  Note: The record for Combustion theory and modelling [Online] [OCLC 37557289] notes that the publication is available In Acrobat and Postscript file and that the online journal is the online version of the print publication. However, there is an additional multimedia option that is indicated with an 'M' icon.

  I believe that the use of Embedded Multimedia in E-journals will become a major trend over the next few years and that such functionality offers great benefit and enhancements for users. There will be however, major ramifications, particularly in terms of the default plug-ins that will be required to provide seamless access to *all* the content of these journals.

  There will also be ramification in the cataloging process as well and I am greatly interested in what my cataloging colleagues believe are/will be the issues facing the cataloging of these EM E-journals. Should be note the EM display option as we do for Acrobat or Postscript? Should we note all the available EM? Should we code for EM to facilitate access in future search systems (e.g., retrieve all books (or articles) that on Topic X with streaming video).

  I have been invited to prepare an article on the overall topic of the Ramifications of Embedded Multimedia in E-journals due by the end of August and would appreciate any thoughts on their impact on the cataloging/indexing process.

  As Always, Any and All contributions, queries, critiques, comments, questions, concerns, etc., etc. regarding this post are Most Welcome.

  If you are interested in my essay it's entitled: Morning Becomes Electric: Post-Modern Information Access, Organization, and Navigation, The *un-revised* version is available at: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/Morning.htm

  The version *in revision* is at http://www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/Morning3.htm