The Astronomical Information Infrastructure from the End-User Perspective

Abstract

Information Technology (IT) today has found so many applications in as- tronomy, that we may speak of an electronic `Astronomical Information Infrastructure' (AII). At this moment, the AII really is nothing but a collection of disparate services. Over the last few years the collection has grown so large, that it leaves the End-User in a rather desperate state. This paper provides an inventory of End-User problems, regarding net- work information systems, astronomical software packages, and electronic publishing. Solutions to the problems may be found through the coordi- nation of efforts, and the definition of standards and principles. Examples of what may be achieved are the AstroWeb project, which provides a directory of astronomical IT services, the Starlink project in the United Kingdom, concerning astronomical software packages, and the initiatives of the American Astronomical Society with respect to electronic pub- lishing. The paper also discusses the concepts of a modular client-server system, which may serve as the basic ingredient for a transparent and integrated Astronomical Information Infrastructure.