SOG-UK-L Archives

Archiver > SOG-UK > 2004-08 > 1093166905


From: Tim Powys-Lybbe <>
Subject: Re: [SoG] Birth Briefs
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2004 10:28:26 +0100
References: <000901c487c1$508aad40$33c6883e@Packard> <000701c4881b$f8bc96e0$6701a8c0@ronan>
In-Reply-To: <000701c4881b$f8bc96e0$6701a8c0@ronan>


In message of 22 Aug, "CMR" <> wrote:

> How easy is it to search these 7,000 plus birth briefs?
> My first thought was of how useful it would be if they were on a
> computer database: but then I thought of the work involved in
> creating (and maintaining) it. It would certainly make them more
> accessible but how high a priority would they command in the
> competition for scarce volunteer time?

I thoroughly agree with you that birth briefs are just the sort of
thing that should be on a computer system and preferably also on the
internet.

Currently there are insufficient volunteers as it is for all the work
that would can be done.

> Thinking another way I would be prepared to re submit my birth brief in a
> digital format if the computer experts in the society have time and energy
> to set up a suitable form.

I am sure everyone with internet access would be prepared to submit
their birth briefs that way. But it is not just the time and energy of
the computer experts. These are volunteers too and also scarce.

A final problem is that of sheer resources. The kit and internet
servers may not be capable of doing that sort of work. It is not cheap
to provide a fast response interactive system - just look at the number
of commercial site that give appalling response times, not to mention
that are pains to use.

Would there be some mileage if someone with their own internet site
designed a prototype system? At least this would not consume scarce
resources of people and money. Then everyone could see what could be
done and develop the concept further. Or is this not the way to go?

--
Tim Powys-Lybbe
For a miscellany of bygones: http://powys.org

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