Quarterly Documentation Survey

Abstract

The inadequacy of conventional methods for communication in the face of the ever‐increasing amount of information to be dealt with is obvious. An international system of communication based on knowledge of the way in which the human brain stores and uses information is required. Unfortunately such knowledge is not yet available, but there is no doubt that the richness of association linkages in the brain is in marked contrast to the irregular and unreliable association process in external communication systems. Vast improvements would be necessary, involving increases in depth of cataloguing, indexing, cross‐referencing, and abstracting. The flexibility of the association processes would be such that constant awareness of current developments would become possible. Automatic processes under the supervision of experienced scientists would form an indispensable part of the system. The cost of all this would be justified by the rapid advances of knowledge which would result. At present the principal obstacle in the way of solving the information problem is probably public unawareness. If this could be overcome a system on the above lines might begin to come into being.