Why Can't I Find My Data the Way I Find My Dinner?

摘要

The success of the International Polar Year, particularly its unprecedented breadth of science, shines a bright light on the challenges and opportunities of modern information technology. IPY researchers produce data ranging from genetic sequences to cosmic neutrino energy levels, over a broad range of time and space scales, in disparate coordinate systems, and with varied traditions and experience of data sharing and data management. We can not say with confidence where these invaluable data will reside for use by future generations of polar and planetary researchers. Meanwhile, smart search engines, pattern recognition and data mining tools, multi-gigabyte personal storage devices, and advanced animation capabilities, coupled with almost unlimited mobile bandwidth, offer expansive and amazing information access to many citizens. However, this array of access technology remains certainly beyond the means, and often not even in the plans, of most scientific data centres. What changes in strategy, funding and individual and collective behaviour need to occur to allow me to browse, view and access IPY data on my iTouch?