Web & Network Information Systems
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Our services
We offer a range of services for the creation, development and delivery of networked information systems for commercial and professional applications. These build on the software infrastructure of Index+, our text and multi-media database system, and provide the following capabilities:
Content creation
We develop and provide database systems with on-line and off-line data entry. These support importing data from most types of existing document types from word processor files, to SGML documents and relational and other databases. The database provides a secure, scalable and robust storage for text and multi-media assets.
Web database
The Index+ Web Gateway allows content held in the database to be presented as HTML. The contents can be viewed and searched from any standard web browser. The indexing capabilities of Index+ provide comprehensive search and retrieval. A terminology resource provides for the application of keywords, authorities, thesauri and dictionaries and provides multi-lingual search. We can work with your designers or we can bring our own creative and specialist design team to collaborate on public access projects. We offer very high production standards combined with a thorough understanding of human-computer interaction, and multimedia and screen design.
Security
Systems can be developed and made available over the web with free or secure access for professional or commercial users. Secure company intranets can be developed. Z39.50 Gateway: A Z39.50 interface is available. This allows the Index+ server to respond to requests from any client that uses the Z39.50 protocol.
back to topSample applications
Higher education
JISC Image Portal Project (Pixus)
This is a joint project with the Scottish Cultural Resources Access
Network financed by JISC (Higher Education's Joint Information Systems
Committee). The project created and developed an advanced portal system
which delivers object level access to a series of independent image services
for higher education, while meeting a range of standards and requirements
for interoperability. SSL's experience in the development of standards and
metadata and the powerful searching capabilities of its technology provided
a sound basis for responding to the demanding requirements of this project.
Equally important was the design input that ensures that the results from
different datasets are integrated into a homogeneous display conforming to
the best principles of 'inclusive design' and reflecting the overall look
and feel of the portal.
http://ginger.scran.ac.uk
HEFCE Learning and Teaching Portal Services
HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) is funding
the ‘Finder’ project to develop learning and teaching portal services as
part of its Information Environment development. The portal will be a tool
to enable the discovery of learning resources and materials and other relevant
information to support all those working within learning and teaching, for
both further education (FE) and higher education (HE). SSL is developing the
portal jointly with JISC and the Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN),
a major network of 24 subject centres based in HE institutions throughout the
UK and a single Generic Centre.
www.ltsn.ac.uk/genericcentre/projectfinder/
Routes (Resources for OU Teachers and Students) - Open University
SSL has provided its Index+ software to power the Routes project (Resources for Open University Teachers and Students). Routes is a Library service providing search and browse access to selected, quality-assessed Internet resources for Open University courses. Resources are selected and maintained by course teams and the Library's Information Specialists.
Comments from OU students - valuable tool...quick and easy access...adds an extra dimension
to the study...another OU innovation working well...
http://routes.open.ac.uk/ROUTES/index.html
AHDS Visual Arts (formerly VADS) - Surrey Institute of Art and Design
SSL has provided Index+ software to support the digitisation programme,
cataloguing and web access for AHDS Visual Arts located at the Surrey
Institute of Art and Design. AHDS Visual Arts mission is to support
research, learning and teaching primarily within the UK higher and further
education sector, by providing visual arts digital resources through robust
systems for Internet access and long term preservation. The collections form
a body of digital materials in a variety of digital formats, from text to
'virtual reality', covering all subject areas of the visual arts, from textiles
to architecture, including their practise, study and curation. Resources delivered
include: image databases from the Imperial War Museum, London College of Fashion,
National Arts Education Archive and The Design Council Archive; student degree s
how web-sites and others including digital outputs from AHRB schemes and
Computer Aided Learning packages.
http://vads.ahds.ac.uk
Central and regional government projects
ORB (Online Resource Bank) - The British Council
ORB (Online Resource Bank) powered by Index+ enables Council staff and clients throughout the world to search for information about websites and other resources relevant to the Council’s work. The ORB Gateway offers advanced search facilities and an on-line form for suggesting new resources.
Duration: March 1998 - March 2004
http://orb.britcoun.org
Essex Life and Essex Seamless - Essex County Council
SSL provides sofware infrastructure for the Essex County Council 'Life'
citizens information database and website. ‘Life’ provides local information
about organisations and services in Essex. The system is accessible in all
Essex libraries both on-line and as a CD-ROM edition. Visitors who wish to
add to the database can submit the details of their organisation and have
them added to future editions. In this way, the product becomes more and
more useful. In addition, SSL has provided advanced thesaurus and Z39.50 search
facilities for ‘Seamless’, the community information network under development
by the Council.
http://elan.essexcc.gov.uk:8081/life
Sense of Place South East (SoPSE consortium - Hampshire County Council Libraries Service)
SSL has supplied an Index+ Content Management System and website for the
Sense of Place South East (SoPSE) project. This comprises the web portal and
its microsites currently including ‘Greenham - a common inheritance’, ‘Hantsphere’,
‘Slough History online’, ‘The Huntley & Palmers Collection’ and ‘Thames Pilot’.
Illumina delivered the interactive designs for the website. Each microsite
delivers fully searchable images and information from libraries, museums,
archives, local papers and a range of organizations enhanced with narrative
stories. SoPSE consortium includes county council and local authority
organisations and is funded by NOF.
http://www.sopse.org.uk
Thames Pilot - Royal Borough of Maidenhead and Windsor
SSL is currently developing new interactive functionality for
ThamesPilot also accessed through SoPSE. This project is a partnership
of museums and archives along the river Thames with the aim of providing
interactive web access to resources from their collections.
www.thamespilot.org.uk
Local Studies Content Management System and ‘Etched on Devon’s memory’ website - Devon County Council
SSL has developed an integrated Index+ Collections Management and Content
Management system for the Local Studies Service of Devon Library and Information
Services. The system enables effective management of both Local Studies holdings
and the content of the ‘Etched on Devon's Memory’ project. This project is
supported by the New Opportunities Fund to digitise historic content and make
these available to the public via the web.
www.devon.gov.uk/library/locstudy/etched.html
Cultural sector websites
SCRAN - Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network
SCRAN (Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network) is the award winning history and culture website providing instant access to images, sounds, movies and learning resources. It contains over one million records from museums, galleries and archives. In addition, there are learning materials such as pathfinders, resource packs, curriculum navigator, topic banks and teaching packs. SCRAN is a linked site in the National Grid for Learning.
System Simulation works closely with the SCRAN project team and has configured and implemented the foundation infrastructure of the project - a repository management system capable of sustaining the growth of the project throughout its life. The site is managed with an Index+ content management system and provides capabilities for creating, storing, retrieving and managing rich text descriptions of artifacts, buildings, events, and associated digital images, video and audio. The meta search facility uses the Index+ Bridge technology to search and retrieve data from remote databases.
"An ongoing feast of history and culture",The Guardian in "World's top 6 Museum Sites".
- American Association of Museums Silver Muse Award 2001- excellence in the use of media and technology
- Jason Farradane Award 2001 of the Institute of Informatiom Scientists - an outstanding piece if work
- BECTA/The Guardian UK Education Website Awards - shortlisted 2002
The 24 Hour Museum - the National Virtual Museum
Show.me - the interactive website for kids
The 24 Hour Museum is an interactive web portal to over 2500 of the UK's museums, galleries and heritage attractions aimed at a wide general audience. System Simulation provides the content management system and web applications. Since its launch in May 1999, the 24 Hour Museum has been regularly updated and enhanced with new features, functionality and new designs. It provides a gazetteer to museums and galleries, News from the sector, interactive Trails, activity-based resources, search facilities and much more. A high-access text-only version is provided for visually impaired visitors. A Welsh language version enables Welsh speakers to search for and access content specific to Wales.
The Teachers and the Museum professionals sections provide a variety of information and linked resources. The Curriculum Navigator helps teachers, parents and pupils to find details of resources relevant to topics in the National Curriculum that are available from museums and galleries around the country. The Direct Data Entry facility enables the museums to update and maintain information relating to their institution, its activities and resources. 24 Hour Museum is a linked site in the National Grid for Learning.
The new Kids site www.show.me.uk has been launched with interactive activities developed in collaboration with a number of national museums.
- BT/New Statesman-Best education site 2001
- IVCA Biz Net Award Winner - Best public information site 2002
- Best of the Web, Museums and the Web 2003 - Best E-services Solution
COMPASS - the British Museum’s web and kiosk public access systems
SSL worked closely with the COMPASS team and supplied the software architecture for the COMPASS project - this includes the Content Development System for the creation and management of all content including selected data imports from Merlin the Museum’s collection management system (also delivered by SSL) and the Publishing Pipelines delivering content to all versions of COMPASS on the web and to the specially designed touch-screen consoles in the Reading Room. COMPASS offers a variety of interfaces for exploring the Museum's collections in new ways enabling visitors to gain a fuller understanding of objects and their contexts. On the web COMPASS enables visits to be planned and delivers materials for use in school projects or academic research. A high-access text-only version is provided for visually impaired visitors. Children (and parents and schools) have their own specially designed access within the 'childrensCOMPASS' website. Here the programs are aimed at the specific needs of teachers, children and the subject areas of the National Curriculum.
- National Library for the Blind, Visionary Design Award 2002 - for accessibility to the visually impaired.
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/childrenscompass
Museum Documentation Association - AdviceNet portal
SSL has configured an Index+ Content Management System and
web portal ‘AdviceNet’, for the Museum Documentation Association (mda).
AdviceNet is the first point of call for anybody with a question about
the care of a collection. Information is provided via edited content,
collected data and links to external resources. AdviceNet benefits all
those working with collections, and in turn their national and international
publics, by providing easy access to quality assured resources, advice and
support on collections management and use.
www.mda.org.uk/
Museums Association - MA website
SSL has developed the content management system and website for the
Museums Association (MA). The Index+ Content Management System enables
MA staff to create, edit, link and manage all content and update the website
weekly. The website is a powerful tool furthering the Association’s programme
of information delivery to the sector with news, events and conferences,
issues of best practice such as ethics, commercial opportunities and career
development. It includes current articles from Museum Journal and an archive
of articles from Museum Practice.
www.museumsassociation.org
