Common Information Environment
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Contents |
OVERVIEW
The Common Information Environment is an umbrella organisation set up in May 2003 when JISC, the e-science Core programme, the National Electronic Library for Health (NeLH) and the British Library, all with the support of UKOLN at the University of Bath, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate and collaborate in their efforts to make their digital content accessible and interoperable through shared understanding and solutions. It acts as a forerunner to that of the Strategic Content Alliance whose work started in March 2006.
Purpose
The signatories of the Common Information Environment's memorandum understood that convergence of their work through shared standards would result in an easier-to-use service for the public. In addition they saw the potential for better value for money in terms of public expenditure on digital information by reducing duplication of effort across the various organisations and by maximising the potential of digital content regardless of its provenance by enabling it to be mixed and repurposed in ways that suit the audience.
Activities of the Common Information Environment
The Common Information Environment undertook several pieces of work on which the Strategic Content Alliance has built, namely:
- Market research through the MORI survey of user behaviour
- Developed an advocacy framework and targeted this at key government departments to raise awareness of the importance of a more co-ordinated approach between public sector organisations with responsibility for the provision of digital content
- Developed two demonstrators (one focussing on health, a second around place) to exemplify the benefits to the user in being able access high quality content from a variety of providers through a common environment
Related Digipedia articles
Further information
Paul Miller: Towards the digital acquifer: introducing the common information environment Ariadne no.39, April 2004
Phillip Pothen: Building a common information environment Cilip Update December 2003
