INSTITUTE FOR INTERVENTIONAL INFORMATICS

To Wayne Jonas MD

From Dave Warner MD

It was great to meet with you and your staff recently. I truly believe that your office will play an important role in the future direction of innovative methods for relieving suffering and generally improving quality of life. I look forward to helping you develop a web-based communication infrastructure which will allow for easy access to all the “obscure” references in your diverse databases. I believe that this pilot project can serve as a model for developing the next generation of collaborative networks.

Since my visit I have given a great amount of thought to exactly how to proceed with the project as you and I had discussed. Specifically I have been verifying that the capabilities to develop a web-like front-end to all your databases are real. They are! New and revolutionary capabilities make it possible to create powerful, fully interactive web-like applications. These applications provide state-of-the-art resources for managing, analyzing, and viewing information. This enhanced access to information happens without requiring duplication or modification of existing databases.

As discussed, the first obvious step will be to develop an operational prototype which can actually function as a stand alone application. This would be a common web-like interface to all the disparate databases. This can be done through the development of fully interactive Web and “Intranet” technologies. The long term goal will be to build a collaboration infrastructure for advanced research practices. This “collaborative environment” would be able to track various research projects in real time and provide a very effective communication channel giving you an enterprise wide information exchange system.

It is my understanding that we would proceed as follows:

A prototype would be developed for universal (OAM-wide) database access using web-technologies.

In phase 1 the goal is to facilitate the interaction with various research databases through the integrated presentation of information. The basic concept is simple. First we access data from the various databases into an integrated form. That is, we link data from multiple, disparate databases into the one common web-like interface. This will empower users to navigate through disparate sets of data through simple point and click methods. This will also provide unprecedented access to information, allowing users to identify trends and relationships at a glance. Viewing and interacting with this information in this way enables on-line decision making. The benefit of webifing this access is that it allows you to add new databases and not change the users interaction dynamics with existing databases. In fact the changes are transparent to the user.

The benefits of such a system are:

Providing faster, more comprehensive information access.

Reduced operations costs .

Enhanced productivity.

Improved research management.

All this will dramatically improve “customer service” by making information instantly available to the people thatneed no mater where there are.

Remember that these are easy to use, yet powerful interfaces - thus minimal training required. This is a Server-based application that can be accessed through common Web browsers. This system will enable end-users to access enterprise-wide information and to make accurate, mission-critical, on-line decisions. The other important part of this system is that you don't have to change a thing about your current operations to use this tool. You can use your existing hardware, software, operating systems, It exists as a stand-alone "component" that any one can use.

The main features are:

Multiple database connectivity, that is, connecting to multiple, disparate databases offering nearly

unlimited information access through simple selections.

The ability to input information into the databases using a web-based form people can type into and then submit for incorporation into the appropriate database.

You can use the technologies you have today. That is, you can run these applications on a broad range of operating systems. Your application can be used on any web browser (--Netscape, Mosaic, America Online), you name it.

It is my understanding that you would like the capability to access all the necessary information which is spread across different databases through out the system and to solve the problems of collecting data by using online web-forms. The Web is great for filling in forms. Electronic forms for information requests, scheduling and performance evaluations can be on an internal website where they can be used from any platform. To accomplish these objectives, your web application needs secure real-time access to all your existing data. This is where we would require cooperation of your existing network team.

To translate data into friendly, meaningful web pages would normally mean writing separate code for each application, for each platform, for each database. This would normally take “man-years” of work.

Instead, special adapters will automatically plug into databases such as Oracle, Sybase, Informix, and DB/2.

The goal is to achieve full and total integration of your databases. It is my belief that the web-based database integrator provides the best and, in some cases, only practical way to do it.

I propose to assemble a group which can do the entire job for you, producing a working prototype. We'll take you from start to finish, working with you to plan and design your web access to various database applications, and then do all the installation, scripting, and programming. Specifically, "webbify" existing disparity by hooking web applications into your existing data sources, to give you up-to-the second information.

My group will work with you and your group to design and build a custom web application from the ground up. We will build and install a functional custom application that accesses databases, such as Oracle, Sybase, and Informix(and others as needed). We'll deliver an application that also accesses your legacy mainframes.

Specifically we will

Plan your application from the initial concept.

Help determine the requirements and functionality of your application.

Develop a project plan.

Integrate, and test the prototype. Act as a conduit to resolve technical issues and provide

additional help with the tasks of building and deploying new databases.

I hope that this brief will help you to understand what is proposed and will be useful in communicating the basic concept to those that have not yet considered the new web technologies as a viable solution.

Dave Warner MD