Your request was forwarded from the CITES-L list where raises some secondary
questions.
 
There are many areas where on-line time is metered and absolute currency of
information is not required. If multimedia information such as bitmap
images or sound are required to describe items in the collection, the
most common connection types (56kbps and below) would suffer from
unacceptable wait-time.
 
One solution is to combine a regular CDROM distribution with the ability
to connect when required. The need to explicitly subscribe to get the
CDROM would allow one to control the user base for security purposes and
would generate revenue to support the enterprise without having to meter
usage or play a continuing grant game.
 
Those doing research would benefit from crosslinking items in their own
database as well as adding items of which they are aware but which are
not in a subscribing collection. For thesis work, crosslinking ones
own text, drawings etc. would be valuable. All of these are easier when
the bulk of the data is local to the users workstation.
 
I recognize that the above suggestions may complicate your research
but submit them in the hope that a viable program would result.
 
Bob Cruder - [log in to unmask]
 
Regards
Richard