CRISTAL Integrated Information Environment:

As with any information management system, the operating systems
and user interfaces must accommodate the myriad of inherent
complexities with coherence, clarity, and (apparent) simplicity. 
The sheer volume of data resident in an extensive system, and the
problem of integrating multiple data types into a unified
environment, requires the consideration of alternatives to
MS-DOS.  Operating systems such as UNIX and OS/2 allow the
computer to manage greater volumes of information than DOS based
systems permit.  For a fully integrated information system, an
operating protocol must have the capability to process a
multitude of information types, including raster images, vector
graphics, analog video signals, and standard text and numeric
data. 

Information systems are currently benefiting from the growing
availability of development platforms such as hypertext software.
Development efforts will soon lead to hypermedia environments
that can process a vast amount of data in an array of formats,
and provide user access to the information base with reliability,
consistency, and order.  Systems such as CRISTAL (VideoCad Inc.)
are beginning to explore the possibilities of integrated
information management by accommodating the processing and
manipulating of a variety of data types.  The development of the
dynamic network linking and the ability to create information
trails that are characteristic of hypertext systems will allow
the CRISTAL System to achieve a comprehensive and efficient
integration of knowledge communities in a cost effective
environment.

<dfile40>   CRISTAL: Objectives
<dfile46>   CRISTAL: Information Management
<dfile62>   CRISTAL: Summary
<dfile68>   CRISTAL: Development