Modernization of Archival Management: A Dynamic Review of the Technological Revolution in Archival Management

Author: Fu Rongxiao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-08-01
Features: Chapter 4 - Modern Archive Management Environment - Hardware Configuration
To achieve modernization in archive management, the first step is to establish a good environment for processing archive information. This environment is centered around a computer system and supported by a communication system, with various computer-based automated management equipment configured, including various input/output devices, massive storage devices, network communication devices, various interface devices, and various computer software, including system software, database software, various programming languages, various office information processing support software, and various transaction processing application software, etc. Therefore, establishing a modern archive management environment essentially means starting from the goals and scale of the archive management system construction, and reasonably selecting and configuring the hardware structure centered around computers and the software system. This chapter discusses the establishment of the hardware environment. The hardware equipment most closely related to the modernization of archive management includes computer equipment, network equipment, massive storage devices, input/output devices, and daily automated office equipment. Section Computer Hardware System I. The Importance of Computers for the Modernization of Archive Management Like any management activity, the modernization of archive management begins with the computerization of information processing. The importance of the computer system for the establishment and development of the modernization of archive management is mainly reflected in: , Computers are the foundation and driving force for the modernization of archive management, and the core equipment of the archive management system. Although "modernization of archive management" falls within the field of a country's overall modernization, compared to the modernization processes in other fields, the modernization of archive management appears relatively lagging. The term "modernization of archive management" is related to the emergence of computers, but the truly complete sense of the modernization of archive management only formed after the widespread use of computers. Moreover, from the perspective of the realized modern management functions, other hardware equipment can only exert greater functions after being connected to computers or combined with computer technology. The second, the selection of the computer system is closely related to the type and level of the archive management system. Before the 1980s, some automated management functions in archive institutions were achieved through mainframe systems or centralized network forms, an era closely related to the development of large, medium, and small computers and multi-user operating systems. However, since the 1980s, with the maturity and expansion of microcomputer technology, microcomputers have entered the broad fields of management and office, from single-business processing to comprehensive business processing, all of which can be achieved with the help of microcomputers. Therefore, modern archive management systems, whether for single or comprehensive business, can be implemented through single-user systems or microcomputer local area networks. II. The Selection of Computer Systems for the Modernization of Archive Management (I) Requirements of the Archive Management System for Computers Since the modernization of archive management systems mainly rely on computers for their establishment, the modernization of archive management also puts high requirements on the computer system. 1. High-speed operation speed and strong logical judgment capabilities. In modern archive management systems, the most frequent operation is information retrieval. To quickly find the required information in a large information database, it requires computers to have high-speed operation speeds and strong logical judgment capabilities. 2. Large storage capacity. Another feature of modern archive management systems is the large amount of information, so large-capacity auxiliary storage devices and a main memory with a certain capacity and high access speed are essential. The speed of information processing not only depends on the computing power of the computer but also on the capacity of the main memory. With vast storage space, databases, operating systems, and various application software can fully exert their functions. 3. High-performance communication capabilities. In modern archive management systems, it is often necessary to distribute, centralize, exchange, and redistribute data scattered in different geographical locations, with data generated and processed at any time. To solve the problems of information transmission, sharing, and collaborative processing, it requires computers to have high-performance communication capabilities to form a computer network system that can communicate with each other. 4. Rich software and convenient operation methods, allowing office staff to master computer application operations with minimal training, which requires the computer system to provide a good user environment and rich application software. 5. Information can be represented in various forms, and computers can be connected to various external devices, such as printers, monitors, plotters, microfilm display devices, etc., to provide users with the required information in various intuitive forms. 6. The computer system should have high reliability, availability, maintainability, and confidentiality. (II) Principles for Configuring Computers in Modern Archive Management Systems Currently, there are many types of computers in our country, and the market is filled with domestic and international models, often confusing users and making them indecisive. When establishing the modern management environment of archives, how should computers be selected? 1. Start from actual needs Computers are only an advanced tool and cannot solve all problems. Therefore, before selecting computers, it is necessary to clearly define the problems to be solved and the goals to be achieved. Before purchasing computers, a serious analysis of the application of computers in the unit must be conducted. For example, what types of archive information are to be managed with computers, and to what extent will office automation or modern archive management develop, etc. Specific computer application projects should be proposed based on actual needs. A deeper understanding requires addressing the following questions: How much information needs to be processed in actual work? What is the scale of the program to process this type of problem? How much actual computing is involved in processing this type of problem? Are the data and programs involved in the processed problem to be saved? For how long? Are they to be modified during storage? How frequently? How many people will use this system simultaneously? Are the problems they handle related to each other? What is the depth and breadth of these connections? What accuracy do you require for the results? What format do you expect for the output results? Is your system allowed to fail? Is it allowed to stop during processing? For how long? Where will your system be installed? What is the surrounding environment like? All of these must be used as the basis for purchasing computers. 2. Choose machine models that are compatible with excellent domestic and international series and have good after-sales service. Users should choose computer models that are compatible with internationally or domestically excellent series and have good after-sales service. There are many computer models internationally, but not many famous series. Models like IBM, AST, DEC, and AT