025.431: The Dewey blog

Networking and computer communications

DDC 23 includes numerous changes in 004-006 Computer science.  As a previous post noted, some of these changes were incorporated into the DDC in November 2008, but others are new with the publication of DDC 23 in print and in WebDewey 2.0.  This post reviews many of the changes involving networking and computer communications in 004.3 and 004.6.

The development under 004.3 Processing modes (“Class here computers, processors, computer systems distinguished by their processing modes”) is relevant here because some processing modes are dependent on communications and networking (e.g., 004.35 Multiprocessing, 004.36 Distributed processing).  Recent changes include the addition of cluster computing to the class-here note at 004.35 (most relevant for Beowulf cluster computing, where a large part of the literary warrant occurs) and the addition of web servers and grid computing to the class-here note at 004.36.  Accordingly IEEE International Conference on Cluster Computing and Introduction to parallel processing:  algorithms and architectures should be classed in 004.35, while  A networking approach to grid computing and Run your own web server using Linux & Apache should be classed in 004.36.

Both wired communications and wireless communications have been added to the class-here note at 004.6 Interfacing and communications, where a work like Advances in wired and wireless communications should be classed.  Because of the principle of hierarchical force, wired and wireless communications apply as well to all subdivisions of 004.6.

The subdivisions of 004.6 include both communications between computers (see, for example, 004.65-004.68 Computer communication networks) and computer-supported communications between and among people, as developed in 004.69 Specific kinds of computer communications.  This dual nature of 004.6 accounts for why 004.60148 (built with 004.6 plus T1—0148 Abbreviations, acronyms, symbols) is the appropriate number for both Alphabet soup: data comm & networking acronyms and their meanings, which targets communication between computers, and IM abbreviations, texting & emoticons, which targets communication between humans, supported by computers.

Under 004.65 Communications network architecture are classes for two specific network architectures, 004.652 Peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture and 004.654 Service-oriented architecture, often referred to by the acronym SOA.  Representative titles that should be classed at these two numbers include Peer-to-peer computing: principles and applications at 004.652 and 100 SOA questions: asked and answered at 004.654.

The developments at 004.67 Wide-area networks and 004.68 Local-area networks are distinguished by the size of the area that the network covers.  Other “network sizes” are also recognized, but the classification treats them as either wide-are networks or local networks.  Thus, metropolitan-area networks (MANs) have been added in a class-here note at 004.67, while personal-area networks (PANs) have been added in a class-here note at 004.68. Gigabit ethernet for metro area networks should therefore be classed in 004.67 and Wireless personal and local area networks in 004.68.

Cloud computing has emerged as a significant phenomenon in recent years.  The term has been used to refer to a variety of related phenomena; what they all have in common is that cloud computing involves computing over the Internet.  Hence this topic has been accommodated in an expansion under 004.678 Internet:  004.6782 Cloud computing, where a work like Getting started with cloud computing: a LITA guide should be classed.  However, specific aspects of cloud computing should be classed with the aspect.   Cloud security: a comprehensive guide to secure cloud computing therefore should be classed in 005.8 Data security, which includes computer network security in its class-here note.

Finally, as mentioned previously, human communications supported by computers are provided for in 004.69 Specific kinds of computer communications.  The subclasses here have been recast slightly, so that 004.692 Electronic mail is the class for all point-to-point communications (e.g., instant messaging), while 004.693 Discussion groups is the class for all broadcast communications (e.g., chat groups).  Internet telephony remains at 004.695.  Example titles to be classed in these numbers include:

• Sams teach yourself Gmail in 10 minutes 004.692
• Managing online forums: everything you need to know to create and run successful community discussion boards 004.693
• Skype for dummies 004.695

Dewey at the ALA Annual Conference

Register here for Dewey Breakfast/Update on Saturday, 25 June, 7:00–8:30 am, in the Hilton Riverside Hotel, Marlborough Rooms A/B. The program will feature presentations on DDC 23, WebDewey 2.0, DDC-based discovery tools prototyped by OCLC Research, and the use of new and proposed DDC fields in MARC 21 formats. The ALCTS Public Libraries Technical Services Interest Group will meet in the same room directly following the Dewey Breakfast/Update.

Juli Beall is among the speakers at the program “Children’s Cataloger’s Sandbox: Using Tools of Cataloging Correctly for Kids, 5^th edition” on Sunday, 26 June, 4:00–5:30 pm, Morial Convention Center, Room 285. She will address tools for assigning Dewey numbers to children’s materials.

Finally, I’ll present “DDC 23 in Context” during the meeting of ALCTS CCS Subject Analysis Committee meeting, Monday, 27 June, Hilton Riverside, Grand Salon C. The meeting runs 1:30-5:30 p.m.; my presentation is scheduled to begin around 3:00 p.m.

 

Computer Hardware and Storage

A post from 2008--Where does [name your favorite computer-related advance] go?--summarized numerous changes in 004–006 Computer science; computer programming, programs, data; special computer methods as announced in the November 2008 New and Changed Entries (in Word and PDF formats).  Additional changes in 004–006 have been made since then.  This is the first of several posts that will delve into both sets of changes, all of which are now available in DDC 23.  This post focuses on changes pertaining to hardware and storage in 004 Computer science; subsequent posts will address changes pertaining to networking and communications in 004, as well as changes in 005 Computer programming, programs, data and 006 Special computer methods.

Two general trends pertaining to the functionality and size of computing devices have been addressed.  The first trend is the proliferation of smaller computing devices, which has motivated an expansion for handheld computing devices at 004.167 (as well as expansions at 004.1675 Specific handheld computing devices and 005.25 Programming for handheld computing devices).  An example of a book that should be classed at 004.167 is The 2007-2012 world outlook for portable handheld computers, while BlackBerry Storm for dummies should be classed at 004.1675.  Related numbers in 005 do not distinguish between handheld computing devices in general and specific handheld computing devices.  Thus we class The Android developer's cookbook: building applications with the Android SDK 005.25 Programming for handheld computing devices.  (Note that there is not as yet a separate number for programs for handheld computing devices; thus Brilliant Blackberry apps for dummies belongs in 005.36 Programs for personal computers, which contains the note “Including programs for handheld computing devices.”) 

The second trend is that many computing devices are multifunctional.  For example, in addition to running application software, many handheld computing devices can also serve as cameras, phones, and/or portable media playes.  A note at 004.11–004.16 Digital computers instructs that multifunctional devices should be classed with their predominant function. Thus works on smartphones, for instance, will generally be classed with handheld computing devices rather than with mobile phones, cameras, or portable media players, as already seen in the examples above. 

It is instructive to note that the class-here note at 004.16 Personal computers, which in DDC 22 enumerated specific types of microcomputers has been replaced by a more generic note (“Class here specific types of personal computers”).  This means that all specific types of personal computers now approximate the whole of 004.16, not just those named in the note.

Under 004.56 External storage (Auxiliary storage), three kinds of changes have been made.  First, provision has been made for a new class of storage at 004.568 Semiconductor storage.  The class-here note at that number mentions solid-state storage, flash drives, and memory cards.  Second, the coordinate classes have been given new captions (“Magnetic storage” and “Optical storage”) in parallel with the caption at 004.568.  Third, the including and class-here notes at 004.56 and its subordinate classes have been updated. 

Examples of recent works that should be classed in the three classes under 004.56 include the following: IBM TotalStorage 3494 tape library: a practical guide to tape drives and tape automation at 004.563 Magnetic storage (where both magnetic tapes and tape drives are mentioned in the including note); Holographic data storage: from theory to practical systems at 004.565 Optical storage; and The 2007-2012 world outlook for NAND flash memory cards at 004.568 Semiconductor storage.

Parallel modifications to the changes discussed above have been made in Engineering, at 621.39167 Handheld computing devices and 621.3976 External storage (Auxiliary storage).