Description of an Information System SYNTHESIS - Case Study Example

ASSESSMENT: DESCRIPTION OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM Author’s name Institutional affiliation Description of an information system General system description of the SYNTHESIS information system SYNTHESIS is basically a cultural information technological system for administrative and scientific documentation of monuments and objects of museums. Additionally, it encompasses and supports a generic and quantifiable workflow that revolves around the documentation of museums cultural entities as well as provision of roles for editing, creating, retrieving and navigating documents (COMMUNICATION, 2006, 64). Furthermore, its user interface environment is basically provided via the internet and is modified in such a way that, it is specifically adapted for evaluating and describing the knowledge about cultural instances for the purposes of scientific and administration use, for curators as well as cultural institution staff members (ELÇI, 2013, 77). By way of explanation, SYNTHESIS is fundamentally a multilingual system. By so saying, it means that, it is able to support the cultural documentation in English, Greek, Italian, French as well as Arabic although only to a small extent and exchange of data with other information and technological systems in an XML technological format (Fourth,2007, web). In other words, the employment of XML format in technological systems ensures that the data is safely monitored and by so doing, it ensures the longevity and validity of the data. SYNTHESIS scientific documentation encompasses cultural data and information the revolves around a cultural instance such as 1) the creator, 2) place of creation, 3) date, its use , 4) its style, 5) its correlation with other cultural documentations instances, 6) Historical events and people. In other words, SYNTHESIS data model is fully compatible and in line with the ISO 21127.Additionally, the SYNTHESIS administrative documentation encompasses all the information and data that revolves around anything to do with the administration procedures that entails; A cultural entity for instance Exhibitions, Ownerships, Movements and Migrations from other cultural entities and vice versa among others. By so saying, it means that, Administrative SYNTHESIS follows a much defined spectrum of objects and monuments of the museum. Process model The system is able to support a generic process model used for the purposes of documentation that can be constructed and modified according to the requirements and needs of the administration of a cultural institution. Additionally, the process model is able to support four user types; Administrator, editor, documentation administrator and The reader (COMMUNICATION, 2006, 64). Moreover, depending on the user type, the Synthesis system gives room for one or more organization users to process, create, un-publish, publish as well as translate entities of a cultural monument and objects. System characteristics The SYNTHESIS system uses XML system technology, open source software, multilayered architectures of international standards, In the process, it provides remarkable abilities and capabilities as far as data organization is concerned, the process of documentation, the system architecture and the overall system functions information and data organization (Fourth, 2007, web). Additionally, the data and information are arranged in XML documents with the following attributes. Provides good and great flexibility to each document structure It allows the information and data model to be structured semantically Gives room for structure diversification of documents that result from cultural objects types. It allows for the dynamic exploitation and integration of the information and data in all internet cultural sites Gives room for the establishment and coexistence of a duplicated number of documents concerning cultural entities in a number of languages. It is one of the better data exchange practice between information systems dealing with cultural entities. Its semantic model procedure is fully compatible and operates well with the ISO 21127. SYNTHESIS supports the cultural documentation for Monuments Museum objects Bibliography Organizations Events ,materials Places Departments Persons Evidences Multimedia objects such as photos studies and designs Open sites as well as settlements A cultural instance document has five distinct parts The document metadata Detailed documentation Object identification References Management External description of the Documentation procedure Synthesis system supports cultural documentation control basically for the following procedures of documentation. The establishment of a new document that has not been published Editing of a document that is not yet published Notification for publishing of the unpublished cultural document The turning down publishing the unpublished cultural document Publishing a document that has not been published (COMMUNICATION, 2006, 64). The unpublishing of a cultural document that had already been published. The viewing of a cultural document that has been either published or not Deletion of a cultural document not published (Fourth,2007,web) Establishment of a new edition of an already existing cultural document The translation of an already existing unpublished or already published cultural Documentation External description of the SYTHESIS information system The SYNTHESIS system is able to support the following types of interface users 1) Editor-is the cultural entity institution’s official with operational authority or rather statutory powers for very specific information and the overall responsibility for creating measures, controls, procedures and rules when it comes to the documentation and publishing of cultural monuments and articles (DEETER,2009, 47). Additionally, he sees to it that, what is published and unpublished is according to the stipulated principles and rules of the documentation institution.in simple terms, the main roles of the editor to the SYNTHESIS system are as follows; a) Establishes procedures and rules for the appropriate protection and use of the subject information and documentation data (COMMUNICATION, 2006, 64). b) Provides the detail of the information that is to be documented and removes the information that they deem not necessary for the cultural entity documentation c) Decides the type of information system that the system needs to access and the type of access rights and privileges assigned to each system user (Fourth, 2007,web). 2) Documentation administration -who is the overall administration officer in charge of the documentation process, procurement, modification, integration maintenance and development of the SYNTHESIS system( Fourth, 2007,web). Additionally, the documentation administration possesses the following roles; a) Develops and establishes the SYNTHESIS system plan t0ogether with the system administrator, the senior editors, and the functional ends. b) Maintains the SYNTHESIS system documentation plan and sees to it that the SYNTHESIS system is employed according to the agreed upon documentation policies, procedures and rules (Fourth, 2007, web). c) The documentation administrator ensures that the people in charge of cultural entities documentation receive the essential and the necessary training as far as the documentation system and procedure is concerned. Moreover, the training also encompasses the instructions and directives in rules of behavior. d) They are also responsible for updating the SYNTHESIS documentation system whenever a major change occurs in the administration documentation and the documentation process as a whole (DEETER, 2009,75) e) Helps in the implementation, identification as well as the assessment of the common documentation system controls. 3) System administrator- who will carry the following functions ;( Fourth, 2007, web) a) Designates a senior agency documentation administrator who shall conduct the SYNTHESIS administrator responsibilities for the system documentation planning However, caution should be taken when a person takes up more than one responsibilities in the administrator roles to ensure that the person maintains and retains the appropriate needed level of independence when it comes to cultural documentation and in the process, remains free from factors that may lead to conflicts of interests When a particular organization has not designated the post of the SYNTHESIS information administrator, the associated responsibilities should therefore be the responsibility of the comparable agency official (LOPSTR (SYMPOSIUM) & PUEBLA, 2007, 17). b) Develops and maintains the SYNTHESIS system policies, control techniques and procedures of documentation. c) Manages the implementation, identifications well as the assessment of the common SYNTHESIS system controls d) Ensures that the individual with important responsibilities for the SYNTHESIS system is well and highly trained e) Helps senior organization officials with their organization responsibilities as far as the system is concerned f) The administrator controls, coordinates and identifies common system controls for the cultural entities documentation agency. 4) Reader-Is the functional end user of the SYNTHESIS system. The readers major contributions include; a) Provide feedback on the synthesis System b) View the already published documentation objects and monuments (Fourth, 2007,web) c) Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the SYNTHESIS system in cultural entity documentation External view of the SYNTHESIS Information system Documentation administration Administrator SYNTHESIS SYSTEM Reader Editor Internal description of the SYNTHESIS information system SYNTHESIS is an internet application and employs three tier-architecture. Additionally, this attribute allows it to disconnect and separate the logic of application, user interface and the data. In the process, it ensures that the architecture is open, ensures adaptability, flexibility and expandability. The major parts of the SYNTHESIS system include; 1. Database Server Tier which I basically implemented in e-exist; http://exist.sourceforge.net/- which is universally acknowledged as an XMl database. In this case, all kinds of information and data is preserved there in xml documents. Moreover, this unit establishes and delivers all functions pertaining updating, storing and retrieval and the appropriate information for data integrity and data consistency. In other words, the e-exist is an open source kind of software (Fourth, 2007, web). 2. Application Tier which is defined by its implementation procedure that is based in the internet service technology retrieved from ;( http://www.w3.org/2002/ws/) (JAEGER, 2008, 34). In other words, this is made up of the logic application and provides all the procedures and functions of the SYNTHESIS system. Additionally, the employment of the web technology into the SYNHESIS system gives it a better dimension of flexibility when it comes to adaptability, integration, expandability and the exploitation of the system functions (Fourth, 2007, web). 3. Client tier is basically the primary user interface component. In other words, it has been constructed and built on the web browser such as the internet java or internet explorer The advantages associated with the SNTHESIS architecture are; The three-tier architecture allows the SYNTHESIS system to be distributed to a number of machines in different or the same physical places. It provides the abilities and capabilities of deleting, adding and updating roles and functions with a low cost It offers avenues of adding new and improved documentation of cultural instances with a low cost It provides the option and the ability of remote use (LOPSTR (SYMPOSIUM) & PUEBLA, 2007, 13). It provides the ability of updating the platform without incurring an extra cost The SYNTHESIS system provides the proficiency of connecting and linking with other cultural institutions as well as other museums. It allows for the employment of the open source system software Internal view of the SYNTHESIS Information system Client Http/ftp Ftp Http Database server INTERNET client Http JDBC *Web server * Application server From the above diagram, the primary opinion or rather idea revolves around the fact that, data is stored and preserved in XML cultural documents in a very central database which makes each and every user on the internet to easily access and use the roles and functions of the SYNTHESIS system analogously according to the permission and the type (Fourth, 2007, web) System functions SYNTHESIS system provides better service to its users through the following functions Edit and create cultural entities documents Retrieve as well as navigating documents Migration of data (ELÇI, 2013.76). Cultural entities documentation in multi-lingual ways most especially in four European languages Combining and associating events and cultural instances Applications The following systems of information work based on the SYNTHESIS system 1. The present condition of Byzantine paintings. Additionally, it is employed in Irakilion by the 13th Antiquities Ephorate Byzantine 2. ANMA KOMNENE: is basically an information system that is used for administration, promotion and documentation of Byzantine Monuments that are in most cases used in the European Byzantine as well as Post Byzantine Centre for monuments Situated in Thessaloniki (LOPSTR (SYMPOSIUM) & PUEBLA, 2007, 16). 3. .IOS: Is an information system based on the SYNTHESIS system and basically deals with the management of the objects and monument of the museum of the Mountain Sina Monastery that is employed and used by the famous Mount Sinai Foundation situated in Athens (INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGES OF INFORMATION, CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION, 2006.45). 4. ETIA: is a synthesis information system used for registration, management and document of cultural entities. Additionally, it is currently used by the Lefki in Crete municipality. References DEETER, D. (2009). Real-time traveler information systems. Washington, D.C., Transportation Research Board. ELÇI, A. (2013). Theory and practice of cryptography solutions for secure information systems. FORTH, (2007). SYNHESIS: An information system for administration, documentation and promotion of cultural instances. Retrieved from: https://www.ics.forth.gr/isl/index_main.php?l=e&c=271 INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGES OF INFORMATION, CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION. (2006). Enterprise information systems VI. Dordrecht, Springer. JAEGER, T. (2008). Operating system security. [San Rafael, CA], Morgan & Claypool Publishers. LOPSTR (SYMPOSIUM), & PUEBLA, G. (2007). Logic-based program synthesis and transformation: 16th international symposium, LOPSTR 2006, Venice, Italy, July 12-14, 2006: revised selected papers. Berlin, Springer. Read More