An annual lecture is, by any standards, a daunting occasion. But when it is a first annual lecture; and when it is for Aslib; and when it is delivered from a spot that is almost hallowed by the integrity and distinction of successive incumbents, then humility must moderate whatever gospel the speaker personally embraces. In this spirit, I will do my best to inaugurate an annual occasion that will, I hope, grow in esteem, hand in hand with the emerging stature and dignity of our art.
The objectives and methods of an information retrieval system determine its input and output costs and the relation between them. The present trend seems to be towards increased sophistication (and cost) of input. ‘Retrieval efficiency’ can be measured, but the true ‘worth’ of a system depends not only on retrieval cost, but also on the value to the user of what is retrieved. Future changes—with computers being used more, and perhaps accepting ‘syntax’ as well as ‘vocabulary’—will substantially change the economic picture.
A plea that I heard during this morning's session was that nobody had really addressed himself to the small user; everybody had been talking about the big user of the data base. And I just wondered whether in the short time I have I can possibly say anything useful in that connection. So will the professionals please excuse me if I try to address myself to the small user for the moment, and in particular to the unfamiliar user—if there be such an animal.
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