The project was inspired by the results of a first experience of transfer on the Internet of a database presenting the "DEA" in engineering sciences, set up by the CEFI by request of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This study, carried out in December 1994 by the Computer Science Research Center of the Ecole des Mines de Paris, showed the functionalities available on the WWW bases (particularly hypertext functions and indexing of names, cities and scientific areas).
The quality of the results which were obtained led us to imagine an extension of the system, as it seemed easy to establish links between the initial base and other bases dealing with closely related subjects (e.g. University Web bases ).
This is how we came to the idea of generalizing at the European level a base of this type (Web), centered on the broad theme of engineering (education, employment and related research ), by snatching up the opportunity offered by a call for tender ot the DGXIII within a program aiming to foster the emergence of new telematics systems .
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After being discussed among the majority of the partners, during two meetings in Paris at the end of January and at the beginning of March, the project SMILE finally took shape with a two-fold inspiration
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The originality of the project lies in reality in the fact that its structure fits a European perspective and that it carries out a federative approach, which benefits in an original way from the Internet ability to link pre-existing initiatives developed in different places.
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So one may identify within a first circle :
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a) identification of the needs : 6 months (essential phase)
b) definition of the structure and of the administration principles of the database : 3 months
c) specification of the services : 6 months (essential phase)
d) creation of national databases and of hyperlinks : 12 months
e) implementation of the services : 6 months
f) test : 6 months
g) demonstration : 9 months
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Such a result is not to be taken for granted, even if, in technical terms, the final achievement of the project meets or even exceeds the initial expectations.
A series of factors come into play, which may be related to the general context of the project, its impact, and data on the technical resources selected to support the initiative.
As far as the general environment of the proiect is concerned, one may admit
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In this respect, it differs from the traditional logic of centralized systems (top - down), which show themselves heavy to use and carry strong homogeneisation constraints; moreover, they are quite sensitive to any defection from a producer of primary information and permanently faced with problems of updating which are only partly solved through regular means.
Nevertheless, the planned system has to insure a good validation of the treated information by referring naturally to the advice of higher authorities, according to slow but reliable procedures. But above all, it has to set up internal mechanisms, like quality control, of which the efficiency will be largely dependent upon the drive effect of the system and the support of the engineering associations or the institutions networks.
2. The drawing up of the project (January-February 1995)
The first idea was to build a set of "metaservers", having the capacity to cover all of Europe, and based on the following principles :
This project, which was at first designed as a distributed information system equipped with more or less refined navigation functions , had to be changed in order to meet the requirements of the call for tender of the DG 13, which stressed the importance of the services offered to the users, with the prospect to get into a more or less commercial logic.
3. Nature of the project
Beyond the above mentioned orientations, the project fits into a series of options, which need to be clarified, even if some of them may be re-examined, if necessary, while developing the project.
It is clear that on each of these themes various initiatives have already been developed in the past.
4. The partnership
By its very nature, the project had to rely on a very open group of partners who are committed at various levels :
To this first circle of partners directly involved in the submission of the project to Brussels, it has been planned to add a second circle of various institutions interested in different aspects of the project. These associates will contribute to the orientation of the project, particularly by expressing the point of view and the expectations of the users.
A third circle of authorities
will also be regularly consulted on the main orientations of the project.
5. The process of development of the project
If the project is accepted by Brussels Authorities (until now we have only received encouraging advice which does not guarantee the final decision ), a gradual process will be followed along a 3 year period :
6. Finality of the project
It is important to consider the project SMILE from the point of view of the setting up of a viable system - i.e. a balanced system in terms of resources and charges - able to bring to the end-users a well identified service.
In terms of impact it seems that the project SMILE should be able
The project SMILE lies finally on technical assumptions which need to be stressed again
7. A logic of a bottom-up type ...
The project appears definitely characterized, in its philosophical approach, by a concern to put a minimum of order among a flow of initiatives coming from the "bottom", and spreading here and there with some confusion.
Some possible logos for Project SMILE : 1,
2,
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