Thanks also to our audience, representing a cross-section of the major firms publishing research online, for a very productive discussion. In this edition of News and Views we'll summarize the key themes and lessons learned from the panel.
Usability is a disaster.
Current research distribution systems are too difficult to use, waste too much of users' time, and destroy too much of the value of the research product. Rapid change in the technology used to deliver research, and rapid growth in the volume of information market participants need to digest, make the continuous learning process for both users and publishers as demanding as ever. They also introduce a high degree of uncertainty about best practices at any point in time. As Jack Roehrig stated, development is a moving target, and payback is difficult to identify. Different publishers use different user interface standards, and many publishers continue to make rookie mistakes.