The Future of Scholarly Publication and Communication


                 Martin Groetschel 
   Konrad-Zuse-Zentrum and Technische Universitaet 
                  Berlin, Germany

Abstract:

The area of scholarly publication, information, and communication 
is in the early stages of a possibly far-reaching transformation made
possible by a revolution in computing and communications technology.
Predictions are difficult, as the 1977 statement: "There is no reason
anyone would want a computer in their home." of the president of
Digital Equipment shows.

My talk will begin with a brief survey on the gigantic technological
progress that has occured in the recent years. I will then discuss 
some of the visions influential groups have on the impact of this 
electronic revolution on our life.

It is impossible to discuss all these potential developments in detail. 
I will, thus, focus on the future of (electronic) scholarly information,
communication and publication.  It appears that we are in a "transition
crisis" which many view as a "publication crisis". I will describe the
role that the various participants in this market play and the
obstacles that prevent us from moving into the "new world" of
electronic publication immediately.

I will outline the developments in various scientific disciplines and
the plans that some individuals, publishers and scientific societies
have. I will describe the aims of several digital library projects and
I will, in particular, report about a cooperative effort of ten
scholarly societies in Germany in the area of electronic information
and communication and the plans of some driving forces in the
mathematical community to establish a worldwide electronic information
system for mathematics, the MathNet.