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DIG has overall responsibility for creating and maintaining all web-accessible user information, including all documentation on divisional computing resources, SCD-specific information for staff and visitors, and interactive vehicles for disseminating information about the scientific research supported by the division.
For the period October 1, 1999 - September 30, 2000, three significant accomplishments in online, interactive information were provided by the Digital Information Group.
Expanded use of site authoring software (Dreamweaver and Flash)
DIG has made extensive use of Macromedia Dreamweaver during the review period. The software package has made the creation and maintenance of DIG-maintained websites more tractable, and it allows for seamless updating of new information. This is particularly important as SCD continues to acquire new machines that incorporate the symmetric multiprocessing architecture paradigm. DIG has taken "hands on" training to fine-tune our use of both Dreamweaver and Macromedia Flash (a fundamentally new way to create highly interactive web pages - see below).
Redesigned SCD website and related information services
DIG redesigned the SCD website to conform to the UCAR corporate design (with significant improvements in information architecture, navigation, usability, appearance, and accessibility). Researching and implementing effective strategies for providing content have been major activities for DIG, keeping the information accurate, easy to find, and usable. A Flash site (for external audiences, including NSF) was designed in FY2000. In addition, the SCD supercomputer gallery (a history of supercomputing at NCAR) was created, a new SCD News website now delivers up-to-the-minute news and information to SCD users, and user documents across the spectrum of SCD machines and services have been developed, updated, and maintained by DIG staff.Finally, staff continued using our digital photography capabilities to illustrate (via clickable "slide shows") important moments in the life of the division, such as the MSS tape robot upgrade, the BRAN project completion, blackforest upgrade, babyblue upgrade, and the C90 de-installation.
Preparation of the Advanced Computing Research System RFP
For the past seven months, DIG has participated in creating the Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new Advanced Research Computing System (ARCS) as principal writers/editors for this document. In addition, DIG will provide a web-based version of this document for electronic distribution and has devised a series of secure websites for managing and tracking all pertinent e-mail and other electronic documents related to the RFP. The RFP is scheduled for release to the vendor community in October 2000. A draft version for vendor review was distributed on August 30, 2000.
DIG continues to maintain large portions of SCD's website by monitoring, verifying, and updating web pages. This "trench work" occupies a good deal of DIG staff time, but is essential to keeping SCD information accurate and reliable. In this regard, DIG frequently works with the Technical Consulting Group to produce new and updated information for users of SCD's computing resources.During the review period, DIG staff continued to provide web-based information on all of the computing systems maintained by the division - especially the main compute engines that form the nucleus of SCD's Community Computing and Climate Simulation Laboratory research environments. Key activities in this area include:
- Removing references to decommissioned computing systems (e.g., Cray C90 antero, Cray J90 paiute, Cray J90 aztec, Cray T3D/128, HP Exemplar SPP2000 sioux), updating stale links, and creating new content to support scientific researchers' needs.
- Working with SCD's Technical Consulting Group to prepare, edit, and publish comprehensive documentation and overview details for the IBM SP production supercomputing system (blackforest) and the IBM SP development system (babyblue). Staff also redesigned the blackforest user documentation to improve usability. DIG staff also prepared, edited, and published documentation for the Compaq ES40 supercomputing system (prospect) and SSH (secure shell) users at NCAR.
- Maintaining and updating user documentation and introductory information for these supercomputing systems: Cray J924se 1024 (chipeta), Cray J924se 1024 (ouray), SGI Origin 2000/16 (dataproc), Silicon Graphics Cray Origin 2000 (ute), as well as the following important user documents:
- SCD user documentation catalog
- User code conversion library NCARU
- IRJE, the NCAR Internet Remote Job Entry System
- SCD services directory
DIG staff also plays a leading role in assisting NCAR in its production of NCAR's web-based Annual Scientific Report, and DIG took lead responsibility for coordinating, editing, and publishing SCD's FY1999 Annual Scientific Report.
We also assist in providing "just-in-time" content for the SCD website by providing digital photo coverage (and site creation) for special events, conferences, and seminars hosted by the division. During the review period, a new site covering the history of SCD computing from 1963 to present was researched and created. This site, named the "SCD Computing Gallery", represents the first time in the history of the division that the entire range of computing hardware has been documented and catalogued in one place.
Finally, DIG staff continues to provide a high level of technical writing and content provision skills to SCD management and staff whenever required. Our work with staff often involves editing services for those who submit papers to conferences or research journals, while our work with the division director and his office ranges from drafting policy statements and guidelines to public relations and major research equipment procurement documents such as the current RFP.
SCD's website has grown to over 5,000 digital pages containing 1,406 links, making it a complex website to administer and maintain. DIG staff work on the site on a daily basis to ensure not only the accuracy of the information that is online, but also to maintain the link integrity of the site. As more information is added to the site (e.g., through new machine acquisitions, additional services offered, and internal "staff only" materials), DIG seeks to ensure that the new information is seamlessly integrated into the site.During the review period, DIG staff analyzed the entire content of the SCD website, based on an analysis of our primary audiences (the NCAR computer users, the general public, policy and decision makers, and SCD staff). This work resulted in an entirely new look and feel for our divisional web presence that dovetails with the newer UCAR corporate look. Every good website needs re-evaluation on a periodic basis, and in keeping with good web design principles, our work will provide the division with a site that is easier to navigate and makes finding relevant information straightforward.
DIG staff continues to provide a valuable resource for students participating in UCAR's Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) program. This year marks the seventh consecutive year that we have provided writing and editing expertise to program students by serving as writing mentors. Significantly, DIG staff continues to receive awards from various professional development groups (e.g., the Society for Technical Communication) for their creative work in content provision for online, interactive venues.DIG also continues to teach classes in HTML, website design and development, and other topics that meet the evolving needs of UCAR staff as web technologies continue to develop and become part of the overall internet infrastructure. Along those lines, DIG is pleased to continue our sponsorship of the Web Designers and Developers (WebD2) group that meets monthly at NCAR.
Finally, during the review period, DIG staff continued to refine and develop their own professional capabilities via training classes and conferences covering the newest in website authoring tools, such as Dreamweaver and Flash.
SCD ASR - Table of contents