ABSTRACT

Knowledge environment (KE) describes the collection of electronic networking tools that have been and continue to be developed. Knowledge environments use practical, production-quality tools to systematize the consensus knowledge within a scientific domain, and to facilitate users' access to that knowledge. Predicted users include researchers, educators, and students. In a KE, access occurs through

searching, browsing, and current awareness features combined with user-friendly graphical interfaces. KEs combine primary and review literature with more interactive functions and gateways to dispersed sources of information. Specific electronic tools that facilitate the entry of information into the underlying databases are also being developed as part of the concept.