Ask A Scientist© Computer Science Archive

Index Key:   COM007
Author:      linda wallin
Subject:     Mosaic definition.
I am writing a project for 4th graders using telecommunications.  I de-
scribed Mosaic as a multimedia relational database, but I have noticed some
journalists refer to it as software.  Is it the software that runs a
bulletin board system, or is it a new type of bulletin board system?

Response #:  1 of 2
Author:      gregory r bradburn
Mosaic consists of at least one executable file, therefore it is referred to
as software.  Obviously it is much more than just the program, there are
lots of supporting data files so your description seems appropriate as well.

Response #:  2 of 2
Author:      asmith
Also, I do not think it is a relational database.  The "database" is the
array of documents available on the world-wide-web (and by anonymous ftp and
other methods) - mosaic is just a front-end to all this information.  And it
does not have the "relational" capabilities usually available - for example,
searching for specific information requires either somebody to have already
done the searching for you and put it up in their own document (in which
case you somehow have to know that document exists) or requires a robot
which has nothing to do with mosaic.  Mosaic, in other words, is incapable
of even the most elementary searches beyond simple browsing.  It is good at
browsing though.