From Integrated Publication and Information Systems to Virtual Information and Knowledge Environments

This book is dedicated to Erich J. Neuhold, Director of Fraunhofer\'s Integrated Publication and Information Systems Institute (IPSI) and Professor of Computer Science at the Technical University of Darmstadt on the occasion of his 65th Birthday in January 2005. Erich Neuhold\'s primary research and development interests are in heterogeneous multimedia database systems, in Peer-to-Peer- and GRID-based information environments, in web-based distributed information technologies, in persistent information and knowledge repositories, and in content engineering. Within his interest in content engineering special emphasis is given to all technological aspects of the information and publishing process, i.e., the knowledge value chain that arises for the creation of digital products and services in web application contexts. Besides his main areas of scientific work, Erich Neuhold is also guiding research and development in user interfaces including information visualization, computer supported cooperative work, ambient intelligence, mobile and wireless technology, security in web application areas like e-learning, e-commerce, e-culture and e-government. Building on its longstanding scientific expertise and reputation Erich Neuhold\'s Fraunhofer IPSI is has been aiming at supporting information, content, and knowledge intensive applications by focusing on research and development towards the achievement of one of its visions: the efficient and flexible implementation of technologies supporting the creation and effective utilization of Virtual Information and Knowledge Environments where Virtual Information and Knowledge Environemts are web based distributed information systems which enable the corporate as well as the personal and cooperative acquisition, management, access, distribution, and usage of information, content, and explicitely encoded knowledge objects. In accordance with the unifying vision and continuing research interest of Erich J. Neuhold and in correspondence to his scientific work, this book is presenting a well selected number of invited papers by leading international researchers in the area addressing a broad variety of related topics. It therefore reflects the breadth and the depth of Erich Neuhold\'s scientific work advocating the synergetically integrated approach towards supporting the digital information and knowledge production on the one hand together with its corresponding access and usage support on the other hand.