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Introduction
As a researcher, I like to re-use information. This is especially true of high quality content such as peer review literature.
An article itself is valuable, but there are other parts of a bibliographic record that are juicy. The author/co-author information also has high value. So much so that often we track particular author citations via traditional online databases to build up a subject area populated with the experts, partnerships, trends and innovation. Tapping into flow of knowledge and the networks of expertise and innovation is specialised and time consuming.
So what if I told you that a new free service by the American Institute of Physics (AIP), API UniPHY, has been specifically modelled to help you do that in the field of physical sciences?
Product Objectives
API UniPHY is a literature-based professional scientific network. Content is taken from the API's SPIN database, essentially basic author information, and this creates author profiling. Social networking technology, provided by Collexis Holdings Inc, is layered over to allow, encourage and facilitate connections between people and research output. Let us add to the mix that SPIN is a well respected database and hosts a good chunk of the leading physics peer reviewed publications. So we can be assured by the high quality content, and although narrow in range it offers real depth to the user.
The profiles are used as a tool to make connections between professionals and to share information and knowledge quickly and easily. It encourages, enables and facilitates the creation of networks with the ability to shows trends and innovative. To have a profile you need to be an author on SPIN, but anyone can create networks and use all the tools.
At the moment the vendor reports specialist profiles of over 250,000 researchers available, with over 1 million connections made, from over 1,000 institutions in nearly 80 countries.
Audience
You may think that it would only be physical science professionals who would want to use the network, either in academia, industry or manufacturing. However, I foresee a possible broader use in the consultancy sector with analysts having an easier and more straightforward window and view into this sector. This could be an excellent opportunity for outsiders to find an easier route into identifying trends, innovation, and experts in the field.
Product Uses
From a researcher's point of view it adds extra power and meaning to the basic author/co-author information contained in a traditional literature online database it. Users want 'insider intelligence' like who is working on what, what topics are hot, who the expert is in a particular field, who is working together, what geographic locations are producing the most innovative work. It's possible now via citation searching and tracking, but this technology adds a new dimension and easier way to do it.
Some Initial Findings
The content is limited to information from the SPIN database, so if you haven't been published in SPIN you won't have a profile or be able to build one. However, you can still participate by building and following a network and keep tabs with the sector. It is free to register and use.
The vendors tell me that there will be another release later on this year. Expect to see the ability to flesh out the author profiles, upload photos, information on research grants and patents, and other tools for making connections.
For part 2 of this mini review, see http://www.vivavip.com/go/e25323
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