Medical School Database MSDB

1
Medical School Database (MSDB)

• An example of an online web based information
  database

2
What is the MSDB ?

• Digital multimedia curriculum database
• Based on the HSDB developed by the Health
  Sciences Library, Tufts University

3
MSDBs Purpose

• In general
• To provide access to text and multimedia by
  means of World Wide Web Technology
• Specifically
• For a medical school curriculum

4
Whats behind the MSDB ?

• Uses a relational, SQL Based database system
  TCXs MySQL
• Unix or Linux based O/S
• Apache Web Server
• Perl
• Real Server
• Live Picture Image Server

5
At The Users End

• Netscape or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher
• Sound Card
• RealAudio Player
• Shockwave
• Acrobat reader

6
Examples of MSDB Features
(Click on the list item for a .avi demo)

• Text document
• Multimedia Shockwave
• Multimedia Real Player
• Images
• Global Search
• Personal page

7
Advantages

• All software, client as well as server, is
  freely avaialable for download
• Web based and therefore accessible from any PC
  connected to the Internet
• Password Protection
• Similar feel for all course materials
• Indexing
• Key Word and Full Text Searching

8
CHALLENGES

• Html, XML complexities
• Digitising is time consuming
• Mastering multimedia software
• Conversion of commercial source files to database
  compatible source files
• Mastering of SQL, Perl, O/S (Linux)