The National Standards Systems Network

Abstract

The National Standards System Network (NSSN) is an electronic network that will link the standards systems of hundreds of organizations involved in the development, production, distribution, and use of technical standards. NSSN is the gateway into this network and provides a highly effective search capability that will allow users to find information on technical standards quickly and efficiently. NSSN provides cataloging, indexing, searching, and routing capabilities to the entire range of national, regional, and international standards and standards-related information. he American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the coordinator of the U.S. private sector voluntary standards systems, formed the Standards and Data Services Committee (SDSC) to address the everchanging information needs of its members and customers. In 1992, the SDSC developed a strategic plan for the electronic development, production, and delivery of standards and standards-related information. This plan became the basis for the NSSN project, development work for which is being jointly funded by the ANSI Federation and a $2 million grant from the Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP). TRP is the federal government’s multiagency program that provides funds for dual-use (military and civilian) technology development, deployment and utilization, and is managed by the Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA). The NSSN grant is being locally managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The award was made in July of 1994 to support the project for the first two years of operation. ANSI support for the project is through inkind contributions of services and material donated by volunteers associated with the project. In today’s fast-paced electronic world, networking has become an important means of connecting thousands of personal and business computers. Since the basic goal of NSSN is to bring the far-flung members of the standards community together electronically, understanding the concept of global networking is important. In the “pre-dawn” age of computers, the early 1980s, businesses began to fill their offices with personal computers (PCs) to exploit word-processing, spreadsheet, and database software. In the midto late 80s, Local Area Networks (LANs) became the vogue as business tried to connect its various departments. Today, for businesses large and small, computers and networking technology are quickly becoming an absolute necessity. In the 90s, networking has become a global endeavor as technology has become more robust and cost-effective. Documents and messages can be sent electronically to remote locations more quickly and cheaply than by sending a fax. Global networks like the Internet have helped to expand this type of service at accelerated rates. The National Standards Systems Network