PC‐based interfaces to online information services and the development of FT Profile's freeway

As the range and volume of information available online increases so does the number and diversity of potential new users. Unlike the more traditional users of online services these new users will come from many backgrounds and have varying levels of experience. Many of mem will also have raised expectations of the level of sophistication of computer interfaces as a result of using a range of different microcomputer applications. This article describes the advantage to end users of PC‐based interfaces to online search services, with particular reference to freeway, a system developed for end user searching of FT Profile. The stages in the development of freeway and a description of its operation under Windows is given.