Computational experiments using distributed tools in a web-based electronic notebook environment

Scientific computational environments should provide high-level support for the integrated and systematic use of tools familiar in the laboratory sett ing, including lab notebooks, instruments, experiments, and analysis tools. Further, they should shield the user from the complexities of the underlyi ng computational platform. We report here on the Virtual Notebook Environme nt, ViNE, which provides the web-based equivalent of the standard (paper) l ab notebook, adding features for sharing, security, and collaboration. More significantly, WNE allows scientists to represent, manage, and execute com putational experiments that involve the sequenced use of data, computationa l tools, and programs distributed across the World Wide Web. ViNE hides sys tem-level complexities, freeing the scientist from concerns about inter-too l connectivity, data distribution, data management, and machine idiosyncras ies. It thus extends the notebook abstraction to support a broad range of s cientific computational activities in a uniform manner. (C)2000 Published b y Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.