Connect, no.103, November-December 1999, p.7 Experience gained over many years indicates technical enquiries to TWI often seek only a concise summary of information on a particular topic. Typical examples include:
- What is a safe distance to look at a welding arc without any eye protection?
- How do I weld wrought iron?
- How do I minimise electrode wear when resistance spot welding?
Answers to such questions are not usually written down, but form part of the bank of 'implicit' knowledge held by an individual TWI engineer.
To enhance access to its wealth of unwritten information, TWI has begun the process of capturing it and making it available on the web through JoinIT. The information is presented in a question and answer format, - FAQs (FrequentlyAsked Questions). This is a long-term task since the knowledge at TWI can be assessed across a matrix of approximately 140 technologies and 30 materials groups.
At present, there are approaching 200 FAQs on JoinIT and our aim is to double this figure by the end of 1999. This is planned to rise to more than 2000 of these 'basic knowledge building blocks' by the end of next year.
If you are already a JoinIT user, please look at the current collection of FAQs (found by clicking on 'Information & know-how at the top of the screen and then clicking of 'JoinIT technical information') and let us have yourcomments on them. If you are not a registered JoinIT user, you can become one simply by clicking 'Login' on the front screen and then 'Register' and completing the registration form. A user name and password will be e-mailed toyou.
If you require more information on the content development process for JoinIT, or if you feel that you might have some non-commercial content which could potentially be added to JoinIT, please contact Geoff Hale or Richard Smith atTWI. E-mail: geoff.hale@twi.co.uk or richard.smith@twi.co.uk
