What are the advantages and disadvantages of currently available hardware and software? What do you look for in evaluating systems? Is there an ideal electronic notebook system that might someday be standard issue to all scientists?
Why have electronic notekeeping systems not yet replaced traditional paper-based notebooks? A comparison of the two systems on five points—reading and writing, mobility, security, storage, and their use in legal matters—reveals the advantages and disadvantages of the electronic notebook.
With electronic systems, many people can simultaneously access the same notebook entry. For example, a supervisor can electronically "thumb through" other workers' notes to catch up on their progress even while the notes are being written. Automated data acquisition systems can provide unattended, virtually error-free recording of primary data. Text and graphics can be merged, just as handwritten notes can show graphs and tables on the same page. Computer search and retrieval of electronic notes ...
