From: Nahum Gat <oksi@cerfnet.com>
Subject: MISC: TechExpo New Classification Schedule 
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 22:56:05 -0800
Message-ID: <30AAE085.938@cerfnet.com>
Organization: CERFnet


From: Nahum Gat <oksi@cerfnet.com>

TechExpo New Classification Schedule for Industry, Science,
Engineering, and Technology.

At present time the SIC code is used for the classification of
industry.  That code does not provide sufficient distinction for many
non-traditional, and hi-tech industries.  The DTIC schedule is used
for the classification of technology areas of interest to the
U.S. DoD.  The Library of Congress book classification schedule is
used exclusively for books, and also does not explicitly cover recent
advances and novel technologies.

TechExpo has a need to classify industry, engineering and life/medical
sciences using a single schedule.  There are of course many ways to
slice the pie, and it would be impossible to satisfy everyone's
desires.  However, a logical classification schedule can be formed.
The idea is not to form too many categories and sub-categories as to
differentiate subspecialties, yet to have enough categories to
distinguish, where necessary, among diverse fields.  The schedule is
not unique, and a company may be assigned more than a single
classification code.

The draft schedule developed by TechExpo contains 33 main 
categories, with sub-categories in each.  The draft is 
incomplete in some categories, and TechExpo is seeking comments 
from industry wide, science and technology communities.  When 
completed, the schedule will be used for the classification of 
postings (using search engines and databases) at the TechExpo 
WWW site in fields such as:  hi-tech companies, science and 
technology conferences, magazines, books, etc.  Users will be 
able to search for items based on the specific classifications 
of the postings.  

The draft classification schedule may be viewed and downloaded 
at URL:

http://www.techexpo.com/survey

This notice is posted to many of the sci.* newsgroups because of 
the general interest in the topic, and as a way to solicit 
expert advice from those individuals in the specific fields of 
science and technology (comments from librarians would be 
specially appreciated).  I hope that moderated group will also 
accept this posting.  

I feel that by posting this notice I'm stepping into a 
mine-field, but I'm wearing my flak jacket.  So go ahead and let 
me know what you think.


Thanks,


Nahum Gat, Ph.D.
nahum@techexpo.com