An On-Line Database

All of the possibilities presented above could equally well be made possible by an on-line service, which users could access by modem. This might be more convenient in many respects. For example, a user could dial into an on-line data base, and request a printout of certain prayers in a certain format. The user would not need to keep the software to do this on a local computer, which might be too slow or not offer enough data storage space for the task. Likewise, updating material on an on-line database is much easier than sending modifications to anyone who might have purchased a disk.

For example, the latest few interim prayerbooks released by the CCAR all contain typographic errors. But they cannot be immediately corrected because the books are already printed. In the case of software which end users buy and use at home, correcting the errors would involve sending new disks to all of the owners of the software. In the case of an on-line database, however, the correction would only have to be made once. Also, new prayers or versions of prayers can be added much more rapidly.

A programmer would certainly be required to to create the software that would facilitate access to such an on-line database. Such software would likely cost less than $10,000.

Many members of the CCAR also have e-mail. The same on-line data base could be programmed to process e-mail requests, sending prayers to anyone with e-mail. The prayers could be sent in any form the user requests (e.g., suitable for output on a laser printer). For example, a user with e-mail would send a request to the on-line database with a request for a version of the Avot that contains the Matriarchs in a certain order, suitable for including as a graphic in a WordPerfect document. That file would then be sent back via e-mail.

Both of these solutions require --- in addition to custom software --- a reasonably fast computer. As of this writing, such a computer would probably cost $3,000, but prices are falling rapidly. Also required would be at least one dedicated phone line, with whatever cost that might incur, and probably a direct Internet connection. As of this writing, HUC-JIR is actively pursuing such a setup, and the CCAR would likely be able to use HUC-JIR's hardware.