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From 1 October this year the International Journal of Psycho-Analysis will have a presence on the Internet. Early in 1997 the first 75 volumes of the Journal will also be available on a CD-ROM disc. Both developments will offer greatly enhanced opportunities for the growth and development of the Journal and our discipline.
The internet is a global network of computers that allows rapid communication among millions of estimated users. One of its most important innovations has been the creation of the World Wide Web, which allows users to exchange not only text but also images and sound. Documents are stored on what are known as ‘home pages’ at ‘web sites’ and are available for the price of a local telephone call to anyone with a computer, a modem, and a subscription contract to an internet provider. Two years ago there were only about 100 web sites. Today there are probably well over 50,000. From 1 October the International Journal will be one of these sites—launching itself into so-called cyberspace. We believe the consequences will be far-reaching.
Users will now be able to scan the contents list of forthcoming issues of the Journal, pick out abstracts that interest them, and download them in full. One or more articles from each issue will be available in full text, as will all forthcoming book reviews and panel reports from IPA congresses. All these may also be downloaded and printed out or stored on the user's own computer. In time, whole past issues of the journal will be accessed in this way.
The site will also provide a full listing of all psychoanalytic books received in all major languages, full information about subscriptions, announcements, details about how to submit papers and ‘buttons’ providing ‘one click’ access to other sites of likely interest to users. Because an internet site can be maintained daily, information of this kind will always be up to date.
Putting the Journal on the internet wi