Question

Who first gave us the concept of SDI ?

• A. S.R. Ranganathan
• B. H.P. Luhn
• C. G. Bhattacharya
• D. A.M. Howatson

Hint:

Remember the pairing: SDI (Selective Dissemination of Information) is fundamentally linked to H.P. Luhn. His work pioneered the idea of personalized, automated "current awareness" services.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Define SDI. SDI stands for Selective Dissemination of Information. It is a type of information service, often automated, that matches new documents with user profiles of interest and provides users with personalized notifications about new publications relevant to their needs.

Step 2: Identify the Originator. The concept of SDI was developed by Hans Peter Luhn, a researcher for IBM, in the late 1950s. His work was foundational in the field of information science, particularly in developing methods for automated information retrieval. His 1958 article "A Business Intelligence System" is often cited as the origin of the SDI concept.

Step 3: Differentiate from Other Options. \[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{S.R. Ranganathan: Known as the father of library science in India, he is famous for his Five Laws of Library Science and Colon Classification.} \\ \bullet & \text{G. Bhattacharya: Known for his work on POPSI (Postulate-based Permuted Subject Indexing).} \\ \end{array}\] These individuals made significant contributions to library science but are not associated with the origin of SDI.