Scratchpads provide a space on the web for users to manage, share, and integrate their digital information. The document discusses the problems faced by many data providers, whose information is heterogeneous and specific to each community, while resources and technical abilities are limited. It proposes that Scratchpads can help by providing a customizable platform to store, structure, and manage data, as well as integrate information by mixing datasets to provide context and enable queries, with different levels of integration and sharing options to demonstrate value through visibility.

1. Scratchpads - a space for
your data on the web
Vincent S. Smith
with Dave Roberts, Mauro Gonzalez,
Simon Rycroft

2. The problem
How to manage, share integrate digital information…
• Many data providers
- Each with their own user community
• Information heterogeneous
- Often specific to each community
• Resource are limited
- Solutions must scale to different communities
• Technical ability of these communities is limited
- Solutions must be easy to use