In another thread, someone called for a "citation" - meaning a reference to a source supporting a claim made. It isn't something I've seen a lot at AAC, but it certainly is something that comes up all the time in science-related forums.
It is depressing to go searching the web for scientific papers only to find the paper you want will cost you around US $40 for 24 hours of access if you don't subscribe to the publishing journal. You do typically get to keep a PDF. The IEEE, for example, publishes tons of stuff on all aspects of electronics, but it will also cheerfully put you in the poorhouse if you want to read articles and don't subscribe. Many people don't realize they may be able to get free access.
Many journals have agreements with institutional subscribers to allow alumni to access articles for free - with some hooks. Typically you can't do it from home - you actually have to go to the university's library and either use one of their computers or your own via their network. You may only be able to do this a an institution of which you are an alum', but it is worth checking if you no longer live where you went to school. You will likely have to have a library card for the institution, but that may be a simple matter. It isn't as convenient as doing it all from home or your office, but having free access can be a wonderful thing.
I presume this type of access is also available to graduates of at least some technical schools, though universities are more likely to subscribe to a much broader range of journals. Alas, even universities are facing reducing their subscriptions due to cost. Journal publishing is a very greedy and very lucrative business and prices for some journals are nothing short of obscene.
It is depressing to go searching the web for scientific papers only to find the paper you want will cost you around US $40 for 24 hours of access if you don't subscribe to the publishing journal. You do typically get to keep a PDF. The IEEE, for example, publishes tons of stuff on all aspects of electronics, but it will also cheerfully put you in the poorhouse if you want to read articles and don't subscribe. Many people don't realize they may be able to get free access.
Many journals have agreements with institutional subscribers to allow alumni to access articles for free - with some hooks. Typically you can't do it from home - you actually have to go to the university's library and either use one of their computers or your own via their network. You may only be able to do this a an institution of which you are an alum', but it is worth checking if you no longer live where you went to school. You will likely have to have a library card for the institution, but that may be a simple matter. It isn't as convenient as doing it all from home or your office, but having free access can be a wonderful thing.
I presume this type of access is also available to graduates of at least some technical schools, though universities are more likely to subscribe to a much broader range of journals. Alas, even universities are facing reducing their subscriptions due to cost. Journal publishing is a very greedy and very lucrative business and prices for some journals are nothing short of obscene.