**************************************************************** NETWORKS AND COMMUNITY : April 15, 1994 **************************************************************** Networks and Community is devoted to encouraging LOCAL resource creation & GLOBAL resource sharing. The 15th report of 1994 is the 21st weekly survey. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Coverage in this issue includes: >From the Top!!! News From The World Community Network Profile: City Connection San Jose Educational News: Maven revisited Help!!! Classes & Meetings **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Don't Forget Your Taxes!!! FROM THE TOP!!! Well, after many, many hours of editing, reading hundreds of bulletins, posts, mailing lists, etc., I have finally put this newsletter to bed! I can see how Sam Sternberg would need to take a break! As you can see, the format of the article is different than in the past. I spend five plus hours an evening reading posts and chasing the gopher around the Internet searching for new nuggets to fill up my hard disk so that I can pass them on to you! It's fun trying to find something that Gleason Sackman's "Net-Happenings" postings haven't mentioned! I am completely open to your criticism as to the contents, format and direction of this newsletter. Feel free to e-mail all flames, (I'm a retired firefighter!) flowers or whatever. We will all grow this thing together. I hope and plan to continue the Newsletter as a weekly feature every Friday. Again, I would request that individuals and groups that operate Community networks e-mail me at cvington@netcom.com with information about your systems. I hope to profile a system every issue. Your system need not be connected to the Internet to have it profiled. Please include a statement of purpose, operator's name, how you started, your goals and other pertinent information. See you next Friday! -steve covington ################################################################ NEWS of the WIRED & WEIRD **** Received from various sources ################################################################ From: Steve Cisler Subject: Shaping the info highway (S.J. Mercury article) The April 4 San Jose Mercury News has an article called "Shaping the info highway" by David Bank. It discusses the administrations efforts to open up access to the networks through schools, libraries, hospitals, and the provision of community information and services by convincing industry to take part. Bank quotes Gore staffer, Greg Simon, "There are public interests that the marketplace will never take into account, but it helps private companies for people to become computer literate, for people to have access to community servicess. It helps hospitals' productivity, but it also helps make health care less expensive." There is a mention of the problems of companies focusing on wealthy urban markets and ignoring the rural ones. Then he mentions the NTIA (Dept. of Commerce) grants for $26 million. The author incorrectly says they have received more than 3,500 applications, whereas they have received that many iquiries about the grants, not actual applications. (Though there is an office pool on how many they will get by the May deadline.) Richard Civille is quoted saying the local community efforts will have more influence shaping future policy than inner beltway activities. Mitch Kapor talks about Cyberspace... There is some criticism of the plan for a pool of funds to pay for universal service, and there is obviously no definition of what the new digital univsersal service will be. Simon says two-way video and a high speed modem connection to the Net are "too much". David Teece of U. of California Berkeley School of Business says that government pushing univ. service too early will cut out revenues needed to build the infrastructure. An investment report from Deloitte and Touche warn than 'network owners' counting on advertising and transcaction revenues could resist efforts to provide public and government information instead of using the bandwidth for commerce. It ends with Simon saying, "...we want to make sure that people can enjoythe national information infrastructure who don't have a lot of money... It's not just for people who want to make money, but for people who want to learn things or express themselves." The San Jose Mercury's email address is sjmercury@aol.com. Perhaps your replies will reach Mr. Bank. You already have Gore's address. ************************************************************************ >From E-D-U-P-A-G-E 4-10-94 ************************************************************************ TEACH YOUR DAUGHTERS WELL The second annual Take Our Daughters to Work Day will have a high-tech spin this year as companies provide opportunities for girls to experience weightlessness and try out robotics at the Johnson Space Center, participate in "hands-on scientific experiments" at Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, and solve brainteasers via a computer bulletin board linking 100 Coopers & Lybrand offices across the U.S. (Wall Street Journal 4/8/94 B1) NETWORK FREE FOR ALL The Clinton Administration has assured representatives of non-profit groups, policy makers, and academics that the national data highway would be more like the Internet than like the infotainment model suggested by some of the proposed cable-television alliances. (Chronicle of Higher Education 4/6/94 A28) TCI UNVEILS DIGITAL TV CENTER Tele-Communications Inc. opened a new facility aimed toward expanding the channel capacity of TCI and other cable vendors. The $100 million National Digital Television Center will offer digitized programming to cable systems, particularly targeting small operators in rural areas, but won't have any customers until 1995, when a new generation of digital set-top boxes becomes available from manufacturers. Digital technology will enable TCI to transmit as many as 10 compressed channels on the space of one analog channel. (Wall Street Journal 4/8/94 B6) SOFTWARE PATENT CONTROVERSY A California software company has won a patent which it claims covers any software which integrates an ad (such as the Energizer Bunny) into that software; their contention is that they invented the idea of placing advertising symbols in software. The patent could affect such familiar software as the flying windows screen savers built into Microsoft Windows. (New York Times 4/8/94 C4) ************************************************************************* Forwarded by Gleason Sackman - InterNIC net-happenings moderator ************************************************************************* ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: tony@ns.cityscape.co.uk (Tony Jewell) Subject: ANNOUNCE: Free Pages for all in the On-Line Directory ! Date: 12 Apr 1994 GLOBAL ON-LINE DIRECTORY SERVICES URL: http://www.cityscape.co.uk/ CityScape Internet Services are happy to announce the launch of their new WWW server, Global Online. Global Online offers three new services: 1) The Global Online Directory The Online directory is an attempt to produce the most complete and up to date yellow pages for the Web and beyond. We hope to achieve this by offering WWW pages to anyone on the net, completely interactively. To create your page, use the simple forms interface and your page and database entry will be created instantly. Use the simple search engine to find the resources or organisation you require. For this to work, we need as many submissions as possible - please tell us about your company, organisation or yourself. If you have a presence on the Internet or services to offer to the Internet, we want to know about you. Please support this service. 2) The Global Online News Service The most up to date news on the Web and the Internet. Again, just fill in a simple form and your news will automatically be entered. Use this service for informing the Web of new services, pages, or whatever you think maybe of interest. 3) The Global Online Magazine This will be the front end to the CityScape IP-GOLD service, a UK internet service that uses the Web as its browser. Currently a guide to the Internet, its services and the Global Online Directory, we soon hope to include real online magazines and publications. If you are interest in working with CityScape on this, please mail us at gold@cityscape.co.uk Thank you. CityScape Internet Services Ltd 59 Wycliffe Rd Cambridge England CB! 3JE Tel: (0223) 566950 Mail: sales@cityscape.co.uk for more information on our products ************************************************************************ From: E-D-U-P-A-G-E 4-12-94 ************************************************************************ SECURITY ALERT The Computer Emergency Response Team Command Center is alerting anyone who's obtained a copy of software called file-transfer protocol daemon from Washington University's software archive to check the number of the version. Any number lower than version 2.3 contains a "Trojan horse" virus that could allow a cracker to gain control over the system on which it is running. CERT notes that version 2.3 is available at ftp.uu.net in the directory described as /networking/ftp/wuarchive-ftpd, and recommends that any lower-numbered versions be replaced or disabled immediately. (Chronicle of Higher Education 4/13/94 A19) SOFTWARE PATENT REFORMS PROMISED The commissioner of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has pledged to make "the software patent system workable -- so that it takes you to the bank and not the courthouse." Reforms include publicizing patent applications, hiring seven software specialists as examiners (there currently are no examiners who are software specialists), revamping the examiner bonus program so that it does not encourage superficial review, and acquiring more data on each patent application before a decision is made. (Wall Street Journal 4/11/94 B6) MOSAIC EQUIPMENT UNDER STRAIN Managers at Mosaic's home site report that the equipment supporting the program is under tremendous strain due to a feature that automatically opens up a "home page" when the software is started. In recent months, users have pulled up that home page more than 1.3 million times a week. If users reconfigured their software to start in a different place, the problem would be alleviated. (Chronicle of Higher Education 4/13/94 A19) TECHNOLOGY POLICIES CLASH AT FEDERAL LEVEL The Clinton Administration seems to be favoring commercial technology companies over traditional national security interests, while at the same time rebuffing commercial interests when consumer interests are at stake. VP Al Gore expects industry to ensure universal access to new technology, while at the same time supporting the FCC's decision to cut cable TV rates by an average of 17% -- a move that some analysts claim will impede the convergence of cable and phone and slow construction of the National Information Infrastructure. (New York Times 4/11/94 C1) HOW DO YOU FEEL? A new patent for "intelligent surface technology" would embed sensors, microchips and air pillows to improve the fit and shock absorption of shoes, chairs, and beds, and use information gleaned about your body to adjust the product to the most comfortable position. (New York Times 4/11/94 C2) ################################################################## COMMUNITY NETWORK PROFILE ################################################################## City Connection: Past, Present and Future 3/11/94 THE PAST Ever since I purchased a modem for my Macintosh SE, I was modeming all around the valley for shareware files. One of the regular stopping points was a system in Cupertino called "MacDaze," operated by Bob Murrow (now living in Santa Barbara, CA.) MacDaze was a Second Sight BBS (bulletin board system) that operates on a Macintosh and has a text-based interface (a very common or universal interface). In the summer of 1991, MacDaze switched bbs packages and started operating on FirstClass, a graphical user interface (GUI) e-mail and conferencing system by SoftArc, Inc. That was probably the very first FirstClass system in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was closely followed by another FirstClass system in Los Altos and soon a few more sprouted up in the Santa Clara Valley. Aside from the GUI, FirstClass was capable of supporting multiple phone lines which allowed concurrent on-line sessions. That also meant live chatting between callers. It was a hot piece of software. But for those other Macintosh-based BBS systems still running on text- based systems, their user activity dropped almost out of sight. Most of the Macintosh callers experiencing the GUI BBS evolution would not go back to calling the older style bbses. But, DOS-based computer users didn't see what the fuss was about until 1993, at which time, SoftArc developed a Windows-client. During one of the numerous chat sessions on MacDaze, Bob Murrow asked me if he could get the television schedule from my department (I worked in the City of Cupertino's Muncipal Channel which televises council and planning meetings along with PBS progamming and internally produced shows.) That started the idea process for gathering information from local city halls and providing them on-line for everyone to access. While working for the city, I noticed that citizens had to travel to city hall to get information, information that was originally created on a computer. But what really told me that this could work, was a comment from a resident watching one of the live, televised meetings. She came to the meeting to speak on an issue that she was watching on television in her home. Basically, the point of televising the meetings is to get the information out to the public so that they become aware of what is happening in their community. I spoke to several department staffmembers and their response to the idea was very positive. With that little bit of research, I decided to bring up a system which with a focus not like the other systems. It would not have the "techie" forums related to computers or have a large section of shareware files. It was going to provide an information service. City Connection went on-line May 12, 1992. It had no shareware files but did have a conference devoted to the City of Cupertino. There were several sub-conferences providing information about the city and city hall. And, one conference was called "Cupertino Q&A." "Cupertino Q&A" generated several questions, which I had to answer because the city did not want to participate at that time. (One and one-half years later, I co-developed another system for the community of Cupertino, CityNet, which now gets support from Cupertino City Hall.) City Connection stayed on-line at my home progressing slowly, actually, not progressing in the area originally focused. It soon became like another BBS with a section that wasn't active, "City of Cupertino." I started accepting uploads of shareware and also put my shareware archives online for users to download (most callers look for these shareware files which are used on the 'honor-system' of payment, if you use it, pay for it.) After one year of "just maintaining" the little bit of content on City Connection, I was able to spend some time to concentrate on gathering more information from any source I could. I added Internet mail and newsgroups during the summer of 1993 and charged a membership for users to have Internet e-mail capabilities and access to world-wide conferences. This would offset the software fee and monthly Internet bills. (If I had marketed this feature better, I would have made a penny or two instead of losing money every month!) But, I kept going with this service because I felt that it was useful, even if no one read the information that came from the White House, press releases and speeches that were delivered automatically to my system. The marketing was missing but the basic concept was right-on! The Clinton-Gore administration wanted to free up information to make it more accessible, and California State Legislators Bates, Bowen, Hayden and Speier created legislative bills to allow greater access to computerized records and information for the public to retrieve. In the Santa Clara valley, City Connection, CityNet, LiveWire and San Jose Mercury Newspaper's Mercury Center were operating with localized information. City Connection, CityNet and LiveWire really concentrate on the local communities. We each have organizations representing the community, and our user demographics are from the community. THE PRESENT Currently, City Connection has (4) 14.4k baud modems, Internet mail and Usenet newsgroups (limited to 66), Onenet Member Network conferences (limited to 102), and provide a gateway to private systems, keeping the load to a minimum on their systems. Current cities that are participating in a first-phase implementation with council agendas are Saratoga, Cupertino and Milpitas. The following is a list of participating organizations. The Tropical Rainforest Coalition of the South Bay (TRC) is an all- volunteer, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 during World Rainforest Week. Based in San Jose, it is an affiliate of the Rainforest Action Network, an international conservation organization. TRC currently has over100 volunteers and supporters. ------------------ The Heritage Council of Santa Clara County is a non-profit organization of local historical societies, history museums, archives, and heritage/ landmarks commissions. Its' mission is to promote an awareness of and an appreciation for the rich physical and cultural heritage of Santa Clara County. As a resource agency, it provides opportunities to its members and the general public for education, funding, communication, and networking. As a secondary goal, the Council advocates preservation of the county's heritage by initiating or supporting community-wide projects, developing government level understanding of heritage issues, strengthens the relationship of tourism and historical sites/museums, and increases community participation in local history activities. ------------------ The San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA) was formed back in 1986 when there wasn't much downtown except for torn-up streets and vacant storefronts. Tired of seeing their neighbors go out of business, two business owners decided it was time for the remaining merchants to join forces and bring downtown back to life. The result of their call to arms was the Downtown Association, a nonprofit organization made up of local business and property owners who share a commitment to making downtown San Jose a vibrant, 24-hour city center. ------------------ Independence High School is the 12th largest high school in the United States. Independence High School opened in 1976 and has approximately 4,000 students. IHS boasts a professional 550 seat theater, an Olympic swimming and diving complex, a planetarium, a gym seating 5,000, as well as excellent industrial education shops, well equipped computer labs, and large performing and visual arts complexes. The 65 buildings on the 102 acre campus provides a relaxed and open learning atmosphere. ------------------ Access Los Altos is a public access channel designed for the production and viewing of community television programs. Local residents and community groups can produce programs about a variety of topics, in a variety of ways. Our facilities, which include a full production studio, remote van, portable field production equipment and editing, have been made possible by an agreement with the City of Los Altos, Foothill College and United Cable Television. ------------------ KMVT, Ch. 6, Mountain View Community Television is a non-profit, public access cable television station serving the community of Mountain View. KMVT offers several training workshops in beginning and advanced video production - from basic studio production to advance remote and editing techniques - which are open to the public at a nominal cost. ------------------ GLAADNet brings you information on the gay community through the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation/San Francisco Bay Area chapter (GLAAD/SFBA). ------------------ The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is on-line with a Question and Answer conference as well as on-line resources. ------------------ KTEH, Ch. 54 conference is now available. Channel 54 is the South Bay's PBS (public broadcasting system) funded by grants, donations and member- ships from viewers like you. ------------------ KNTV, Ch. 11, The San Jose NewsChannel, is now available to hear what you have to say. An ABC-affiliate, KNTV represents the South Bay to Monterey/ Carmel and beyond. My current volunteer project is providing a gateway to the Santa Clara Sheriff's "Sheriff's On-Line Information Service" (SOLIS) and San Jose Police Department's "CrimeBytes" on-line system. To get their conferences replicated on my system, a direct path wasn't possible due to some requirements I could not fulfill. I, then, found a local, privately operated network of computer systems, SouthBay Org. This network consisted of Unix- based, DOS-based computer systems. They were the common platform to which the Sheriff's and the Police Department's, and my system could exchange mail on. We are by-passing the global "Internet" and maintaining its pathways through local systems in the community. By creating this relationship and by maintaining this network, any system that is using any gatewaying protocol that is on any of our different systems can exchange information. We, collectively, support QWK packets, Unix-to-Unix Copy Protocol (UUCP), FirstClass Protocol (FCP) I continue to seek other organizations, looking for information that the general public would find useful. THE FUTURE The next major phase of development is to have City Connection become a node on the Internet which will provide access via Internet. Conversely, outbound traffic will be in the form of a gopher-like tool to venture into gopher spaces from within FirstClass. Public kiosks will be setup to access City Conections information. It will be preset with a special account for those users just browing. Other members of City Connection could still access the system from the public kiosks with their own ID and Passcodes. City Connection's goal is to provide a one-stop service providing information about local communities and its organizations. The information will come from city halls (local governments), schools, businesses (profit and non-profits) and residents. City Connection strives to be innovative through information alliances and connectivity, developing a network of community-oriented systems to create a cyberspace of information that relates to the local community and allows access through many system platforms and protocols. Robert A. Kim City Connection San Jose, CA 408-272-4185 (VOICE 408-272-3332 (SERVER) rkim@cityconnect.com ####################################################################### EDUCATION NEWS ####################################################################### *************************************************************************** CUSeeMe: GSH kids make history!, by Yvonne Marie Andres, Global Schoolhouse project *************************************************************************** On Friday, February 25, 8th grader David Young was interacting via CU-SeeMe with Greg German, a researcher from Ohio. David asked me if Greg could send us Maven...a program that would allow us to send audio across the Internet. Within 2 minutes Greg sent a binhexed version of Maven to me. It took another two minutes to install and launch Maven, and make an audio connection with Greg! We were viewing each other via CU-SeeMe and talking to each other via Maven - all over the Internet...and we were really excited!! We immediately called Laura C. at CNIDR to tell her of our discovery. We sent Maven to Laura via Fetch and within 2 minutes she had installed it and launched and established a voice connection with Oceanside and Ohio. Then Laura told Jane who told George who told Don who told Priscilla...and within another 10 minutes we were all looking at one another via CU-SeeMe and talking to one another via Maven...ON THE INTERNET...it was beyond cool! Finally, Greg called Charley Kline, the author of Maven, and told him what we were doing...and Charley also became excited...because there had never been more than a 3-way conversation before...so Charley joined the group via CU-SeeMe...and the students thanked him personally! Then Greg played music for Oceanside and Oceanside showed a video, complete with sound to everyone else...our imaginations were running wild! In less than 30 minutes Ohio, California, North Carolina, Illinois and Virginia shared and implemented their discovery - and the impetus was an 8th grade GSH student! It makes one wonder what other great and historic events CAN and WILL occur when students and their teachers are enroled in the Global Schoolhouse! I just had to share this experience with all of you! Yvonne Yvonne Marie Andres, Global SchoolNet Foundation 7040 Avenida Encinas 104-281, Carlsbad, CA 92009 Voice:(619) 439-0914 or 757-6061 Voice mail:(619) 931-5934 FAX (619) 931-5934 email: andresyv@cerf.net (The article first appeared on Sat, 26 Feb 1994, on: Global Schoolhouse Schools ) *************************************************************************** 4. About CUSeeMe (From: README file, Cornell Video "CU-SeeMe0.42", 9-7-93) *************************************************************************** Cornell University's Information Technology organization (CIT) has developed a Macintosh videoconferencing program called CU-SeeMe. It displays 4-bit grayscale windows at either 320x240 or half that diameter, 160x120, and does not (yet) include audio. CU-SeeMe in version 0.42 provides a one-one connection or, by use of a "reflector," a one-many, several-to-several, or several-to-many conference. Each participant can decide whether to be a sender, a receiver, or both. Receiving requires only a Mac with a screen capable of displaying 16 grays and a connection to the Internet. Sending requires the same plus a SuperMac VideoSpigot board, a camera, Quicktime and SpigotVDIG extensions added to the system folder. Although much improved over earlier versions, this is still BETA software-- use at your own risk. And please treat the Internet kindly-- keep bw limits set down under 100kbps unless you know where you're putting network load. The software is freely available via anonymous ftp from gated.cornell.edu in the directory /pub/video as CU-SeeMe0.40.bin This file is README.CU-SeeMe.txt. There is also a choice of VDIG files needed for use with the SuperMac VideoSpigot frame grabber board. The executable and VDIG files are stored in a MacBinary II format. It is most convenient to use Fetch2.1 to retrieve the files as it will automatically unpack them. CUSeeMe has been tested in two GLOSAS Global Lecture Hall (TM) events and is scheduled to be used again in July. Additional files on CUSeeMe will be made available as soon as GLOSAS files become accessible by Gopher. #################################################################### HELP!!! #################################################################### Hello, I've been doing a fair amount of research on community networking, but have yet to come across a comprehensive time line of key events in the history of the medium. Has anyone every seen or produced such a thing? Thanks, Ned Lilly, The Morino Foundation nlilly@morino.org Tel. (703) 759-0477 Fax (703) 759-9584 #################################################################### The University I work at is trying to gather together a list of graduates from our University that went on to obtain a Doctoral degree. We have identified a database called the "Doctorate Records Project". This database is a cumulation of the data obtained by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation from their "Annual Survey of Earned Doctorates". Other then this database, is anyone aware of a computer database, directory or other publication that cumulates this type of information? Thanks. Doug Taylor Houston Cole Library Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, Alabama 36265 Email: fdt1@jsumus (NOTE: the "1" in my address is a numeric one.) #################################################################### I am forwarding this for a collegue who is not on this list. It is cross posted to several other lists. Please send replies to:higgjane@isu.edu STRUGGLING LIBRARY SCIENCE STUDENT NEEDS HELP! I am doing a research paper on how people are using the Internet. I desperately need demographic data to include. I would be extremely grateful to all who take 5 minutes to fill out the following survey and e-mail it back to me at: higgjane@isu.edu CITY/STATE: _______________________ AGE: __ under 18 __ 19-35 __ 36-45 __ 45-55 __ 55-65 __ over 65 EDUCATION (Check highest degree only): __ High School Graduate __ Vo-Tech Degree __ Bachelor's Degree __ Master's Degree __ PHD __ None of the above OCCUPATION: __ Business (any kind, e.g., service, professional, etc.) __ Self employed __ Education __ Government __ Student __ Other PRIMARY USE OF THE INTERNET (Check 1-3 catagories): __ Discussion Lists __ Special Interest Groups __ E-Journals __ E-Newsletters __ Usenet Newsgroups __ E-Mail __ Special Projects----Phyllis J. Brown Acquisitions Oboler Library Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209-8089 (208) 236-2670 ###################################################################### From: wantan@sejsun1.nri.co.jp (Itaru WATANABE, Mr.) Subject: Internet fact data needed I'm Itaru Watanabe from Nomura Research Inst. Japan. I will have meeting about the Internet for my customers in next week and one of the customers tells me he wants to know how large internet is,how many hosts it is connected and so on. Does anyone know where I can get internet fact data ? Thank you in advance. Itaru WATANABE Nomura Research Institute,Ltd. YOKOHAMA, JAPAN telephone:+81-45-336-8360 ###################################################################### Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum From: "PG Communications Dir." Subject: Make $100 Million In Your Spare Time! (fwd) MAKE $100,000,000.00 A WEEK AT HOME IN YOUR SPARE TIME! Sound impossible?? We do the impossible twice a week!! (and we post this notice twice a year, once just before National Library Week and once about six months later.) Project Gutenberg has been doing this very same thing a little at a time since 1971 and currently distributes 2 hundred million dollars a week in electronic texts. . . Based on 10% market shares of the predicted one billion computer users by the end of 2001. [Nominal evaluation of each book is $1] We are distributing 8 etexts per month in 1994; a world gets $800,000,000.00 worth of books and you get amazing amounts of satisfaction. . .but no cash] In one week almost anyone could type in a book the size of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, or many others, with nothing but a PC and a few hours of spare time each day as Alice is a short book, and 10 pages a day would give you two days off during your week. If you want to do a Shakespeare play they are about the same size as Alice in Wonderland. Take a month to do a longer favorite that can then be enjoyed free of charge by everyone. Details available on request, Project Gutenberg has all volunteers working on these etexts: and dollar amounts are used only for evaluation's sake. You won't get any money, but we would put your name on any book you do. BECOME ONE OF THE "BOOK PEOPLE" AS IN "FAHRENHEIT 451," Ray Bradbury's classic story. Support the preservation of your favorite books, and the distribution of them to an UNLIMITED AUDIENCE. We need your assistance in the greatest adventure of an entire millennium, the first time a trillion dollars of any commodity will be given away, absolutely free: and this commodity will help literacy, education, democracy and all they stand for. *Please reply to dircompg@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu for details* Thank you for your consideration, Michael S. Hart, Professor of Electronic Text Executive Director of Project Gutenberg Etext Illinois Benedictine College, Lisle, IL 60532 No official connection to U of Illinois--UIUC hart @uiucvmd.bitnet or hart@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu ***[Since the last time a similar note was posted, 2 whole new generations have joined the Nets, which means three times as many people are on the Nets as were September, 1993. My apologies to the one out of three who read it last year, and to those who might have received it from a different source already this year.]*** ######################################################################## From: Mike Dorrington Subject: setting up a gopher server My agency wishes to install a UNIX (IBM AIX) server at it's headquarter's office and is exploring options/costs. The server would be used as part of the Government Information Locator Service (GILS). GILS is being developed to implement recent federal mandates to make government information more accessible, including electronic dissemination. GILS would point interested parties to federal (and non federal) data/information. GILS data standards (Z.39.50) will emphasize "interoperability" and accessibility. We want to get on-line ASAP so a fancy, state-of-the-art system is out - for now. For the first year or two, we're not expecting heavy traffic or large data storage needs. However, we would like some upgrade "margin" , adding options as we learn and the number of our field (and private?) servers increase. The headquarter's server would be oriented toward uniquely Washington info (e.g. laws, regs, budget, directives, and public affairs) but would point to other agency (and private?) servers around the country. Should we use a gopher-based system initially, and add a WWW component later? I've also heard of "consolidated" gopher/WWW servers but the WWW option may be too much too soon. Ideas regarding internet hookup costs, hardware, software, cost information, and REFERENCES would be be appreciated. References should be not be too technical (i.e. primers) since I'm still a cyber-rookie. ################################################################ CLASSES & MEETINGS OF INTEREST ################################################################ **************************************************************** Forwarded by Gleason Sackman- InterNic Net-Happenings Moderator **************************************************************** From: joe@MIT.EDU Subject: Preannouncement of Online Internet Class Date: 11 Apr 1994 GLOBEWIDE NETWORK ACADEMY INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNET BOOTSTRAP DOCUMENT (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) Last revised: 1994 April 3 WARNING!!!!!! Right now this class is under construction, and is not scheduled for official opening until 1994 May 15. If you are completely unfamiliar with the internet, you are more than welcome to use the services of the class, but be warned that you are likely to be extremely confused and frustrated since the class is under construction. If this happens, e-mail _gna-inet-consultants@mit.edu_ explaining exactly where you are confused so that we can improve this class. Also you may consider trying this class again in a few weeks. Purpose The purpose of this document is to provide the minimum information needed to access the GNA Introduction to the Internet Class. I. Registration A. Schedule B. Procedure C. Fees II. The mailing lists A. How do I get help, announcements etc. III. What is the "World-Wide Web" A. How do I get to the class notes B. If that fails.... C. What can I do until the course begins? IV. What is the "Virtual Campus" A. How do I get to the consultants? B. If that fails.... C. What can I do until the course begins? IV. I'm still lost...... b R segistration SCHEDULE The class is officially scheduled to begin on 1994 May 15. A rough draft of the class notes is available right now, and consultants are also available to answer any of your questions. You are encouraged to use these services even though the class has not official started. PROCEDURE To attend the course, you should fetch the GNA Personnel Form and send it filled to (gna-personnel@uu-gna.mit.edu). The form can also be obtained via anonymous FTP from ftp.desy.de in directory pub/uu-gna as file personnel.txt. Note: you should also forward a copy of the filled form to the course coordinator, (joe@mit.edu). Since many of you are unfamiliar with the internet, feel free to take the class as an "unregistered" student until such time that you feel comfortable enough with internet and know enough to send in the proper forms. FEES If you are taking the class, you are requested to make a donation to the Globewide Network Academy. This donation may or may not be monetary and can consist of time or energy help the university. About the mailing lists The mailing lists for the course are: gna-inet-consultants@mit.edu This is the e-mail read by consultants for this class. Requests for help as well as questions and comments should go to this list. gna-inet-talk@mit.edu This is the e-mail list containing everyone registered for the class. This is meant for discussion and announcements concerning the class. What is the World Wide Web? The World Wide Web [WWW] is a distributed HyperText system (a network of documents connected by links which can be activated electronically). The Introduction to the Internet class notes are located on WWW. HOW DO I GET TO THE CLASS NOTES? Documents on WWW each have an address which is known as a universal resource locator (or URL) which uniquely identifies the document. To read a document on WWW, you will need a special program called a WWW client. There are several different WWW clients on the internet including (mosaic, lynx, and tkWWW). In order to view the class notes, ask your local system manager about the commands needed to use WWW and to the address http://uu-gna.mit.edu:8001/uu-gna/text/internet/welcome.html Please note that WWW is something different from telnet and anonymous ftp, and that you cannot use telnet and anonymous ftp to process a WWW address directly. To view a WWW address on your local machine, you will need a WWW client. If you do not have a WWW client, then you can access WWW using the instructions in the next section. IF THAT FAILS....... If you do not have a WWW client on your local machine, try typing the following command: telnet info.cern.ch This command connects you to a machine that is running a WWW client, and will enable you to use most WWW features. Once you are connected to the Web, enter the following command go http://uu-gna.mit.edu:8001/uu-gna/text/internet/welcome.html The "go" command displays the document specified by the address. This is the set of course notes. WHAT CAN I DO UNTIL THE COURSE BEGINS? Until the course officially begins, you can do the following * Complain about the course notes!!!!! The most valuable thing that you can do is to look at the course notes and complain about what makes sense and what doesn't. If you read the notes and are confused, this probably means that the notes need to be revised. * Send e-mail to (gna-inet-consultants@mit.edu) if you want to voluneteer to do something!!! What is the "Virtual Campus? The GNA Virtual Campus is a networked ensemble of "MOOs" and "MUDs". MUD stands for "Multi-User Dimension". A MOO is a MUD with object-oriented programming capabilities). Both are interactive in real-time for a multiple number of users. During scheduled hours, online consultants will be ready to answer your questions on a given section of the class notes, correct your exercise solutions and give you (hopefully) valuable hints. HOW DO I GET TO THE MOO To connect to Diversity University MOO, the place chosen for our class, type telnet erau.db.erau.edu 8888 Once logged in, type the following commands to be admitted as a "guest character" and go to our virtual classroom: connect guest @go #2896 Consultants are currently available and are eager to answer your questions. A schedule is posted in the class notes. I myself will be available to answer questions on Wednesdays 1800-1900 GMT IF THAT FAILS....... If this fails, you may not have telnet. First try asking your local system administrator about TELNET access and the character of your Internet connection. WHAT CAN I DO UNTIL THE COURSE BEGINS? Consultants are now available on the MOO to answer any and all questions you may have on the internet. I'm still lost....... If all else fails, please e-mail the class consultants (gna-inet-consultants@mit.edu) with your problem. ******************************************************************** Sender: niiregional-l-owner@Coyote.Rain.ORG ******************************************************************** DIAC-94: Developing an Equitable and Open Information Infrastructure April 23-24 Cambridge, Mass. MIT Room 10-250 Sponsored by Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) Information: Coralee Whitcomb Conference Co-Chair (617) 356-4309 email: cwhitcomb@bentley.edu Hans Klein Conference Co-Chair email: hkklein@mit.edu Location: MIT Building 10-250 (large conference room) Registration (8:30 - 12:00) April 23-24 Cambridge, MA MIT Building 10-250 Info: (617) 356-4397, cwhitcomb@bentley.edu , hkklein@mit.edu **************************************************************** Forwarded by Gleason Sackman - InterNIC net-happenings moderator **************************************************************** Date: Mon, 11 Apr 1994 Sender: Lou Rosenfeld Subject: Workshop: GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION Argus Associates invites you and members of your organization to participate in one of our hands-on Internet training workshops. Dates: April 23rd and June 4th, 1994 Times: 9am-4pm Location: University of Michigan, Dearborn Campus Room 1129 Computing Wing Cost: $100 (early registration), $135 (late registration) Registration: Use the form included at the end of this message. Note: A continental breakfast will be served at 9 am. The session will begin at 9:30 am. This introductory hands-on workshop will teach participants to make productive and efficient use of the Internet. In our workshops we combine presentations, demonstrations, hands-on opportunities, and printed materials to provide an integrated learning experience. Following this session, participants will be able to: * communicate with individuals and groups via Email, Listservs,and Usenet * send and retrieve software and documents using FTP * search software and document archives using Archie, Gopher, Veronica, and WAIS * explore hypertext and hypermedia documents with WorldWideWeb and Mosaic * select and acquire the appropriate level of Internet connectivity ******************************************************************** ******************************************************************** Date: Tue, 12 Apr 1994 16:18:09 CDT From: chan@macpost.scar.utoronto.ca Subject: Culture and Technology Conference, Toronto ----- CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT ----- MCLUHAN PROGRAM UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO HOSTS CONFERENCE ON CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY MAY 25 TO 28 IN TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA FOR REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION CALL KATHRYN AT 416-978-7026 (Fax 416-979-5324, E-mail derrick@epas.utoronto.ca) Technology's impact on culture is no longer a matter of chance but an issue of choice. Culture is a result of the technologies we choose to implement. We are at a point where the available technologies now present infinite possibilities. The question is no longer What can we do? but What do we want? Technology is forging in a new alliance between business and culture. Today's entrepreneur is frequently a combination of technology specialist, cultural analyst and artist. This new generation of business people identifies and capitalizes on business opportunities that arise where culture and technology converge. CULTURE TECHNOLOGIES CONVERGENCE CONFERENCE OF ONTARIO AND THE FOUR MOTORS OF EUROPE brings together some of the best and brightest innovators from business, the arts, museums, design, and creators and developers of new technologies from Europe and Ontario. Delegates from related but separate areas of expertise will join to bring new perspective to issues of current importance in culture and technology from their own unique vantage points. Internationally renowned in their fields, many of the speakers are owners or directors of businesses that involve the successful merging of culture and technology - people who have taken the critical leap to turn what they have imagined into a business reality. CONFERENCE PACKAGE: $300 CDN Students $175 (+ GST) Including: sessions noted PLUS: opening reception at the Design Exchange, May 25; dinner and performances using new technologies at the Art Gallery of Ontario, May 26; free 3-day admission to the MULTIMEDIA '94 Trade show, Metro Convention Centre. ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************ Second Annual Conference on Rural Datafication May 23-24, 1994 Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Minneapolis, MN *** Preliminary Program (as of 4/1/94) Note: This program is subject to change. YOU ARE INVITED! Come for practical information you can put to work in your community. Meet people who are learning how to solve the problems of bringing the Internet to underserved areas. Share your successes and horror stories! This years Rural Datafication conference begins with a day of Internet workshops designed to help you navigate your way on the Information highway. The conference follows with a day and a half of useful presentations and breakout sessions. Registration Information The conference fee is $99 if paid before April 30, 1994, $125 if paid after April 30. The conference fee includes all Sunday workshops, Monday and Tuesday conference sessions, lunch on Sunday and Monday, and Sunday and Monday receptions and entertainment. To register for the conference and workshops, contact CICNet, at 313-998-6103 or 800-947-4754 and ask for a copy of the registration materials. Registration will not be accepted via email. Or send a message to epps@cic.net or ruraldata-info-request@cic.net. The Rural Datafication project and conference are sponsored by: CICNet, INDNet, IREN, MichNet, MRNet, netILLINOIS, NYSERNet, PREPnet, WiscNet, and WVNET. And is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. ################################################################## ################################################################## NETWORKS and COMMUNITY is a result of the work of people located throughout the global Internet community. Net facilities for the preparation of this newsletter are provided by NETCOM On-line Communications Services. Editing is done by myself. Back issues are archived through the kindness of the staff at the WELL : gopher ---->gopher.well.sf.ca.us ->community --> civic nets... ---> networks & community; & the NATIONAL LIBRARY OF CANADA : gopher ----> gopher.nlc-bnc.ca "subscriptions" are available through the generosity of the Listowner for the RRE NEWS SERVICE: subscribe by sending e-mail to rre-request@weber.ucsd.edu) with a SUBJECT LINE reading "subscribe ". Additional distribution is assisted by the managers and owners of NET-HAPPENINGS, COMMUNET, & the CANADIAN FREENET listservs. This newsletter is in the PUBLIC DOMAIN and may be used as you see fit. To contribute items or enquire about this newsletter Contact Stephen Covington .