**************************************************************** NETWORKS AND COMMUNITY : May 9, 1994 **************************************************************** Networks and Community is devoted to encouraging LOCAL resource creation & GLOBAL resource sharing. The 17th report of 1994 is the 23rd weekly survey. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Coverage in this issue includes: Global Community Joke of the Week News From The World Timely Thoughts Profile: The Learning Link Help!!! Classes & Meetings ################################################################ Global Community ################################################################ I've changed the name of this column "From the Top" because a wonderfully magic thing took place this week! Steve Cisler from Apple Computer Library and Mario Morino of the Morino Foundation, put together the "Ties That Bind" Conference on "Building Community Networks". We have all been to seminars, conferences, meetings, etc., but this gathering was much different from any that I have ever attended. The energy that emanated from Cupertino this past week can only be described as being like cellular data transfer at 100 trillion bps. The energy started building Wednesday afternoon as the registration began. Old friends greeted each other warmly and newcomers were accepted as peers. Faces of folks that up to this point I have only known in the digital sense, took on a human persona. I had to laugh when someone came up to me and said that they had envisioned me as a short, older man! Hey, 44 isn't *THAT* old! We listened to speakers from around the world sharing their experiences. We got together in "Birds of a Feather" breakout sessions to "solve" the world's problems. (And believe or not, might actually have made a start at it!) We listened to Mario Morino "Call" us "To Action", a VERY stirring speech BTW. We decided at a BOF to continue and to grow the energy built up at the conference by meeting online in the Communet listserv. If you are not a subscriber to this list, think about subscribing. The future of Global Community Networking has begun in earnest. For those of you that recieve this newsletter through "can-freenet" or "net-happenings" that do not want to subscribe to Communet, I am archiving all "Ties that Bind" postings and will upload to those lists, an edited synopsis of these postings as "Global Communities" every once in a while. -steve covington ################################################################ REQUEST FOR COMMENT ################################################################ From: Clark Rogers Subject: Possibility of Community Information Network Conference in Pittsburgh-94 To All: A firm that I've done some consulting for here in Pittsburgh -- The infoWorks Partnership -- is very seriously considering sponsoring and holding a national conference on Community Information Networks here in Pittsburgh or in Baltimore sometime during the last quarter of 1994. I am considering retiring from my position at the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs in the near future and joining the infoWorks folks full-time. What they (i.e., we) need to know is what interest is out there for this type of conference. Based on the incredible response to Apple Library of Tomorrow's conference in Cupertino, we feel there is a need for this type of conference. Who would we want to see there?...... - Reps from C.I.N.s across the country and world - Librarians - Planners - Government officials - Private industry interested in community networks - Information scientists - Software reps who can contribute to the increased efficiency of these nets - Reps from communities large and small interested in establishing a CIN - Foundations - Economic development officials - Students The list can go on and on and at the risk of offending audiences we didn't list , we know there are hundreds more that are interested. The basic theme of the conference would be somewhat similar to what Apple is in the process of successfully presenting now in Cupertino. (We were not able to secure a space in time.) It would also have another important facet -- we would present speakers and officials from community information networks who would provide a "How-to" for all present and interested in establishing a community information network. The infoWorks Partnership has found that most of the clients they've worked with don't have the deep pockets or ample financial resources to bring in a bevy of consultants to set up a network. This conference will provide the networking (used as a verb here) opportunity for those folks, as well as the information they need to start down that road independent of the consultant for a time until they've arived at the point financially and developmentally they are comfortable with the consultant putting on the finishing touches. It's awfully sketchy right now, but a very real possibility. infoWorks needs to know, however, what interest would be out there for this. It would likely be a 3 (maybe 4) day conference in Pittsburgh or Baltimore, and registration fees would run appx. $85 - $100 (max) and would include breakfast and lunch each day of the conference. They have a good idea on the speakers they'll be bringing in, and they will be both important and relevant to the community information network field. Let them know what you think (YES / NO). Thanks for the assistance, folks. CD Rogers Univ. of Pittsburgh ################################################################ Joke of the Week ################################################################ From: Barney Wolff To: com-priv@psi.com Subject: Re: 'Tis Futile to Petition the King > Date: Sat, 07 May 1994 08:23:49 PDT > From: Bill Frezza > Has anyone thought about the means by which civil disobedience might be > used to defeat Clipper? Well, if you really, really want to, how about sending lots of messages which truly are random gibberish? It will drive the decoders out of their gourds, trying to break the code you're using underneath Clipper. Com-priv archives should do nicely ... Barney Wolff ################################################################ NEWS of the WIRED & WEIRD **** Received from various sources ################################################################ Forwarded by Gleason Sackman - InterNIC net-happenings moderator **************************************************************** Subject: E-d-u-p-a-g-e 05/01/94 & 05/03/94 EDITED BY MYSELF ************************************************************************ COMMODORE CALLS IT QUITS Commodore, a PC industry pioneer, is going out of business and liquidating its assets for the benefit of its creditors. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution 4/30/94 B3) GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGY The Clinton Administration says it wants eventually to divert to commercial technologies as much as 20% of the $25 billion now spent by federal labs on military ventures; that would be up from about 5% under the Bush Administration, which believed that if a technology has real commercial promise it should be able to attract private investment. Evidence of this shift was this week's announcement by the Defense Department of a $1 billion 10-year program to underwrite the commercial development of flat panel displays. (New York Times 5/1/94 Sec.3, p.3) INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING'S NOT FOR EVERYONE While companies are gearing up for a future of advertising via digital glitz, one industry observer suggests that the most successful efforts to sell interactively won't be all "full-motion video and razzle-dazzle." Instead, the emphasis will be on providing information to make an intelligent choice about big-ticket items, rather than everyday consumer products. "There's a relatively small number of products and services that people really want to have a relationship with," says a professor of integrated marketing at Northwestern U. "I don't particularly want to have a relationship with a plastic-garbage-bag manufacturer." (Business Week 5/2/94 p.103) WHO WILL CONTROL THE INFO HIGHWAY IN CANADA? Telecom giant Bell Canada Enterprises urged the federal government to end discussions and consultations and decide who gets to own and control what -- particularly in the area of convergence. (Ottawa Citizen 4/28/94 C12) WIRELESS E-MAIL Bell Atlantic unveiled a system that can send digital information such as electronic mail and computer files over cellular phone systems, for as low as 16 cents a message. The services is available in Washington, Baltimore and Pittsburgh; other cellular companies plan to roll out similar services soon. (USA Today 4/29/94 1B) CANADIAN PROVINCES HAVE NO TELECOM JURISDICTION The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled unanimously that the federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over telecommunications -- a decision that effectively strips the provinces of any regulatory say over the info highway. Separatist forces in Quebec are expected to use the ruling as an example of centralizing power by the federal government. (Toronto Globe & Mail 4/27/94 B3) The leader of Quebec's separatist party proclaimed the ruling a threat to Quebec's cultural sovereignty (Le Droit 4/28/94 p.16), but Quebec's Premier says the decision will have no adverse effects on Quebec's participation in global telecommunications (La Presse 4/28/94 B1). ON-LINE MEDIA LIST To get a list of the on-line addresses of newspapers, TV/radio stations, and magazines that accept electronic submissions, send e-mail to: majordomo@world.std.com with the message "subscribe medialist". (Tampa Tribune 5/1/94 B&F1) EMF ALERT Consumer Reports warns that the electromagnetic field emanating from a VDT is significantly stronger at the back and sides than at the front. It suggests designing offices so that workers' exposure to the back and sides of their neighbors' monitors is minimized. (Consumer Reports 5/94 p.359) NO MORE FUTZING AROUND ... SOFTWARE TO BLOCK GAME-PLAYING After learning that the average office worker spends five hours a week "futzing" with computers, including trying to make them work properly and playing games, bosses may be interested in a product by SBT Accounting Systems that blocks such activity. (Telecommunications Policy Review 4/24/94 p.13) UNIVERSITIES SHARE LIBRARY RESOURCES Twelve universities have joined to form the Center for Library Initiatives, whose objective is to create "a seamless whole" of on-line information resources, to be "equally accessible to all students and faculty." The libraries will continue to collect many of the same materials, but also will have the option of sharing some. (Chronicle of Higher Education 5/4/94 A25) INTEL PREDICTS PRICE CUTS Intel is leaking word to its customers regarding further price cuts in the second half of this year. It's anticipated that the cost of an entry-level Pentium chip will drop from $675 currently to $370 next fall. (Wall Street Journal 5/3/94 B5) TAKING A BYTE OUT OF RSI Repetitive stress injuries are on the rise, and are estimated to cost U.S. businesses as much as $20 billion a year. More than 60% of all workplace illnesses are attributable to RSI, and some of the most serious injuries come from using a mouse, says an expert on the subject. (Miami Herald 5/2/94 C1) Meanwhile, the computer industry is beginning to respond with a variety of "ergonomic" keyboards, designed to reduce RSI. The keyboards go for anywhere from $179 to $1,200. (Investor's Business Daily 5/3/94 A4) INTEL WANTS TO BE THE PC-EVERYTHING Intel is betting its future on consumer electronics. "What I'm after," says CEO Andy Grove, "is televisions and telephones and every single-purpose appliance. The best way for us to go for the 250-million-unit market is to move video telephony and conferencing and entertainment and information on to the PC and render those other things less and less relevant." (Fortune 5/16/94 p.62) CLIPPER CHIP DEBATE CONTINUES A Palo Alto-based organization of Internet users, cryptographers and leading companies delivered to the White House a petition with 47,000 signatures of individuals opposed to the Clipper Chip, which would give the government keys to decode private electronic messages and make it easier for law enforcement agencies to conduct legal wiretaps on digital devices, including wireless phones, computers and facsimile machines. (San Francisco Chronicle 4/30/94) TECHNOLOGY AND JOURNALISM ARE LIKE A SANDWICH "Baloney," said newspaper publisher Charles T. Brumback, CEO of the Tribune Company of Chicago, when asked whether "technology-obsessed" newspaper executives have forgotten about old-fashioned good journalism. (New York Times 5/2/94 C7) TO GET A BBS RUNNING, GET RUNNING KIDS Four print services that have their own online BBSs are Oil & Gas Journal's Electronic Transfer; Teleconnect's Teleconnect BBS; New York Magazine Online; and Lexis Counsel Connect. An executive of one of these proprietary services says the only problem is that "you need to have young kids running around with the machinery all the time, answering it, checking it." (Folio 5/1/94 p.50) ################################################################## Timely Thoughts ################################################################## Sender: can-freenet@cunews.carleton.ca From: SAMSAM@VM1.YorkU.CA Subject: PGP. legal too. Sender: ccc-owner@ufl.edu Forwarded from the Cypherpunks: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology announces that it will shortly distribute PGP version 2.5, incorporating the RSAREF 2.0 cryptographic toolkit under license from RSA Data Security, Inc., dated March 16, 1994. In accordance with the terms and limitations of the RSAREF 2.0 license of March 16, 1994, this version of PGP may be used for non-commercial purposes only. PGP 2.5 strictly conforms to the conditions of the RSAREF 2.0 license of March 16, 1994. As permitted under its RSAREF license, MIT's distribution of PGP 2.5 includes an accompanying distribution of the March 16, 1994 release of RSAREF 2.0. Users of PGP 2.5 are directed to consult the RSAREF 2.0 license included with the distribution to understand their obligations under that license. This distribution of PGP 2.5, available in source code form, will be available only to users within the United States of America. Use of PGP 2.5 (and the included RSAREF 2.0) may be subject to export control. Questions concerning possible export restrictions on PGP 2.5 (and RSAREF 2.0) should be directed to the U.S. State Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls. =============================================================================== = John Paul O'Brien, Network Analyst Cisco Systems, Inc., 1525 O'Brien Drive Menlo Park, California 94026 Vox: 415.688.8219;Fax: 415.688.4575;Page: 415.428.6398 mail: jpobrien@cisco.com (end of forwarded message) #################################################################### PROFILES by Kathy Berglund #################################################################### Subject: Learning Link in Idaho The dedication of one man, Mr. Robert Pyle, and the sponsorship of Idaho Public Television (IPTV), have allowed the children and the teachers in this very rural state to reach out to each other as a community and into the wider world via the internet. IPTV provides high quality educational television broadcasts and services to the people of the state of Idaho. Bob Pyle, with support from the staff of IPTV, is responsible for the entire operation of Learning Link in Idaho. Learning Link is an online service provided free of charge to every public school teacher in the state. Without even the expense of a long distance call, teachers have access to teaching materials and lesson plans which are coordinated with public television broadcasts. Also included in the Learning Link services are internet e-mail, statewide discussion areas for teachers, students and the general public, education-related national newsgroups and forums, and many other features designed to move the people of Idaho off the dead-end of the "Information Superhighway." All of this is provided largely through the foresight of Jerold Garber, the General Manager of Idaho Public Television who brought Learning Link to Idaho and the endless work of Bob Pyle. Bob is the system operator and he also provides most of the training needed for the full use of Learning Link to teachers and whole school systems in this state. He maintains and repairs the system, installs and modifies the system software and hardware, and answers technical questions (even FAQs!) with great patience and respect. Bob has described some of the history of Learning Link in the United States, and its adoption by IPTV and also other states, institutions and countries. The public broadcasting station WNET in New York City was attempting to create a system by which educators could interact directly and easily with those who were running the television station. A man named Bob Spielvogel developed the original Learning Link system. In 1987 IPTV became the sixth site in the country to adopt the Learning Link concept. All the sites were joined by a system called Linknet, Inc. which eventually included twenty-five sites. In 1993 Linknet, Inc. sold Learning Link the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) which has plans to expand it to one hundred ninety-six sites. Each Learning Link site is an independent organization. This independence is the source of many of the advantages as well as many of the persistent challenges. Learning Link can be very responsive to the needs and to the customs of those who use it. Information and services provided can be introduced and/or discontinued as the abilities and the demands of those users change. It is still possible to make a direct call to "the top" to ask questions or offer suggestions. Idaho is still a very conservative state and this responsiveness and independence has made it possible to introduce new ideas and methods at a rate at which they can be accepted easily. The challenges facing Learning Link in Idaho are often formidable. This is a shoestring operation and finding funding to keep the system operating is often a daunting task. One month this year the long distance bills for the toll-free telephone numbers (which allow rural public school teachers to have access to the system) ran to over four thousand five hundred dollars alone. The system requires constant attention and maintenance and the hardware is often outdated. Much of the content of the system has to be created locally and this, plus all of the training of new users and the creation of support materials for this training is done by basically one person. Like anyone who is responsible for more than one full-time job, Bob often has to deal with the discouraging feeling that more work could have been done or that it could have been done better. He says that if he could, he would just concentrate on his real area of expertise: the technological aspect of the system. In the future he would like to see Learning Link in Idaho expanded into a freenet which would connect schools, libraries, public and government agencies, and the general public to each other and to the whole Internet. This ideal state of affairs does not seem to be coming any time soon. While he is very grateful to accept volunteer labor (and donations!) it appears that if the Learning Link system is to continue in Idaho, Bob Pyle will have to continue working his four full-time jobs alone. -- Kathy Berglund Garfield School Boise,ID #################################################################### HELP!!! #################################################################### From: Lori Atwater Subject: Request for Information SLONET, the public information access system for San Luis Obispo County, is seeking the following information: 1. Draft job description for an execitive director position. Could be modeled after the NPTN executive director position. 2. Conferencing software to substitute for "moo". 3. A database which works well with gopher menus. Oracle may be too cumbersome to implement. Thank you for your suggestion. Lori Atwater Information Systems Coordinator City of San Luis Obispo Member, SLONET Steering Committee latwater@callamer.com ********************************************************** Subject: DOS WWW Software From: Peter Webster - Library Our University is in the annoying position of not having the network capacity to run Windows on our DOS based LAN system. This problem will be fixed in a year or so, but in the mean time one of our problems is that we have no internet access to World Wide Web resources. Does anyone know of an shareware or otherwise DOS World Wide Web software? If so where can I get it? Or, alternately has anyone hear of any work on producing a DOS version of Lynx Thanks for any assistance Respond to me directly at PWEBSTER@ADMIN.starys.ca Peter Webster, Coordinator, Special Services, Patrick Power Library, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3C3 Phone 902 420 5507 Fax 902 420 5561 e-mail: Pwebster@Admin.stmarys.ca ******************************************************** From: "LANNING, ROBERT" Subject:Information delivery via kiosks Has anyone successfully implemented (or at least studied) information delivery to customers via kiosks? Specifically, I'm looking for kiosks placed AWAY from the library in various locations such as town square, shopping center/mall, or campus hangouts. An FAQ would be extremely helpful. Many thanks, Robert Lanning Air Force Library and Information System 10100 Reunion Place, Suite 401 San Antonio TX 78216-4138 (210)652-3037 Internet: lanning@afsva5.afsv.af.mil ################################################################ CLASSES & MEETINGS OF INTEREST ################################################################ Forwarded by Gleason Sackman - InterNIC net-happenings moderator **************************************************************** ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: karen@baku.eece.unm.edu (Karen Haines) National Information Infrastructure (NII) Summer Institute: Technology, Applications, and Policy University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico August 6-10, 1994 General Chair: Gregory E. Shannon, Los Alamos National Laboratory Program Chair: Thomas P. Caudell, ICS Group, University of New Mexico Institute Director: Karen Haines, ICS Group, University of New Mexico This summer institute will provide: * Interaction with national experts in NII research, technologies, applications, policy, and culture. * Broad knowledge in NII issues as preparation for for NII-related work. * A common experience with other students and a network of aquaintances. * Exposure to NII-related research opportunities at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of New Mexico. There are no tuition fees associated with the workshop or the workshop facilities. As a part of completing the application below, each applicant is requested to include a short statement of her/his research interests. Approximately 50 student slots are available for attendance. Students fellowships are also available for travel and local expenses. For more information, send e-mail to nii@eece.unm.edu. ***** REGISTRATION DEADLINE: JUNE 1, 1994 ***** ################################################################## ################################################################## 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 Service, Inc. 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 .