Page 52 RAIN Spring 1986 location. The calendar also helps to eliminate scheduling conflicts by providing information about events in the planning stage. For more information, contact CIVIC, Columbus Center of Science and Industry, 280 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215; 614/228-3166. Intersystem Symposiums and Netweaving The Electronic Networking Association (ENA) is an organization that grew out of the First Intersystem Symposium, an on-line conference conducted by Lisa Carlson, during which Lisa took (“ported”) comments from one electronic network to another. Over a period of time people on these systems discussed the need for an organization to facilitate the use of electronic communication systems (electronic mail, computer conferences, information utilities). In April 1985,50 participants of this conference met in person in New York City, after which the ENA organization developed through on-line discussion. The ENA Forum “meets” on Unison, an electronic communication system operated out of Denver, Colorado, and on other systems which relay messages to Unison. The purpose of ENA is to promote electronic networking in ways that enrich individuals, enhance organization, and build communities. Dialogue on the Unison conference has raised questions about audience and social goals. Some members see the association as a SIG (Special Interest Group), reflecting the technical needs of the participants by discussing a certain brand of hardware, or types of applications. Others hold lofty goals such as wiring the planet for free flow of information between all persons and countries. One member suggests that “the ways in which we use the technology differ radically. It's like trying to get a teenager and a telemarketer to agree on an association for telephone users. ENA's electronic newsletter. The Netweaver, is one of the more readable, entertaining, and useful electronic communications I've seen. Although still occasionally wordy, as many conferences and electronic mail communications tend to be, more of the standardjournalistic models are in place, so that articles are trimmed, proofed and composed in a satisying manner. Topics discussed range from on-line computer jargon and terminology to information on networking in Sweden. For more information about ENA, write to MetaSystems Design Group, 1401 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 601, Arlington, VA 22209. For more about the Unison System, write to Mile High Media, 3542 East 16th Avenue, Denver, CO 80206; 303/329-3113. International Computer Arts Society (ICAS) Wherever artists and technology get together something intertesting is bound to happen. The International Computer Arts Society is one organization that tracks, and organizes around, the growing number of applications of computers by artists. It hosts an annual conference in British Columbia called Digicon. This summer's event brought together artists to talk about such things as 3-D computer graphics, computer music, animation, artificial intelligence, and multi-media events. ICAS is also working with several other groups to develop a global recording studio. By using a combination of video, digital, audio, and MIDI (a universal music transposition standard), the electronic recording studio will allow people to perform in real time together while separated geographically. The ICAS newsletter, Digiialk, is a valuable source of information, news, and opinion about the field of computer arts, or artists using computers and other electronic media. The area of computer applications in the arts is growing as wimessed by the University of Oregon's highly successful Computer Graphics Conference. Also, in a recent Digiialk, other activities are described, including an International Computer Music Conference held in August 1985 in Vancouver, B.C., and a Canadian Conference on Electronic Publishing. For more information write to Caryl McBride, International Computer Arts Society, 5997 Lona Drive, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 2A4 Canada; 604/980-7883. Nothing is Sacred A dutch engineer has developed a device that can locate, receive, and produce text typed on a computer terminal one kilometer away. The device, which costs only $5 and perceives computer electro-magnetic impressions in a wide field, could oblige computer terminals handling confidential information to screen within a Faraday cage. The inventor, Wim Van Eck, of the Dutch Heher Telecommunications Laboratory, demonstrated the device at the Third World Congress for the Protection and Security of Information Technology, known as “Securicom.” The technique is already known by military specialists. (Source: Maggie's Farm, Number 30, 1985) Meta Net ^ The Meta Network, an electronic communication system, was started by Frank Bums, who gained experience in using electronic communication systems while operating the Delta Force Think Tank for the U.S. Army. The Meta Network has a central conference, several sub-conferences, an interactive calender, a professional registry, a port to other on-line computer systems, wire services, and bulletin boards. There is also an electronic marketplace called Meta:Mart that allows companies to advertise and shop for products and services. Some of the conferences that have been established on Meta Net include Meta:Phor, an interactive network for writers; Meta:Mind, a conference focusing on the results of applied brain and mind research; MetarHedth, an international health and healing network; Meta:Win, the Women's International Computer Network; and Meta:OT, a conference on organization transformation. Meta Net has also been one of the primary players in the development of the Electronic Network Association (see above). The basic fee for using Meta Net is $350/year, plus on-line charges. For more information, write to MetaSystems Design Group, 1401 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 601, Arlington, VA 22209; 703/247-8301.
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