Page 46 RAIN Summer 1986 Whole Earth Lectronic Link (The WELL) The WELL is one of the most exciting computer conferencing systems going. Perhaps it's the geographical location (San Francisco and Silcon Valley),. the system itself, or the willing and able conference coordinators, or "netweavers.'' The conferences and bulletin boards are full of useful information. On one conference about laser printers I found several tidbits I had been seeking for some time. The system does what it says it will do, and so far I haven't: been sent off into electronic loop land, unable to get out of some obscure corner of the system. What is most striking about the system is the level of conversation, not just that it is. intelligent, informed, and witty, but that it's concise (wordiness is a: problem on many systems). It's as though som~one were providing electronic Emily Post · advice. It is $8 per month plus $3 per on-line hour. Direct dial and access via Uninet is available. For more information write to the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, 27 Gate Five Road, Sausalito, CA 94965. Modem, call 415/332-6106, or for a human voice call 4151332-4335. Ne~ Reports from OTA Originally, the implementation of intellectual property law, and particularly copyright law, was relatively simple. The governmenttgranted copyrights to authors and pat~nts to inventors. Today, technological change is complicating the intellectual .property system. Authorship· may involve authors around the world ·using computer systems to produce dynamically changing materials. Availability of duplicating equipment (computers, copiers, video tape decks, etc.) make's enforcement difficult. To raise some of the issues and possible solutions, the Office of Technology Assessment (OT ,c\) has published Intellectual Property Rights in an Age of Electronics and /nformatiOn from the U.S. Government Printing Office, stock # 052-003-01036~4. for $15. · · Another OTA study, Automation of America's Offices, presents critical information ·about' the impact of office automation on future employment. In the report OTA questions some of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that show office employment growth. OTA counters that emerging technologies such as optical scanning, speech ....• J!, recognition, and automated data entry should reduce the demand for data entry clerks. A summary of the report is available from OTA, U.S. Congress, Washington, DC 20510; 202/224-9241. The Microcomputer ·Electronic Information Exchang~ (MEIE) MEIE is a free, no-password computer system operated by the National Bureau of Standards' Institute for Computer Sci- . ence and Technology. It has hundreds of computer-oriented publications, in-, .eluding many about computer security, which can be downloaded· to your computer. By computer and modem you can call 2021948-5717 or 202/948-5718. The CUSS Fido ;Network TI:te Computer Use in Sodal Services Network (CUSS) is a nonprofit association of professionals interested in exchanging information on using computers in the social services. In previous issues we have reported on its excellent· quarterly newstetter. Recently CUSS published a 70-page directory to human . services software, available from Walter LaMendola, School of Social Work, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208. CUSSnet, a computer network for the CUSS membership using Fido software, is being. developed. The network presently has seven nodes and five more in the planning stage. If you have a terminal and modem try it out by calling 8171273-3966, any time except .2-5 am (Central Time). Set your ~om- · puter system for eight 'data bits, 300-2400 baud rate, no parity, and one stop bit. Engineering Bulletin Board International Advancement, publishers of the American Bulletin of {nternation:- al Technology Transfer, have started an engineering bulletin 1foard system. It contains software and :manuals in structural, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering that can be downloaded onto your computer. There is no special cost involved (besides a long distance phone line), but there ;are hardware and software requirements·for receiving some information. The system operates seven days a week, 24 hours a day. ·For more information, contact International Adyancement, PO Box 75537, Los Angeles, CA 90075. With modem and computer call 805/252-4182, or for a human· voice call 8051252-4182. Oregon Arts Foundation Bulletin Board . The Oregon Arts Foundation has re:. ceived an initial grant from the Natfonal · Endowment for the Arts .to design, im-· plement, and market an arts inforniation service, specifically for educators. The electronic online service will use MIST+ and Conexus Bulletin Board softWare, and Will allow artists and educators around the state of Oregon to share. information about' arts and education. In additio~ to electronic ·· messaging, the system will also support several databases including ones to help ,teachers with field trip planning, skills development opportunities, and a bibliography of information about arts and education. For more information contact Cathy Leedy, the Oregon Arts Foundation., 208 SW Stark, Portland, OR 97204; 503/222-9567. .. EcoNet: The International Ecology Network EcoNet is a compu~r communication system that orlgina1ly ~st.arted as an Apple Community ~ffairs network ·project, using the Ontyme system for communication. Several ·of the organizers found the Ontyme system unsatisfactory for their purposes and ·began to do some of their own programming to make it · more useful. Then with a small grant under the sponsorship of' the Farallones Institute, EcoNet took off on its ·own. The system is now accessible in 600 U.S. cities and over 60 countries.' 'coin-' .. munication tan take a v'~ety of forms such as newsletters, ' bulletins, mail,' .,' · conferences, surveys, and mailing ·iists: .· Private subnetworks ·can be established providing custom-tailo-re~ environments. · The system is rapidly bec9ming popular amopg ·envffonmental groups, ·· especially those i~terested in communication .with groups working in ot~er · countries, specifically in the Pacific Rim. Fees are based on a monthly subscription fee of $15 with no additional charges for conferencing, use of bulletin boards, or file storage. ·For. mqre · information contact'Christian Stalberg; EcoNet, 15290 Coleman Valley Road,· Occidental, CA 95465; 7071874-3060.'
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