Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!bionet!ig!largo.ig.com!dow From: dow@largo.ig.com (Christopher Dow) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.genome-program Subject: Re: JITF information on Bionet Message-ID: Date: 16 Mar 90 16:20:51 GMT References: <9003141547.AA06600@apldbio.com> Sender: news@presto.IG.COM Reply-To: dow@largo.ig.com (Christopher Dow) Organization: IntelliGenetics, Inc. Lines: 41 In article <9003141547.AA06600@apldbio.com>, ldow@apldbio.com (Leslie Johnston-Dow) writes: > And I do agree. However, it is naieve to think that the basically > non-electronic community of biologists will be able to make effective > use of the electronic newsgroups without a great deal of help. > > Now for my humble proposal :-) > I believe it would be valuable if the biology comunity were initially > contacted through journals, for example BioTechniques would be perfect. > A series of articles could be written outlining the availablity and (most > importantly) the day to day uses of Bionet. These articles could allow > an average biologist the initial information to subscribe to and use > Bionet presented in a forum that they readily use and understand. > Now, I am NOT criticizing Dave,the Bionet management, or community! > I think everyone has done a fine job disseminating information, but in > my experience the scope is far too limited. I am aware that theres have been > publications concerning this issue, but in my experience the biology > community is not readily aware of them. So lets get 'em where they > live! I agree that we Bionet should be used as a source input from the scientific community, and also the Bionet in general should be used by more people. There is, however, a very real problem with getting on a computer and acutally doing it. Some ways to reduce the engergy barrier would be more information on not just how to use Bionet, but also about the different news and mail reading tools available in the public domain (I'm using a completely user-friendly, mouse & menu driven program to post this). The idea is that people will do what is easiest for them to do, so why don't we try to show them how easy it is? +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Chris Dow | IntelliGenetics | | Software Engineer | 700 East El Camino Real | | "My opinions are mine not theirs-->" | Mountain View, Ca. 94040 | | AisA | (415) 962-7320 | | | internet: dow@presto.ig.com | | | icbmnet: 37 22' 39" N, 122 3' 32" W | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+