Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ukma!psuvax1!psuvm!auvm!!470-1213" From: SPOOL@NORTHEASTERN.EDU (Jared M. Spool/User Interface Engineering (508)470-1213) Newsgroups: comp.org.acm Subject: Re: Communications Message-ID: <2B7A99A8E0400312@northeastern.edu> Date: 21 Jun 91 12:36:00 GMT Sender: ACM-L List for Student Chapters of ACM Lines: 42 Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU X-Envelope-to: acm-l@ohstvma.acs.ohio-state.edu X-VMS-To: IN%"acm-l@ohstvma.acs.ohio-state.edu", X-VMS-Cc: IN%"jimm@acmvm.bitnet" X-To: acm-l@ohstvma.acs.ohio-state.edu X-cc: jimm@acmvm.BITNET First, if I were at ACM and reading this, I'd think it would be nuts to address these issues directly on this list. There is something only slightly less than "a linch-mob" attitude. And the list represents a very small percentage of the total membership. On my library shelf, right here next to me, I have some 15 years worth of CACM issues. While the new format is a bit overzelous, compared to the 1976 format, it is great. Good design is done in an iterative fashion. You try something, you see if it works, you learn if it doesn't. We have to give ACM a lot of credit for trying something. Now we have to help them learn what worked and what didn't. I think the best way to get HQ's attention is to send a letter to the editor. The letter shouldn't be "THE NEW FORMAT STINKS!". Instead, it should be something constructive that they can work with. If everyone on this list were to write a letter to the editor stating three things that the CACM should stop doing, three things it should start doing and three things that it should continue doing, I bet you would see ACM being very responsive. This would give HQ some hard and fast information to learn from. The April issue has a small paragraph in the "Editorial Pointers" column: "Thanks to those of you have have taken the time to offer us feedback on these efforts. As a result of your letters, we have added some refinements to our editorial and design goals and will continue to do so. We value the tradition of community involvement in this publication and encourage the continue partnership of readers, authors, advertisors, ACM members and volunteers. Like the computing industry, _Communications_ is moving with the times and benefitting from the process of change." It was signed by James Maurer, Executive Editor. He lists his email address as "JIMM@ACMVM.BITNET" in the publisher's box. ACM is our organization. Let's all help make it be what we want it to be. Jared M. Spool Greater Boston SIGCHI Chair also Principal Founder, User Interface Engineering