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From: andrew@trlamct.oz (Andrew Jennings)
Newsgroups: comp.society
Subject: Computer-Based Journals
Message-ID: <762@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM>
Date: Wed, 9-Sep-87 14:48:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: hplabsz.762
Posted: Wed Sep  9 14:48:10 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 11-Sep-87 07:09:30 EDT
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It seems to me that with the prevalence of electronic mail and document
description languages like PostScript, it shouldn't be that difficult to 
set up a net_journal. 

This would be a net version of the scholarly journals that clutter library 
shelves.  In printed form it would probably be indistinguishable from the
printing-press version.  The idea would be that by using e-mail for all of 
the stages of reviewing, assembling and distribution of the journal the 
whole process could be speeded up by several orders of magnitude. 

Authors would submit to an editor their texts. He/she would then arrange 
for review. Once the journal is assembled it could then be sent (by e-mail 
or by ordinary post) to people who have paid a nominal charge for subscription.

(First objection : anyone can get hold of a copy for free. Answer : this 
 can be done now with photocopiers).

I've had this thought for quite a while. It seems strange to me that no-one 
has tried it. Maybe there is a pitfall in this that I have not anticipated. 

In any case I'm interested in the feasibility of the propositition. 

Andrew Jennings