Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!oliveb!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe.Of.129/26
From: Jack.O'keeffe.Of.129/26@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe Of 129/26)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Now Silenttalk Is Here!
Message-ID: <9480@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 5 Jan 90 19:31:58 GMT
Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP
Reply-To: Jack.O'keeffe.Of.129/26@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Distribution: misc
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/26 - SoundingBoard, Pittsburgh PA
Lines: 53
Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP

Index Number: 6153

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

[I have not gatewayed the earlier messages with this same subject
 line since they had to do with the Fidonet Silenttalk conference
 distribution.   However, with this article, the content
 starts switching to some discussion about Alexander Bell and
 the deaf.        Bill McGarry]

Hi Laurie,

Well, anyhow, SilentTalk is almost here.  There has been some problem
getting it going on backbone, but Stu and Ann are working on it and
I'm sure they will have it resolved soon.  I agree it's a special
treat to be in at the beginning of a conference.  Especially one like
SilentTalk that has such a great potential.

This conference is special because of the way it expands the scope
of telecommunications for folks whose disABILITY limited its usefulness
before.  You know, ole Al Bell was really trying to help hearing impaired
people when he invented his infernal instrument.  Wonder if he ever
realized what a corner he backed us into.

Be patient, and ask your SysOp and the hearing impaired users in the
Bay Area to hang in there.  I'm confident our moderators will have
the startup problems worked out real soon and have SilentTalk on
backbone.

 LW>  by the way, can you explain what 'backbone' means?

I'm sure Stu or Ann or your SysOp could give you a better explanation
of the backbone than I can, Laurie.  But, as I understand it, FidoNet
consists of BBSs called "nodes" which are grouped into local "networks".
The nodes making up a network exchange mail packets on an established
schedule with one or more "hubs".  The hubs in turn feed the national
and international conference messages - the "backbone" conferences -
to "regional hubs".  The regional hubs pass the conference messages to
each other to move them across the US and Canada.  This is the "backbone"
as I understand it, but I'm sure I'm oversimplifying.

It works, 'cause other conferences go all over North America via
backbone, and even to Europe and Austrailia.  Prior to becoming a
backbone echo conference, SilentTalk was passed directly between
the boards that carried it by LD phone calls.

Jack.

... HAPPY NEW DECADE!

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe.Of.129/26
Internet: Jack.O'keeffe.Of.129/26@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org