ole@csli.Stanford.EDU (Ole Jacobsen) (06/11/89)
The following article on Geoff Goodfellow's IN MODERATION NETWORK appeared the Business section of this morning's edition of the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE. Quoted without permission. NEW SERVICE TO CULL COMPUTER MESSAGES by John Schneidawind Geoffrey Goodfellow says that the mass of useless information circulating through the nation's public computer networks is almost as abhorrent as the Exxon oil washing up on Prince William Sound. He and his company, Anterior Technology of Menlo Park, want to do something about it. This week, Goodfellow established the "In Moderation Network," a service that beginning next month will monitor the information networks used by Anterior clients, and winnow all the entries that the clients don't need. Goodfellow contends that useless, often repetitive information is slowing down such otherwise vital computer networks as Internet and Usenet, which are used to exchange scientific and technical information via computer. Network users commonly send computer messages seeking information available on particular subjects. But other users often flood the network with inane or irrelevant responses. "When you ask a question and get 65 replies, your electronic mailbox tends to overflow," said Goodfellow. "You spend a lot of time throwing things out. It would be analogous to The Chronicle publishing everything that came out from the news wire on the trouble in Beijing." Goodfellow's operation would be connected to the networks. It would employ about a dozen carefully trained human "moderators" to screen out information that specific clients probably wouldn't care to see. The clients would receive only information that they find useful when they tap into the networks." "Information sewage flows across the highways and byways each day," Goodfellow said. "I'm just offering a cleaned-up, very high quality feed. Effectively, I'm selling taste." The taste won't come cheap. Goodfellow plans to charge $720 per year for each office that uses his service. For individuals, the price is $35 per month, plus $3 per hour for the time they spend receiving the network information on their computers. Goodfellow co-authored the book "Hackers Dictionary, A Guide to the World of Computer Wizards," and was the principal investigator for computer security at Menlo Park-based SRI International, a computer-industry think tank. He thinks that plenty of business and individuals will be happy to pay those prices, based on all the complaining that he has heard from network users. "It's just a matter of listening to what people want," he said.
chip@vector.Dallas.TX.US (Chip Rosenthal) (06/11/89)
In article <9367@csli.Stanford.EDU> ole@csli.Stanford.EDU (Ole Jacobsen) writes: [quoting from SFcomical article:] > Geoffrey Goodfellow says that the mass of useless information circulating >through the nation's public computer networks is almost as abhorrent as the >Exxon oil washing up on Prince William Sound. This is downright offensive. I have had two concerns about "In Moderation". First, I am concerned how their editing process will impact the free flow of ideas. Second, I am worried that it will take a public resource and abuse it for private financial gain. Anybody willing to use such a tragic incident for personal gain would probably have little conscience when it comes to something as mundane as USENET. I had been undecided about "In Moderation". No longer. -- Chip Rosenthal / chip@vector.Dallas.TX.US / Dallas Semiconductor / 214-450-5337 "I wish you'd put that starvation box down and go to bed" - Albert Collins' Mom
geoff@Fernwood.MPK.CA.US (Geoff Goodfellow) (06/11/89)
> In article <9367@csli.Stanford.EDU> ole@csli.Stanford.EDU (Ole Jacobsen)
sent the text of a story in the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE about the IN
MODERATION NETWORK which contained an inference with regards to the Exxon
incident in Alaska.
While I appreciate the publicity of having ones company and service featured
in bay areas paper of largest circulation, i was quite surprised to see the
Love Canal analogy had suddenly become the Exxon Valdes & the shores of
Alaska! I wish to set the record straight that I never said any such thing.
Exxon, oil, Alaska, Prince William Sound, etc. were never mentioned or
inferred during the telephone interview I had with John Schneidawind on the
phone Friday regarding the IN MODERATION NETWORK.
If you wish to redress the poor taste exibited by the CHRON, please address
them to the editor at 901 Mission Street., San Francisco, CA 94103.
Geoff Goodfellow
Anterior Technologydavid@infopro.UUCP (David Fiedler) (06/12/89)
In article <9367@csli.Stanford.EDU> ole@csli.Stanford.EDU (Ole Jacobsen) writes: > Geoffrey Goodfellow says that the mass of useless information circulating >through the nation's public computer networks is almost as abhorrent as the >Exxon oil washing up on Prince William Sound. > You mean...this "In Moderation" stuff was *SERIOUS*? I thought it was a carefully-crafted but late April Fool's joke. Darn...and it looked so subtle too. I was sure it was a commentary on how the public is served so much better by networks such as Usenet that provide direct access to so many human resources, without editing or censorship, compared to the stuff you get in your newspaper (which you must select by political viewpoint!) or (gurk...choke...) television news program. -- David Fiedler {ames,attmail,hoptoad,pyramid}!infopro!david USMail: InfoPro Systems, PO Box 220, Rescue CA 95672 Phone: 916/677-5870 "I can't answer the door, my wife is taking a bath in the sink."-Ralph Kramden