reiter@aipna.ed.ac.uk (Ehud Reiter) (03/19/91)
I posted a `Call For Discussion' for a new newsgroup, comp.society.development,
about ten days ago. Since then I've received zillions of e-mail messages,
most quite supportive, but very few people have posted comments publically
to the net. For those who are unfamiliar with the newsgroup creation process,
a `Call For Discussion' (or `Request for Discussion') is a request for public
comments (posted to the special group news.groups), on the charter, name, and
hierarchy position of a proposed USENET newsgroup. It is different from, and
must preceed, a `Call For Votes', which is a request for Yes/No votes on the
creation of a new group (thanks to everyone who has sent me `Yes' votes
already, but USENET rule don't allow me to accept votes until an official
`Call for Votes' has been issued).
So, if anyone wants changes made to the charter, name, or hierarchy position
of this proposed newsgroup, please post them to news.groups for public
discussion, don't just e-mail them to me! I have in particular received e-mail
comments suggesting a name change to comp.society.third-world, and/or a
hierarchy position change to comp.development (or comp.third-world) instead of
comp.society.development. Such comments are valuable and worth discussing,
but they should be publically posted, not e-mailed to me.
My apologies for not making this clear in my original posting,
Ehud
***************************************************************************
************************(the original call for discussion)*****************
CALL FOR DISCUSSION: comp.society.development
Moderated: No
Subject: This group will discuss applications of computer technology
in developing countries. Topics might include:
- specific stories of successful (and unsuccessful) uses of computers
in developing countries
- general discussion of the difficulties and advantages of using
computers in developing countries
- comments from developing country computer users on their experiences
- requests from developing country computer users for computer-related
advice
- news about communications, especially networks and electronic mail,
to and within developing countries
- updates from aid agencies, volunteer groups and others active in
developing countries on computer-related projects underway or under
consideration
- discussions about appropriate hardware and software
- general news about books, seminars, conferences, and projects
General discussions of Third World politics or economics will be avoided.
Comment: At the University of Edinburgh, we have set up a mailing list
to discuss applications of Artificial Intelligence in developing coutries.
The list is growing all the time, and now includes people from 4 continents,
so it seems there may be enough interest to justify a USENET newsgroup on
this topic. The mailing list is restricted to AI applications, but it is
probably better for the newsgroup to cover all types of computer applications.
All discussion on this proposed group should take place in news.groups.
--
Ehud Reiter
(e.reiter@edinburgh.ac.uk)