cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu (Robert Jacobson) (03/17/91)
ANNOUNCING A NEW LIST FOR CARTOGRAPHY, INFO GRAPHICS, SCI-
VIZ, AND RELATED AREAS
>>>INGRAFX (Information Graphics)<<<
Introduction
-----------
Hello! INGRAFX is a new listserv devoted to the interdisciplinary
areas of cartography, information graphics, and scientific
visualization.
As owner of the list, I would like to invite all those who have an
interest in the broad range of images known as "graphics" (maps,
photographs, drawings, and information or quantitative graphics)
to consider signing up.
Please do not take these requirements too formally! Ideally, the
discussion will be uninhibited and free-flowing.
Candidate topics for discussion might be; the relation of maps to
graphics as a whole (are they different kinds of representa-
tion?); the philosophy of graphic representation (what theories
are there of graphic representations, and how does a graphic
"represent" segments of the world); how can we use graphics in
education; to what extent does "graphicacy" matter in today's
world; what is the relationship between academic or scientific
graphics, and graphics in the popular media; can we or should we
accrue rules for "good" graphics; are there graphic variables or
elements that are basic to all graphics, and can these be used in
animation?
In general our aim is for an *informal* discussion which is
cross-disciplinary, and about graphics.
How to Join In
-------------
Curious to see what's going on so far? Why not sign up now?
To sign up, send a message to:
LISTSERV@PSUVM (bitnet) or
LISTSERV@PSUVM.PSU.EDU (internet)
and include the following:
SUB INGRAFX <your name>
where <your name> is your actual name, not your email address.
DO NOT send this message to INGRAFX@PSUVM as this is where
you send your messages. (You do not need to include the '<>' around
your name.) No other text is needed.
E.g., SUB INGRAFX j w crampton
On bitnet you can also sign up by using the TELL command, e.g.,
TELL LISTSERV AT PSUVM SUB INGRAFX j w crampton
Once you are a subscriber you can retrieve any files that have
been archived on the listserv, including the monthly discussion
logs, and other files of interest. To see what is there, either
TELL or send a email note to LISTSERV AT PSUVM or LISTSERV AT
PSUVM.PSU.EDU with the command INDEX INGRAFX. Once you have
decided on a file you can retrieve it by using the GET command.
E.g., TELL LISTSERV AT PSUVM GET 'File name', or GET 'Another
file'.
To *post a note*,
send an email note to INGRAFX@PSUVM.
Future Discussions on the List
---------------------------
As a geographer/cartographer, I am particularly interested in
getting fellow cartographers to join in the debate. Especially
students. However, one of the goals of the list is to broaden
cartographic debate to include consideration of the many forms
and roles of graphics in today's highly visual world.
To this end, the list will be interdisciplinary. It will seek to
include people from the worlds of information graphics (see the
work by Edward Tufte for one position on this), scientific
visualization, and the media (USA TODAY-style graphics?).
To my knowledge there does not yet exist such an interdisciplin-
ary forum for the discussion of graphics as a whole.
I would also like to have people share their graphics. This can
be done by compressing and converting a file to binary form. I
do not encourage posting of these files to the list, but those
people interested in swapping graphics should describe what they
have, and what they'd like to see, on the INGRAFX list.
Transactions could then take place over private email, with a list
of available graphics being held in our archives.
Reviews, either of software, books or articles on graphics, are
also especially encouraged. If you have been asked to write one
and can't wait to see it in "print," send it to INGRAFX (retaining
your copyright).
We aim to create an informal environment for the discussion
of all issues related to graphics. This might also include
discussion of ideas you are working on for future articles,
or research projects announcements of job openings, interesting
graphics you have discovered, or just general commentary with a
graphic flavor.
-- Jeremy Crampton
ele@psuvm.psu.edu