From: sch@unx.sas.com (Steve Holzworth)
Subject: Re: FreeNet main menu headings
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 16:39:58 GMT
Distribution: triangle
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.
Keywords: FreeNet, Public Information, PIN

Bill.Hutchins@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Bill Hutchins) writes:

>Before we criticize the "City Model" used by Cleveland and other FreeNets,
>we must come up with something better. This requires a complete list of
>headings which require less than a full screen for topics to bring to mind
>all possible  subjects which might be posted on a FreeNet. I define a
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(it's called the Library of Congress)

I'm afraid I agree with Bruce, the city model is non-intuitive (at least
for me - maybe I'm too computer-centric). After hearing about the Freenet
gateway at UNC, I logged onto it. Very few of the main menu items were
named in a sufficiently-descriptive fashion. Only post office seemed close.
I had to step into each of the other categories just to tell what they would
be about. Once there, I still didn't necessarily agree with the heading. 
I *theoretically* have an advantage over non-computer users (ie -general public)
because I've been using assorted BBSs and News for years. As a result, I
have a pretty good idea of what *might* be there (sortof like learning
multiple editors - once you have the basic idea, it's just a matter of
learning the specifics of the new editor). I think something along the lines
of GEnie is a better general model. I, personally, I'm not very fond of
Compuserve or Prodigy. I would also recommend an "expert" mode, so you
aren't continually fed menus. This is a royal pain at low data rates, and
makes "navigator" programs hard to write.

>FreeNet as a no-cost BBS available to the general public which carries all
>information paid for by the taxpayer, including land records, schools,
>parks and recreation and health services. It should be interactive,
>permitting free discussion between users and from users to all public
>employees and elected officials. 

This would be ideal, but is probably unrealistic. I would propose that
a better goal would be the Community Center/Public Library, with
bulletin boards, various communal activities, and information resources
all available. Putting tax maps/data, etc., online is a LARGE task. I used
to write high-end civil engineering CAD systems. The sheer volume of data
is tremendous. Most of it is NOT in machine-readable form in this area
(but things are going that way).

>A FreeNet is the modern replacement for the public forum. The basic
>service serves the local community (such as the Triangle), but ideally
>should provide access to surrounding communities, the state and the nation. 

>Comments on this newsgroup should bear this definition in mind.

Which definition? That last little bit about "public forum", or the
"complete list... all possible subjects... carries all information paid for.."?

>Bill Hutchins, president, Public Information Network, inc.
>bill.hutchins@bbs.oit.unc.edu


>--
>   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
>     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
>        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
>           internet:  bbs.oit.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80

Steve Holzworth
sch@unx.sas.com
SAS Institute

Newsgroups: triangle.freenet