From: cblaise@moose.uvm.edu.UUCP (Chris Blaise)
Subject: Re: BBS Standards Committee Formed
Originator: cblaise@moose.uvm.edu
Organization: University of Vermont -- Division of EMBA Computer Facility
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 01:42:51 GMT


 Ok everyone, I said I would try to get word from a "horse's" mouth on
 their opinion of this BBS standars commitee agreed to at the ONE BBS con.
 Since I have fairly close contact with Phil Becker of eSoft Inc., one
 of the members of the ONE organizational commitee, I decided to get
 his input on what he thought this commitee would mean to him.  If anyone
 can get in contact with other BBS authors who have joined on this
 (such as Tim Stryker of Galacticomm and any others), I for one would 
 appreciate hearing it.

 - - - BEGIN OF MESAGE - - - 
 Chris,

   Not that anyone in that group will understand the following, but my response

would go something like this...

 

   The meeting that has been portrayed as a "standards committee" is really a

group for semi-formal discussion of solutions and sort of a crucible to see if

anyone's solution looks good enough to enough of those who make software which

is in the mainstream (and some which isn't yet but will be) to get a nod that

several will implement it.  Such widespread implementation would of course

create a de-facto standard, but not because of some committee action.  I can't

think of a better example of the free market of ideas in action.  And the

results will be tremendous for all.  The only loss here will be that there will

be less arguing and more doing - not a loss I mind being part of (although it

was Frank LaRosa's idea not mine).

 

   For example, it is clearly the first time that anyone at Datastorm sat down

in a room with anyone who knew what NAPLPS was.  Result, interest in NAPLPS

that may translate to it's showing up in a future version of Procomm Plus.  It

might not do that, but there was no chance before - now there is a chance.

 

   My goal for ONE BBSCON is to promote the maximum cross-pollenation of ideas.

I've been involved in the BBS world nearly as long as it has existed.  I've

devoted a lot of my life (well over ten years) to showing the world that BBS

technology can support commercial activity.  I am a firm believer that until

people can make money with this technology, it won't develop very much beyond

the experimenter and "interesting lab experiment" status.  Once people can make

money at it, the really neat stuff won't be discussed - it will be done, sold,

and available to all at affordable prices.  It's a technology which is

naturally democratic enough that no one will ever succeed in monopolizing it so

we'll all benefit.

 

   Watching the BBS world for years I have seen an amazing set of independent

ponds. Many people looking at the same problems, working on solutions in

isolation, and not even knowing about the many others who are also working the

same problems.  ONE BBSCON has already caused more people to be in one place to

see what others are doing and learn from it than anything that has ever

happened in BBS history.  And it wasn't in a theoretical or "ivory tower"

setting.  Rather it was in the setting that showed people there was money to be

made here. Over $250,000 in sales took place in two days on the vendor floor

making it clear the PEOPLE are ready if the technology is.

 

   In this setting many people who previously didn't think BBS technology was

worth looking at were taking a new respectful look.  A long meeting with many

of the main players discussing what they were doing and how it all applied to

the problems of the technology (which are largely understood) caused a lot of

thinking to occur for the first time.

 

   Any developer who wants to be included is welcome to be part of this

informal group.  There are no entrance requirements except a willingness to

share ideas honestly, show up at the annual meeting at ONE BBSCON, and

occasionally spring for the next round of drinks.  The power of this group

won't belong to anyone except the millions of online users who get better

solutions faster as a result of the trading of ideas that takes place.  Anyone

who's major focus is on power probably shouldn't be part of it - this is a no

nonsense bunch of people who have pledged their lives and fortunes to

developing BBS software that meets the needs of its users.  They have a

notoriously low tolerance for bull.

 

  I guess without getting overly detailed that's my response.

 

-                               Phil


 - - - END OF MESSAGE - - - 
 
 TTYL
 chris

Newsgroups: alt.bbs,comp.bbs.misc,comp.misc