Computer-network interest groups

Transcription

1 **** 1 Computer-network interest groups Introduction ***- Computer-network interest groups: summary 2 The following gives an overview of systems to communicate in a group by using computer networks:»the basic principles»systems based on electronic mail»communicating by using Usenet newsgroups These systems can be seen as sources of information, besides many others.

2 ***- Computer-network interest groups: prerequisites 3 Before using systems to communicate in groups through computer networks, you should ideally have some knowledge and skills related to computer hardware computer software the Internet the WWW electronic mail **** Computer-network interest groups: the basic scheme 4? Question? Computer network interest group system! Answer!

3 ***- Computer-network interest groups as information resources 5 Computer-network-based interest groups are a means for information exchange between people with a common interest or concern. They enable their members to keep abreast of new developments, and to tap into the expertise of the community represented by the group. ****!! Task - Assignment!! 6 You can learn about discussion/interest groups = message boards online through the Internet and the WWW starting from

4 **** Computer-network interest groups: various existing systems 7 Conferences on computer-services like AOL, CompuServe, Dialog, Data-Star, many Bulletin Board Systems, lists! Usenet News! Furthermore, since the 1990s, the WWW has become a gateway to these and a basis for similar systems. **** Computer-network interest groups: aims and applications 8 Searching and finding (up to date) information! Developing your network of professional contacts Developing your network of personal contacts Telling others about your experience Expanding your customer base Bargain hunting Finding a job Voicing your opinion...

5 Computer-network interest groups: passive and active participation 9 Subscribers can participate passively ( = only read incoming messages) actively ( = read incoming messages + reply to incoming messages + create and send new messages) ***- ***- Computer-network interest groups: various types 10 Worldwide versus limited (local or regional) groups. Open (public access), versus closed groups.

6 ***- Computer-network interest groups: number of interest groups 11 More than interest groups have been listed in directories (in 1998). **** Computer-network interest groups: searchable archives 12 Past messages to many interest groups are kept in online archives. These may be browsed and searched. They provide a useful source of up-to-date information in various subject areas.

7 **** 13 Computer-network interest groups - based interest groups **** - based interest groups: synonyms 14 (based) Computer (based) Network (based) conferences (discussion) lists discussion groups forums interest groups Listservs Reflectors Aliases

8 ***- - based interest groups: description 15 When you are an user, you can correspond not only with individuals, but also with groups of people who share your interests. The electronic mailing list is tailormade for doing just this. The basis of the electronic mailing list is the distribution of a message to many people simultaneously. In this case, the many people are the subscribers to the list, who have joined because they have an interest in the subject of the list. They can all contribute messages to the list, and they all receive every message sent to the list. ****?? Question?? 16 A group of of people can communicate simply by by , using a list of of each other s addresses. Why is is this not ideal? Why do do we we want a more efficient system? How would that work?

9 **** - based interest groups: computers and addresses involved 17 One central server computer for the group/list Two electronic mail addresses for each group/list:»one for subscribing, unsubscribing, etc»one for posting your messages Often an electronic archive available at the same or at another server computer ***- - based interest groups: role of the server computer system 18 The list server computer system takes care of»membership»distribution of messages»record-keeping»...

10 **** - based interest groups: How to subscribe? 19 By sending an message, in many cases: to listserv@computer-address Subject: DO NOT FILL IN in body: sub[scribe] listname Your_first_name Name Through a gateway system on WWW ****?? Question?? 20 Can you give an an example of of an an --based interest group?

11 ***-Example - based interest groups: examples (Part 1) 21 listserv@hearn.bitnet (for subscribing) CDS-ISIS@hearn.bitnet (for posting) devoted to the information retrieval software package CDS/ISIS listserv@sunsite.berkeley.edu (for subscribing) web4lib@sunsite.berkeley.edu (for posting) devoted to World Wide Web applications in libraries **--Example - based interest groups: examples (Part 2) 22 You can subscribe to some groups through a user interface on the WWW. Examples:» For EASA (European Assembly of Students of Architecture)» For students, architects and people interested in architecture.

12 ****?? Question?? 23 Why are 2 addresses associated with each interest group? **** - based interest groups with one or more moderators 24

13 **-- 25 ***- - based journals: moderator >>> editor 26

14 **-- Electronic mail - based journals and newsletters 27 Equivalent to a paper journal, but online. They range from the purely lightweight and possibly not very reliable, through to serious refereed academic journals. As with paper journals, they may be subscribed to, and in some cases, subscriptions are charged for. **** - based interest groups: How to find relevant groups? 28 You can (use printed directories of interest groups) use subject-oriented indexes and directories to search for Internet-based sources in general search directory files concerning interest groups online! Examples:»

15 **** - based interest groups: screenshot of Yahoo! Groups start 29 **** - based interest groups: screenshot of Yahoo! Groups Science 30

16 **-- - based interest groups: screenshot of topica 31 ****!! Task - Assignment - Exercise!! 32 Identify an an --based interest group which is is interesting for you.

17 ****!! Task - Assignment - Exercise!! 33 Subscribe to to an an --based interest group. **-- - based interest groups: filters in the client program 34 Advanced client programs allow filtering of messages based on rules specified by the user. This simplifies reading and managing . Filters allow the transfer of the messages concerning different interest groups from the general in-box to corresponding mailboxes.

18 **--Example filters in a client program 35 **** 36 Computer-network interest groups Usenet News

19 **** Usenet News: what it is 37 Usenet is a worldwide computer-network conferencing system. Usenet is the set of people who exchange articles tagged with one or more universally recognized labels, called newsgroups (or groups for short). Usenet! Usenet server computers! Usenet clients ***- Usenet News: what it is NOT 38 Usenet is NOT a network for universities only. Usenet is NOT a UUCP network. Usenet is NOT a network of UNIX computers. Usenet is NOT the Internet. Usenet is NOT software.

20 ***- Usenet News and Internet 39 Network server computers receiving a Usenet newsfeed Network server computers in the Internet **-- Usenet News: some quantitative data 40 More than newsgroups exist (in 1997). The authors/senders generate/send/post about 500 MB of information per day (in 1997).

21 **** Usenet newsgroups form a hierarchical structure 41 Newsgroups are organized by subject area into a multi-layered hierarchy ( = tree-structure). This helps the users to find the right newsgroups. ****Example Usenet newsgroups form a hierarchical structure: an example alt comp rec sci soc talk binaries infosystems lang os gopher kiosks wais misc providers users...

22 **--Examples Usenet: examples of newsgroups related to libraries 43 fr.doc.biblio comp.internet.libraries soc.talk.libraries bit.listserv.cdromlan bit.listserv.asis-l bit.listserv.libref-l bit.listserv.libres bit.listserv.medlib-l bit.listserv.pacs-l bit.listserv.web4lib **--Examples Usenet: examples of newsgroups related to literature 44 alt.hypertext (devoted to hyperfiction and hypertext) rec.arts.int-fiction (devoted to interactive literature and computer games) humanities.*

23 **--Example Usenet: examples of newsgroups related to fisheries 45 Sci.bio.net ****?? Question?? 46 Can you give an an example of of a Usenet newsgroup that is is interesting for you?

24 *--- Usenet: moderation and creation of newsgroups 47 Although any user may post to a newsgroup, some require messages to be sent to a group moderator before they are broadcast across the network. Some newsgroups are created democratically: someone suggests the formation of a new group, users discuss the option, and then they vote. **-- Usenet News: advice for new users 48 The best source of information for new Usenet users is the newsgroup news.announce.newusers This newsgroup contains messages such as»what is Usenet?»Rules for posting to Usenet»Answers to Frequently Asked Questions»Descriptions of available newsgroups

25 **-- Usenet News: best methods for online access using a Usenet News client software connected to the Usenet server of your own institute 2. using a Usenet News client software connected to the Usenet server of your Internet service provider 3. using a Usenet News client software connected to one of the remote, public access Usenet servers **-- Usenet News: access through WWW to a public site using a (gopher or) WWW client connected to one of the (gopher or) WWW servers that offer Usenet newsgroups

26 *--- Usenet News: access by telnet to a public site using a telnet client connected to one of the public-access bulletin board systems that offer Usenet newsgroups **** Usenet News: reading newsgroups 52 To read the messages on Usenet, subscribers use a suitable client program, a newsreader. Most newsreaders keep track of what articles subscribers have seen and which they have not. Newsreaders allow users to be selective about which newsgroups to look at regularly. Newsreaders are available for Unix, VMS, VM/CMS, DOS, various Windows, Macintosh, and other platforms.

27 ****?? Question?? 53 Can you give an an example of of a Usenet client program? **-- Usenet News client programs for Unix computers 54 You can read and/or post News messages from a terminal or from a microcomputer emulating a terminal, using a client program on the Unix-based server computer:»(line-oriented: readnews, )»Screen-oriented: vnews, rn, trn (= threaded rn), nn, tin,...

28 **--Example 55 Usenet News client programs for Unix computers: Tin **** Usenet News client programs for Windows 56 You can read and/or post News messages using a News client program ( newsreader ) on your microcomputer running with»dos,»microsoft Windows up to 3.11, Windows 95, 98,...»Microsoft Windows NT 4 Workstation, Windows 2000,...»...

29 ****Examples Usenet News client programs for Windows: examples 57 (Newsreaders in network software packages) Shareware newsreaders: WINQVT, WinVN, Wintrumpet, NewsXpress, (Free) Agent, Commercial specialised newsreaders: Agent, Gravity,... WWW browsers including a news reader:»netscape»microsoft Internet Explorer with Outlook Express,... *---Example Usenet News client programs for MS Windows: Trumpet 58

30 **--Example Usenet client programs for Windows: Agent 59 *---Example Usenet client programs for Windows: Netscape Navigator (Part 1) 60

31 *---Example Usenet client programs for Windows: Netscape Navigator (Part 2) 61 ****Example Usenet client programs for Windows: Netscape Communicator 4 62

32 ***-?? Question?? 63 Which Usenet News client program do do you use? **--!! Task - Assignment - Exercise!! 64 Have a look at at Usenet News that is is available to to you.

33 **-- Usenet News: threads 65 Within 1 newsgroup, various articles can discuss 1 particular subject by replying to the original posting. Usenet keeps these articles together in a thread. Most client programs to read Usenet News present these articles to the user together in the thread. This makes it easy to follow various discussions within 1 newsgroup. **-- Usenet News: filters in the client program 66 Advanced client programs for Usenet News allow filtering of messages based on rules specified by the user. This simplifies reading and managing messages. Filters can be applied to work in 2 directions:» kill filters help to eliminate noise messages» watch filters help to reveal important messages

34 **--Example Usenet News: a filter in a client 67 **** Archive of Usenet newsgroups searchable online 68 A partial archive of Usenet News is available through the WWW. Searchable online. Usage is free of charge.

35 *--- Archive of Usenet newsgroups searchable online: Deja 69 From 1995 until 2001, an archive was available through ***- Archive of Usenet newsgroups searchable online: Google 70 Since 2001, the archive that was started by Deja is available with a different user interface through It is confusing that both the recent Google groups that are managed on the Google computers, as well as the more classical Usenet groups, are available since 2004 more or less mixed and integrated through the same WWW site

36 ***- 71 Archive of Usenet newsgroups searchable online: Google: screenshot **-- 72 Archives of Usenet newsgroups searchable online: overviews Some archives of the messages posted in Usenet newsgroups are available. There exist overviews = collections of links to = meta - search tools to choose a suitable archive. Example:»

37 ****!! Task - Assignment - Exercise!! 73 Try to to find relevant information, using a searchable Usenet archive database. ****!! Task - Assignment - Exercise!! 74 How can we we find and use Usenet news messages, even without installing, learning, and using a dedicated client program for the Usenet News protocol?

38 A current awareness service that covers groups: introduction 75 A current awareness service covering Usenet newsgroups and Internet groups sends you an message with information about each message that matches an interest profile which you have submitted to the system. ***- ***- A current awareness service that covers groups: Google Alerts 76 Since 2005, a current awareness service = alerting service is offered by Google. Free of charge. This covers not only the messages in groups, but also»www pages»news pages on the WWW

39 **-- 77 Usenet News: the flow of information Local servers Usenet client Usenet News Archive databases User WWW client client Filtering service **-- 78 Information sources about Usenet News Portals with links to WWW sites related to Usenet:» Usenet is one of the best sources of information about Usenet:»news: alt.usenet.*»news: news.*

40 **** 79 Computer-network interest groups groups and Usenet News considered together ***- lists versus Usenet News: the information flow 80 The messages on a Usenet group are stored on an institutions mainframe / server in a way that allows them to be accessed by all users, rather than being sent to the account of individual users as is the case with an Internet list.

41 **** lists versus Usenet News: the information flow (table) based lists Each message is sent to the mailbox of each user who requested a subscription Usenet News All the News is transmitted only once to each Usenet site / institute **** lists versus Usenet News: the information flow (scheme) 82 Usenet Inbox Inbox Inbox Usenet server computer Program to read Program to read Usenet News

42 **** Computer-network interest groups: How to find relevant groups? 83 You can (use printed directories of interest groups) use subject-oriented indexes and directories to search for Internet-based sources in general search directory files concerning interest groups online search Usenet archives and identify those newsgroups from which relevant messages are retrieved! (subscribe to a Usenet current awareness service, and identify those newsgroups which yield relevant messages) ***-Examples Computer-network interest groups: online searchable directories 84 About groups on Yahoo! Groups: [cited 2004] About groups that are based on listserv server software: CataList: [cited 2004] About both groups and Usenet newsgroups [cited 2004]

43 !! Task - Assignment - Exercise!! 85 Search for groups on on for instance contemporary ceramic art creation, appreciation, teaching... ***- ***-!! Task - Assignment - Exercise!! 86 Find one or or more newsgroups which may be be relevant for you.

44 ***-?? Question?? 87 Which advantages offers Usenet News compared with --based interest groups? ***- Advantages of Usenet News, compared with lists (Part 1) 88 Usenet News The hierarchical treestructure of newsgroups is clear for the users. Subscribing to a newsgroup is easy. interest groups interest groups live and die individually in anarchy, confusing their users. To subscribe, you must know the name of the list server computer and of the procedure to subscribe.

45 Advantages of Usenet News, compared with lists (Part 2) 89 Usenet News Incoming messages wait to be read in their respective newsgroups. Incoming messages do not intrude into your personal in-box. interest groups Incoming messages from various groups arrive mixed in your in-box. Incoming messages arrive among more urgent and personal messages in your in-box. ***- ***- Advantages of Usenet News, compared with lists (Part 3) 90 Usenet News The incoming messages do not cause overflow of your in-box. Threading of incoming messages by your Usenet client presents related messages together to you. interest groups The incoming messages may cause overflow of your in-box in many systems. Grouping of related incoming messages is not well implemented (e.g. by subject-sorting).

46 Advantages of Usenet News, compared with lists (Part 4) 91 Usenet News Unsubscribing is easy. interest groups To unsubscribe, you should send an message (from the same account that you used to subscribe) ***- ***-?? Question?? 92 Which advantages offer --based interest groups compared with Usenet News?

47 Advantages of lists, compared with Usenet News (Part 1) 93 Usenet News Normal, traditional usage requires an additional program, a newsreader. Many open, public newsgroups can be unavailable from your server. interest groups An client program should be installed and learned anyway. You can subscribe to all interesting, open groups. ***- ***- Advantages of lists, compared with Usenet News (Part 2) 94 Usenet News Messages can be missed when they are deleted from your News server before you read them. interest groups All messages are received and are only deleted when you want this.

48 **-- Computer-network interest groups: managing messages off-line 95 Off-line = using only a microcomputer, NOT on-line linked to the server, after downloading messages from the server to read and manage those messages, using one of the following types of programs»a more general program, for instance, a program for text editing /word processing»an or Usenet News client program which can be used on-line connected to the server, as well as off-line!»(a dedicated off-line mail and / or News reading program) *--- Computer-network interest groups: programs to manage messages off-line 96 Examples of programs dedicated to reading and managing messages off-line:»for Readmail (for DOS)»For Usenet News UNOR = Usenet News Off-line Reader (for Windows) Problems: requires acquiring, installing, storing, and learning additional programs

49 **-- lists equivalent to Usenet newsgroups 97 Some conferences are routed to a Usenet newsgroup (and vice-versa). Reactions / messages from the Usenet news readers are then sent to the conference. Examples:»Mail list CDROM-L = Newsgroup alt.cdrom»mail lists in BITNET = newsgroup hierarchy BIT.* *--- Sending messages to Usenet newsgroups 98 If you send to some-news-group@cs.utexas.edu it will be gatewayed into some.news.group. Crossposting is supported by sending a single mail message with the above style addresses listed on either the To: or Cc: headers. This system carries the main seven Usenet hierarchies, plus most of the useful alt groups. Newsgroups which are not carried should generate a bounce message.

50 **-- Computer-network interest groups: Frequently Asked Questions = FAQ 99 Documents that list questions that are frequently asked in a computer-network interest group + answers to these questions are referred to as FAQs. These form a useful repository of information. Read the FAQ of the group, before posting to the group. **-- Usenet News: How to read the FAQ of a group? 100 The FAQ is regularly posted as a message to the group. Most FAQs of Usenet News are periodically posted to the newsgroup news.answers. The FAQ can be found in the archive of the group. The FAQ can be found on the Internet in the form of a file, accessible through WWW or anonymous ftp.

51 **-- Interest groups on the WWW: BoardReader to find messages 101 Since 2002, a system is available to search and find with one search action relevant, specific messages, even though these are located/stored/hidden in some of the many existing distributed WWW-based interest groups. Usage is free of charge. The search interface is available online through This retrieval system is a useful addition to the many other existing retrieval systems to find specific information sources. **-- Interest groups on the WWW: BoardReader to find messages 102 BoardReader was developed to address the shortcomings of current search engine technology to accurately find and display information contained on the Web's forums and message boards. Founded in May 2000 by engineers and students from the University of Michigan, Boardreader uses proprietary software that allows users to search multiple message boards simultaneously, allowing users to share information in a truly global sense.

52 **-- Interest groups on the WWW: BoardReader to find messages 103 Boardreader is focused on creating the largest repository of searchable information for our users. We also strive to increase traffic and exposure for the individual forum and message board. By creating an interface that corresponds with multiple boards simultaneously, users can find answers to their questions from others who share similar interests. Our goal is to allow our users to search the human to human discussions that exist on the Internet. **--!! Task - Assignment - Exercise!! 104 Try to to find interesting messages and groups using Boardreader.

53 **** Interest groups in the networks: problems for the user (Part 1) 105 Yet another type of information source and medium to study and to use:»takes some time to learn»costs time to use Variations in the methods to use the systems:»great differences in method between - based groups and Usenet News, in spite of the same aims»subtle differences in method between various - based groups due to variations in the server software " **** Interest groups in the networks: problems for the user (Part 2) 106 Low precision: low ratio of relevant items to noise, due to»low quality of subject descriptions»low quality of message contents»... " It is difficult to identify relevant Usenet groups in a systematic way, and even more so in the case of - based groups.

54 **** Interest groups in the networks form good information resources 107 Complementary to other information sources A lot of information offered in the groups Not only text information, but also other data types Growing amount of information offered in this way Relatively cheap type of information source Extra hardware not required to use the resource en Usenet client programs available free of charge Relatively easy to use Refreshing, dynamic, developing systems " *--- Interest groups in the networks: their place in study programs 108 In view of all the positive properties of computer-network based interest groups, they deserve a place in most study programs. Tested and suggested teaching and learning method:»required skills: other applications of microcomputers»short overview of the topic (by a teacher)»demonstration (by a student guided by a teacher)»hands-on practical exercises (guided by a teacher)»individual case study, written report, discussion

55 Future trends in computer-network interest groups: software 109 Movement from»proprietary, closed systems of computer services,»to based systems and Usenet,»back to more closed systems based on the WWW Further development of programs to read and manage messages. Integration of programs to read messages in other network software like programs for and web browsing. ***- ***- Future trends in computer-network interest groups: usage 110 Increasing number of interest groups Increasing number of readers / users

56 ***-?? Question?? 111 Usenet Usenet and and lists lists on on one one hand, hand, and and the the WWW WWW on on the the other other hand hand are are both both systems systems to to make make information accessible through computer networks. Which Which system system is is older older than than the the other? other? Is Is this this difference in in age age reflected in in the the differences in in the the basic basic way way that that both both systems systems work? work? **** 112 You are free to copy, distribute, display this work under the following conditions:»attribution: You must mention the author.»noncommercial: You may not use this work for commercial purposes.»no Derivative Works: You may not change, modify, alter, transform, or build upon this work. For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work.