Re: The Cohousing Information Network | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Fred H Olson WB0YQM (fholsonmaroon.tc.umn.edu) | |
Date: Thu, 20 Oct 94 06:00 CDT |
On Wed, 19 Oct 94 11:23 CDT, Rob Sandelin <robsan [at] microsoft.com> wrote: >Stuart asked a timely question about information resources and so I >would like to share that with all of the net. > >At the Conference, one of the "Burning Souls" break out groups was to >figure out a means to effectively share information from group to >group, across the whole cohousing network. For lack of a better word I >am calling it the Cohousing Information Network. The goal of this >project is to share the practical things we are learning about >cohousing so that it is easier for future generations to do. There are >several pieces of this. > >1. The Cohousing Journal will remain a quarterly publication and might <snip> Note that as a quarterly it can't announce events very well and it's coverage local fast changing "news" is limited. >2. The Cohousing Resource Guide will be an annual compilation of <snip> >3. This mailing list continues to be a prime source of information and <snip> I also expect the list will keep rolling along; a concerted effort to get people from as many cohousing groups and communities as possible would be nice. Rob, have you kept your list of communities represented on Cohousing-L up to date. Periodically we should put an updated copy on the Gopher (which puts it on the WWW if we do it right). We've had a bit of discussion of breaking out a new commers list but the logistics dont look good to me. Just having new commers talking to each other does not sound viable. I've wondered about having a seperate list called Cohousing-soc to try and be less topical more informal and more "social", resembling "on-line community" which might also help new commers get an idea what it's all about. This idea is barely formed and just going public; feedback solicited. >4. A structured online resource would be very helpful. If it could be >set up so that it mirrored the table of contents of the CRG it would ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >provide an online resource where specific information could be accessed >easily and quickly. The nature of this online resource is yet to be >determined. Need a burning soul or six, to own and organize this. > <snip> Using the CRG table of contents ("CRG-TC") is an interesting suggestion. Is the CRG-TC pretty stable in your mind Rob ? (CRG-TC posted as seperate message.) [After writing the following I saw Stuart's webized version has dealt with this tho I have not studied it - was it a joint effort?] I've meant to ask you for a while. The CRG-TC's format is a bit confusing to me in that the "Steps" have (in outline terms) the same level as sections that seems to be "under" the steps. E.G. In the same type face, the first 4 major headings are: Step One: Building People Processes Decision Processes: Meeting Processes Setting Community Goals and Values Would it work better something like: Step One: Building People Processes Intro (items formerly directly under Step One) Decision Processes: Meeting Processes Setting Community Goals and Values Both the gopher and the WWW site are suited to be structured online resources. Both need more structuring - that is work structuring them. THe gopher needs lots of work to make it well stuctured. I'd like to do some of this but have not gotten it done to date. Help is certainly needed. Robs structure suggestions is conceptually helpful. There are some questions as to how to use the 3 access methods -- WWW, gopher and email server -- to provide as much information as conveniently as possible with as little duplicated effort in providing it as possible. The 3 access methods offer access to the same resources tho in a different ways. Each of the 3 methods is needed by some users. WWW is definitely the most flexible and easiest way to access a wide range of documents and resources. But it requires a level of access (and bandwidth for some features) that many net users dont have at present. Gopher. As Stuart said while discussing this recently "gopher's functionality is basically a modest subset of that of the Web's". But some people have gopher access that dont have WWW access. There are presently more gopher servers installed that WWW servers. WWW "browsers" (the user program ("client") that accesses the WWW) can access all gopher sites. But gopher clients generally cant access WWW servers. Email servers allow anyone with Internet email to send email commands to retrieve files -- Cohousing-L's listserv's Get Cohousing-L <filename> commands for example. But it's very awkward and quite slow for browsing. But it *IS* the most universally accessable. Note I have yet to try Stuart's email server -- as soon as I get to it... So there is this big tradeoff between level of service and universality of access. Plus there is question of how much effort will be required to setup and maintain services. As technology / software / net useage evolves hopefully some of these things will be sorted out. [Before I've gotten this sent I'm starting to see how we can combine the three online access methods - its exciting to ponder and hard to keep a current description of the possibilities in print. THis message is already dated but I'm posting it anyway. Fred] Offline computer access to network info. Another aspect that I'd like to see is structured off-line access to information like Jake Morrison's experimental hypertext organization of Cohousing-L archives. This big (1.3 megbyte pkziped) package includes copies of messages and MSDOS software but few instructions. ( ftp://ftp.synapse.net/pub/info/cohousing/coho-l.zip ) Ideally, organizing of the www or gopher archives would be coordinated the offline reader... And maybe the email server could supply files that could give a high level of access OFF-LINE (tho inherently longer lag time in fetching info). Thus net users could supply info to non net connected computer users. Indirect access to net info for non computer users. To the degree possible information should be available on paper for selected topics. This could be useful for outreach to umbrella groups in particular. A set of "canned" articles available to be placed in local papers and printed as literature for outreach for example. >Rob Sandelin is the focalizer of this effort. A task list and plan is >being developed which I will forward to helpers. I would like a board >of online advisors to assist me with converting the online resources, >plus just to bang ideas around. Obviously many other volunteers will >be needed. To volunteer at any level, email me >Robsan [at] microsoft.com call me at 206-788-1613 eves, write me at >22020 East Lost Lake Rd. Snohomish, WA 98290 > > Rob, Keep me informed. Fred -- Fred H. Olson fholson [at] uci.com (612)588-9532 Amateur radio: WB0YQM 1221 Russell Av N, Minneapolis, MN 55411 | Twin Cities Freenet | Sysop of COHOUSING-L listserv & gopherspace: | (under development) | gopher.uci.com or via EDIN gopher in Calif | info on request |47L
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The Cohousing Information Network Rob Sandelin, October 19 1994
- Re: The Cohousing Information Network Fred H Olson WB0YQM, October 20 1994
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