From: broehl@watserv1.waterloo.edu (Bernie Roehl)
Subject: Re: APP: virtual journals
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1992 20:52:03 GMT
Message-ID: <1992Feb10.205203.27279@watserv1.waterloo.edu>
Organization: University of Waterloo


In article <1992Feb8.010824.2069@milton.u.washington.edu> mbrown@athos.cs.
ua.edu (Marcus Brown) writes:

>Several small problems can be solved rather easily: If figures and
>graphics are a problem, we could usually get by with cheaper substitutes.
>Simple line drawings can be replaced with ASCII 'artwork' (ugly, but it would
>get the idea across), while .gif files (and/or the many related graphics
>formats) could suffice for all but the most precise images.

One simple compromise would be to distribute the papers in some standard
format; one common one would be Postscript.  Most people have access to some
sort of Postscript-compatable output device; it's platform-independent (i.e.
it doens't matter if you have a PC or a Mac or a Sun or whatever).  It can
store pictures as easily as text, and you can either preview (there are
a number of previewers available for the various platforms, such as
Ghostscript) or print (at high resolution).

(For those who followed the long-winded "RFCs in Postscript" debate, please
be aware that I am *not* advocating going to Postscript for most documents!
Only the specific case of supplementing/replacing refereed journals is at
issue here).

People not on the net can be handed a printed copy, and when they're done
dump it into the recycling bin (since it can be reprinted easily if ever
needed again).

>My dean of engineering (may he live forever) probably will not be
>too impressed with a paper in some new form of publication that he
>has never heard of, much less that he doesn't know how to read.

Perhaps it would help if some "reputable" journal supplemented their standard
format with a faster, more responsive electronic form.  Their stamp of approval
would make major inroads with people who are not familliar with the technology.


	Bernie Roehl, University of Waterloo Electrical Engineering Dept
	Mail: broehl@sunee.waterloo.edu OR broehl@sunee.UWaterloo.ca
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