From: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu (Human Int. Technology Lab)
Subject: MODERATOR'S NOTES: (1) Tell us who you are, (2) ideas on another
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1992 18:32:48 GMT
Organization: HIT Lab, Seattle WA.



(1)

Whew!  I just filed the fifty or so new Roll Call replies in the big binder.
You are an amazing crowd.  Every response is edifying and interesting; a few,
like Rich Gold's of Xerox PARC or Sergei Novoseltsev of the (new) Russian
Academy of Sciences stand out in my mind for the quality and/or conditions
of their work.

Now, everyone wants to know who is on here.  I can't tell you.  For one
thing, the Roll Call's are confidential.  For another, not everyone replies.
And finally, the population is always changing.  There are too many of us!

I want to propose this:  without turning s.v-w into a personals column, if
you have an interesting history in the field or a current situation that is
special (maybe that you're the only person in ________________ interested
in this stuff and you'd like to know who else is nearby), put up your
story.  Ask for email.  Solicit interest in your work.  I will be glad to
post your comments and help you make contact with others through this medium.
Did you know there are actually two people from Canterbury University in
New Zealand?  Several from different places in Italy?  And a merry pair at
the University of Cincinnati?  Honest to goodness.  Get to know you!

				*   *   *

(2)

On another administrative note, I have evaluated the replies regarding
division of this newsgroup and found them ambiguous.  Some people really
want a division, others argue caution about dividing our community pre-
maturely, and others are such occasional users that a division would
severely diminish their ability to catch up on what's going on (or so
they say).

One proposal I would like to put before the Group Mind is to preface the
"Subject:" with a one-word key, like "TECH," "PHIL," or "IND" -- for,
in this example, technical, philosophical, and industrial.  I know that
this injects my subjective reading of a posting's appropriate category,
but so does the arbitrary designation of a separate newsgroup title
force the issue.

Let me know what you think about this solution.  I like it better than
separating, at this early date, unless the press of messages becomes
simply overwhelming.  Thanks to Michael Kitchen of Australia who sug-
gested this solution.

				*      *      *

(3)

Co-Moderator Mark de Loura is now installing the s.v-w FAQ (Frequently 
Asked Questions) file in the archives.  We are working on a notice for 
monthly posting to the newsgroups.  This FAQ, version 0.20, is basically a 
pointer to other resources; please help us refine it as we go. Mark's email,
should you have suggestions, is madsax@u.washington.edu.  Expect word on
the FAQ's availability shortly.

				*      *      *


anks for all your kind words of support on the Roll Calls.  Mark and I
appreciate it.  Your encouragement and particpation makes the jobs of 
moderator and co-moderator even more rewarding, although just getting to 
rub shoulders with y'all is remarkable enough.


Bob Jacobson
Moderator
cyberoid@hitl.washington.edu