From isaak@ljo.dec.com Wed Mar 13 20:43:12 1996 Received: from mail13.digital.com (mail13.digital.com [192.208.46.30]) by dkuug.dk (8.6.12/8.6.12) with SMTP id UAA06306 for ; Wed, 13 Mar 1996 20:43:06 +0100 Received: from vanna.ljo.dec.com by mail13.digital.com (5.65v3.2/1.0/WV) id AA17060; Wed, 13 Mar 1996 14:37:20 -0500 Received: from csac by vanna.ljo.dec.com; (5.65/1.1.8.2/10Oct94-8.2MPM) id AA06964; Wed, 13 Mar 1996 14:30:43 -0500 Received: by csac.ljo.dec.com; id AA29222; Wed, 13 Mar 1996 14:36:27 -0500 Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 14:36:27 -0500 From: JimIsaak Message-Id: <9603131936.AA29222@csac.ljo.dec.com> To: sc22wg15@dkuug.dk Subject: info on connecting to WG15 webforum (repeat by popular demand) To: WG15 Members 6 Mar. 96 From: Jim Isaak RE: Tool for WG15 Discussions on Web I have set up a web based collaboration environment for use by WG15 members so we can gain some experience using this type of technology to pursue our business. Committee members are invited (encouraged) to participate in discussions in this area. For a short period of time (until April 1st) it will be possible for anyone to register to participate in this forum. This can be done by going to the registration desk at the bottom of the page, and then entering your name, and a password. Soon after April 1, 1996 I will be resetting the registration authorization so that persons in the general web population cannot register (and therefore not add comments to the discussion threads.) Please review the Ground Rules as part of the registration process to make sure you understand the conditions for use of this environment. The model for this interaction is that of a "notes" or "newsgroup" forum with the threading implicit in the web as a method for following and responding to specific topics & discussions. If you want new "top level" forums defined, please let me know (isaak@ljo.dec.com), or if you want someone else added to the group in the future. You can respond to any topic, or any reply to any topic with your own additions, potentially including a URL link to relevant material somewhere else or even uploading a document that you believe is relevant. This can be accessed with any web browser, but upload of files requires an application on your system and permission of your firewall. (Cut and paste into a message is another way to "upload" a document). This discussion hall is "publicly visible". This means that you must login with your last name and password (initialized to your last name, I would suggest you change it the first time you get in.) to add entries, but not to read what is there To change your password, go to the bottom of the page where there is the list of registered participants (click to expand list), then go to your name, click to select your entry; then select the tools entry and "modify"; this will present you with all information that you can update/change, including your password. (you can't enter the modify button for someone else's profile) This is an experiment for us to understand how this approach might help us do our work. I've initialized it with a few starting points for discussions. The "terminology" used in this environment (which is Digital's "Workgroup WebForum" tm) is as follows. The top level is a "hall" for discussion forums.. Within this hall are "forums", I have defined a few, and can define more as you indicate an interest in such. Within each forum any registered participant can add a new topic. If you are reading a topic entry, you may add an additional topic (peer level) or a reply (threaded response to that topic). When reading a reply you can add a topic (peer to that reply) or add a reply to the reply. (and so it goes down the tree). You can "mark" (the anchor icon) your level of traversal of any tree, and then return in the future to that point easily. (these "marks" are maintained on the server for webforum for you as a participant, not on your current system.) You can choose in a reply to be anonymous, or to sign the reply (I would discourage anonymous entries, and once I find out how to exclude them, I probably will do that unless someone has a good rationale otherwise). You can either hide your response, or delete a response (and with it trim off the entire tree beyond that point) as you see fit. (for "your" responses, the administrator can prune the tree for any responses.) There are some "ground rules" for use of this environment. Please DO read this information (off the entry hall), it is both an important "agreement" for anyone using the facility, and a starting point for understanding the legal implications and issues that we would need to consider if this type of technology were used on a broader base within our groups. If you see material that is inappropriate for this forum, please let me know (I hope to monitor things, but the extra eyes always help.) The web page can be accessed via: http://www.americas.digital.com/SC22.WG15 Please do add your comments about the pros and cons of this concept to the appropriate forum. Play around with the concept off the "playground" forum. (assume things in the playground area will be deleted regularly -- it is for testing, not for ongoing discussions, etc.) I look forward to your feedback, and learning more about this environment myself. Jim