Computer facilitation of communication within professional communities

Abstract

This report is based on several projects at the University of Michigan. The software used is CONFER. a computer-augmented conferencing program. Access is provided nationally through TELENET data services. The paper describes hardware and software for information systems at the University of Michigan, the development of CONFER, and a rationale for computer-aided communication within professional communities. Six applications of this particular software and system are summarized: national committees, regional planning groups, on-campus working groups, and user consulting services. One innovative application (support of an international congress held recently in Ann Arbor) is described in detail. Computer-based communications were used for sending messages, adjusting schedules, planning additional sessions and trips, and developing written material through computer-mediated caucuses on specific topics. Contributions of computing to professional communications are summarized, with particular attention given to projected impact on teaching and research in universities.This report draws on experience with a collection of projects exploring innovative use of computer-aided communications within various scientific communities.

On-line disciplines: Computer-mediated scholarship in the humanities and social sciences

“…The earliest studies reported that participants were enthusiastic about the medium, finding that the computer facifitated information exchange within larger groups, enhanced creative thinking and idea generation, fostered more complete examination of ideas, and generated new interaction and friendship patterns among participants (Ferguson, 1977;Freeman, 1980;Spelt, 1971;Zinn, 1977). In one of the most extensive evaluations of interaction in "on-line communities" (Hiltz, 1984), participants reported that their scholarly contacts were broadened, that they better understood the research of others and how their research related to that of others, and that the conferences had clarified theoretical controversies.…”

COW: Conferencing on the Web

“…Although conferencing on the Internet has been around for decades (Zinn, 1977), there are many computer mediated ways that conferencing is used today. The two most common ways of conferencing over the Internet involve "chat technology" in which people communicate with each other synchronistically (online at the same time) or asynchronistically (people leave messages or responses to others' messages that can be accessed, read, and responded to at a later point in time).…”

Computers and computing in psychology: Twenty years of progress and still a bright future

“…Fifteen years ago, Walter Sedelow (Sedelow, 1976) outlined how networks would change the way we work. In the next year, Phil Spelt and Karl Zinn (Spelt, 1977;Zinn, 1977) presented what then were state-of-theart techniques for computer conferencing. What they described is not much different from what we can now accomplish easily with BITNET or INTERNET, but I think that all three underestimated the extent to which we would depend on electronic communications and data highways in the 199Os.…”