AIDS TREATMENT NEWS No. 114 - November 4, 1990
John S. James
The large international meetings occur during five days each year; they would be more productive if participants could develop relationships and initiate projects in advance. Computer communication is available every day of the year, 24 hours a day, from any place with adequate telephone service. "Computer conferences" and traditional face-to-face conferences have different strengths; neither can adequately replace the other.
Our role at AIDS TREATMENT NEWS is not to set up a computer system -- we do not have the resources to do so -- but to find out what is happening already in international computer communication about AIDS, then tell others what resources are available to them, and how they can gain access.
There is no time for re-inventing the wheel. Therefore we think the system should start with the major academic computer networks which already exist and have links throughout most of the world. From there, "gateway" facilities and organizations can make communication available to those without academic affiliations, including public agencies, private-practice physicians, activist groups, and other community organizations.
For many organizations, fax rather than computers is the appropriate means of communication. Again, gateway organizations can provide links between the computer network and those using fax machines. Therefore, groups can participate in the ongoing electronic conference, even if they have no computer equipment, experience, or access.
If you know about any internationally available computer communication system which is already being used effectively to communicate about AIDS -- or if you have other expertise to contribute to this project -- contact John S. James at AIDS TREATMENT NEWS, attn: computer, P. O. Box 411256, San Francisco, CA 94141, 415/255-0588.
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