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May 1 and Netizens
by Jay Hauben 01 May '03

01 May '03

This year, 2003 is the 10th anniversary of the posting on Usenet of "The Net and the Netizen" by Michael Hauben. This research paper introduced the concept of Netizen online and it has since spread around the world. An interesting concentration of the concept of Netizen recently appeared in a paper that is online. Describing e-democracy, the author, Boldur Barbat writes: "To prove it, just some opinions of genuine netizens -- in fact, from the author who coined the term: Michael Hauben (Hauben and Hauben, 1997): Scrutinising the effect of the Net upon the future of politics, the 'ascendancy of the Commons' can be anticipated by reason of the new technologies presenting 'the chance to overcome the obstacles preventing the implementation of direct democracy'. The last chapter -- perhaps the banner of their entire book: 'The Computer as a Democratizer' -- claims that the 'step toward universally available and affordable access' and "uncensored accessible press" demonstrate that 'it is now possible to meet more of Mill's requirements for democracy'. Extending a bit the horizon, the author's defend also Hume's observation that 'arte' leads to intellectual ferment, and, in turn, this ferment 'is the needed support for the development of technology'. Such a flavour acts, in the netizens age as a catalyst for IT." from "Users in Front of ICT's. Facing the Interface" Today, May 1, 2003 would be Michael's birthday. In honor of his birthday we want to announce a special issue of the Amateur Computerist on "Netizens Then and Now". The url for the issue is http://www.ais.org/~jrh/acn/ACn11-2.pdf We welcome comments on the concept of netizen as it has developed in the past 10 years. with best wishes Ronda

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Re: [Air-l] policy steps database
by John Daly 30 Apr '03

30 Apr '03

Ildiko Kaposi wrote: > I'm trying to find a database, or at least a good collection of examples of the practical policy steps that were aimed at increasing internet penetration (access, use) worldwide. I would be interested in both successful and unsuccessful initiatives, at the levels of infrastructure, training/education, and content. So far, I found bits and pieces scattered over dozens of sites. I wonder if anyone knows about a source where these would be collected? The Leland Initiative http://www.usaid.gov/leland/ identified several policies that it would consider critical to the extension of the Internet, including the existance of an international portal open to private ISPs, Cost Based pricing, and some degree of openness for content. I did a study some time ago showing that African countries accepted by Leland on the basis of these policies did have more Internet connectivity: http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/library/papers/jdaly/leland.htm I love the map of ICT policies in Africa: http://www.uneca.org/disd/nici_status.htm You might look at NICI http://www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/country_profiles/NICI%20in%20Africa.htm Here are a couple of good African Information Society Initiative resources: Towards an Information Society in Africa: The Case for National Policies http://www.uneca.org/aisi/docs/AISIBriefingPaperNo1.PDF Status of Information and Communication Technologies in Africa: the changing regulatory environment http://www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/Documents/status_of_information_and_commun.ht m

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a question on "medical informatics", I suppose
by myildiz＠indiana.edu 30 Apr '03

30 Apr '03

Hi, Here is an e-mail message from a friend of mine who is not on this list. I am not konwledgeable about the area he is interested in, so I would appreciate it very much if you could help him with his inquiry by e-mailing him at "Gcandler(a)bridgew.edu". Thanks, Mete Yildiz Ph.D. Candidate in Public Affairs Indiana University, Bloomington ....

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conference publication requirements
by Jonathan Sterne 30 Apr '03

30 Apr '03

Hi All, I know this is going to sound like I'm being a troublemaker, so please accept my apologies in advance. I know that the conference organizers work hard, and do their best to advance the organization's and members' best interests and I appreciate all their labor so I don't have to do it. Here's the thing: I just got the forwarded version of the acceptance email for a panel I'm on. That's just dandy and I look forward to seeing everyone. The problem is the requirement that a full paper be turned over to AoIR for publication on the conference site. Here are my issues: 1. As often as possible, I give talks, not written papers. This isn't because I'm doing stuff at the last minute or undertaking half-assed work but rather because I find people fall asleep when they listen to written language read aloud, and they understand a lecture/talk much more clearly. I have had great success with this approach in my young career and intend to continue doing it. I could scan in my notes and they could be posted to the website, but really, what's the point? About half the time, I also actually present work-in-progress and want feedback (that's why it's called a conference, right?) rather than immediate publication of my ideas in their present form. 2. I know this was covered once before onlist, but I don't remember the resolution. What are you supposed to do about the paper being published in the conference proceedings if it's already promised to another publication? That is the case for me this time. Doesn't the whole conference proceedings thing cause trouble for those of us who present work we plan to submit other places as "new" publications? Maybe this is a humanities/social sciences thing? At least at Pitt, the soc sci people seem to value presentations a little more highly than they do in my neck of the woods. Anyway, that's it. Matthew? Steve? Someone? Thanks. Best, --Jonathan

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Re: [Air-l] policy steps database
by Ildiko Kaposi 30 Apr '03

30 Apr '03

Frank, Thanks, I've done that before consulting the list, and results of all sorts do keep coming in. I was simply wondering if the practices and outcomes of different national initiatives were collected somewhere in a mega-database. (Feel free to call me comfortable, nah lazy:) Ildiko >>> frank.thomasftr(a)free.fr 04/30/03 11:57 AM >>> Ildiko Kaposi wrote: >Dear all, > >I'm trying to find a database, or at least a good collection of examples of the practical policy steps that were aimed at increasing internet penetration (access, use) worldwide. I would be interested in both successful and unsuccessful initiatives, at the levels of infrastructure, training/education, and content. So far, I found bits and pieces scattered over dozens of sites. I wonder if anyone knows about a source where these would be collected? > >Thx, >Ildiko Kaposi > >_______________________________________________ >Air-l mailing list >Air-l(a)aoir.org >http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l > > > > Try a google research on European community policy, with search terms like Europe & IST. Search with keyword "digital divide", G8 summit, world bank, oecd, ITU, digitaldivide network (one term). You will be flooded already by the results from the European Community website, its initiatives, its benchmark projects and its evaluation studies. Good luck Frank Thomas _______________________________________________ Air-l mailing list Air-l(a)aoir.org http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l

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policy steps database
by Ildiko Kaposi 30 Apr '03

30 Apr '03

Dear all, I'm trying to find a database, or at least a good collection of examples of the practical policy steps that were aimed at increasing internet penetration (access, use) worldwide. I would be interested in both successful and unsuccessful initiatives, at the levels of infrastructure, training/education, and content. So far, I found bits and pieces scattered over dozens of sites. I wonder if anyone knows about a source where these would be collected? Thx, Ildiko Kaposi

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Re: [Air-l] minor histories that became major
by Frank Schaap 30 Apr '03

30 Apr '03

>> mosaic probably wasn't the first browser, do you know what was? > answers here: > http://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/WorldWideWeb.html Evolt.org has a great archive of past browsers: http://browsers.evolt.org/ The oldest Mosaic browser they have for download seems to be NCSA's 0.6beta. These old browsers provide an interesting frame for the current web. Websites tailored to version 3 and 4 browsers don't really work in the first generation webbrowsers anymore, whereas websites using the latest CSS and XHTML tend to work generally work pretty okay. Frank.

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opportunity for publication
by katharine sarikakis 29 Apr '03

29 Apr '03

( trying again in ... plain text!) Dear colleagues, We are currently preparing an edited volume that examines some of the social, cultural and political dimensions of the Internet and we are looking for one or two chapters that will offer a critical analysis (preferably including original research data) of the use/potential of the Internet for development. Ideally we are looking for very well theorised case studies of the Internet in broader Asia and/or Africa. However any study related to the issues mentioned will be considered. If you are interested please contact k.sarikakis(a)coventry.ac.uk as soon as possible. You may want to discuss an idea or send a chapter proposal directly, please do send a few lines about your research interests and publications as well. We would like to solicit the study/ies in the next couple of weeks so if you are writing/have just written a relative piece we would love to hear from you. Katharine Sarikakis, Coventry University Daya K. Thussu, Goldsmith College

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RE: [Air-l] conference publication requirements
by Matthew Allen 29 Apr '03

29 Apr '03

Hi All I think Jonathan's email and Steve's reply have pretty much covered this issue - thanks J. for raising it and Steve for replying. However I want to add one more thing, just to clarify. Jonathan wrote "The problem is the requirement that a full paper be turned over to AoIR for publication on the conference site." My exact words (and I was careful about this) were that people are "expected" to provide a full copy of the paper. This was a deliberate choice of words - there is NO requirement (many other conferences do have such a requirement - I had to withdraw from one in 2002 cos I simply couldn't get a paper finished in time in written form), merely an expectation. Though *laugh* perhaps it sounded more like a legalistic version of the word 'expect'? - Anyway...just to re-assure you: no-one is required to give in their paper; but, since having an archive of papers available to members is very valuable, we do expect it. Similarly, (and guided by those on the exec who know more about IP than I do), I used the word 'archive'. This is, as far as I am concerned, not the same as publication: however someone else might be able to give a more precise ruling on the laws concerning copyright. Still, if you are in any doubt, my recommendation would be to simply tell us which publication your work will be going into and we will put those details into the archive. I hope this has cleared it up :) Cheers Matt

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May on -empyre-: Electronic Poetry with Jim Andrews and Hazel Smith
by Michael Arnold Mages 29 Apr '03

29 Apr '03

May 2003 on -empyre- soft skinned space: -empyre- is pleased to welcome two new guests... Jim Andrews (CA) and Hazel Smith (AU) : Electronic Poetry Jim Andrews (May 1-15) has published http://vispo.com since 1995. It's the centre of his work as a writer, programmer, critic, visual and audio guy. His work typically focuses on language, drawing it into relation with other media, other arts, and programming. He conceives reading and writing as activities synthetic through media, arts, and programming. His interactive audio work NIO opened on turbulence in 2001 http://turbulence.org/Works/Nio Hazel Smith (May 16-31) works in the areas of poetry, experimental writing, performance, multi-media work and hypertext, online at http://www.australysis.com She has published two poetry volumes, the most recent of which is "Keys Round Her Tongue: short prose, poems and performance texts", Soma Publications, 2000. A theorist in literature, performance and hypermedia, she edits InfLect, a multimedia journal that launches this month at http://www.ce.canberra.edu.au/inflect ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.subtle.net/empyre -empyre- is a soft space dedicated to an open, ongoing conversation on media arts and culture. Subscribe to -empyre- at: http://lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/empyre

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