Initial Progress with Blend - An Electronic Network Communication Experiment

Abstract

‘Computer Conferencing’, as a new and growing medium to aid scientific and technical work, is already well established (cf. Hiltz & Turoff, 1978; Johansen, Vallee, & Spangler, 1979). Several people have suggested the use of this medium to assist or even replace the traditional form of scientific publishing, that is to produce ‘Electronic Journals’ (cf. Senders, 1977).

Approval has recently been given, by the British Library Research & Development Department, to establish an experimental programme in electronic network communication for 3 years from 1 January 1981. Birmingham University will provide and develop the hardware and software facilities, and Loughborough University will develop the documentation, training and the first information community; thus we are organising the Birmingham and Loughborough Electronic Network Development (BLEND). The initial and principal aim is to develop and gain experience of an Electronic ‘Journal and Information Network‘, in order to assess the cost, efficiency and subjective impact of such a system; the further aim is to explore and evaluate alternative forms of user communication through the system.

Using a host computer at Birmingham University, a community of initially about 50 scientists (the Loughborough Information Network Community - LINC) will be connected through the public telephone network to explore various types of electronic journals. The concept of the electronic journal involves using a computer to aid the normal procedures whereby an article is written, refereed, accepted and ‘published’. The subject of this experimental programme will be ‘Computer Human Factors’. Each member will contribute at least one research article and one shorter note in each year of the project, and will also use other forms of communication such as newsletters, annotated abstracts, workshop conferences, co-operative authorship, etc. It is hoped to expand the community after the first year. Throughout the project relevant data will be gathered to enable the assessment of system and user performance, cost, ‘usefulness’ and acceptability.

The plans for this programme will be outlined, the progress during the first six months will be summarised, and any deductions warranted by experience to date will be discussed.