Focuses on a group effort by International Association of Language Laboratories members to acquire blanket permissions for instructional use of video materials, regardless of source: national networks, producers, international networks. Other issues covered include summarizing related dialogs from conferences and electronic bulletin boards;…

Explains client software tools that simplify two information access procedures on the Internet, i.e., file transfer and file access. The use of "Fetch" to explore and access file transfer protocol archives, and "TurboGopher," to explore and access Gopher servers, are described. (Contains two references.) (LRW)

Provides a basic introduction to computer networks and networking terminology. Topics addressed include modems; the Internet; TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol); transmission lines; Internet Protocol numbers; network traffic; Fidonet; file transfer protocol (FTP); TELNET; electronic mail; discussion groups; LISTSERV; USENET;…

Presents the first half of a selected glossary of terms commonly used in discussions relating to the Internet and the National Research and Education Network (NREN). Highlights include various network names; organizations; acronyms; network research testbeds; computer conferences; file transfer protocol; Gopher; knowbot; and limited systems…

Provides an overview of the Gulfnet Academic network, set in the context of development in Saudi Arabia and the establishment of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). Goals and objectives of KACST are presented, Gulfnet members in the Gulf States are listed, and Gulfnet management, services, and facilities are discussed. (JKP)

"Virtual" conferences can be frustrating when interactions trigger information overload, topic drift, or aimless conversation. Long-distance learning improves when educators identify objectives, define participants' roles, create an ambience, nourish conversation, provide feedback, adjust the pace, support and recruit members, summarize…

Summarizes the results of a survey that searched for availability of Internet sites that supply state government information, reviews located sites, and discusses the shift of state government information from being located at a number of sites to one Internet site. A map displays states that have adopted a single Internet address for state…

Describes how a specific online program, the Online Writing Laboratory (OWL) of Purdue University, aids the teaching of writing. (SR)

Explores the open information interchange (OII) initiative to promote the use of standards in the exchange of information in electronic form. Activities in the European Community, including the IMPACT (Information Market Policy Actions) programs, are described; the information economy and the information market are considered; and information…

Discusses the use of chaos, or nonlinear dynamics, for investigating computer-mediated communication. A comparison between real, human-generated data from a computer network and similarly constructed random-generated data is made, and mathematical procedures for determining chaos are described. (seven references) (LRW)

Provides guidelines for evaluating SCSI Express Novell 386, a new product allowing CD-ROM drives to be attached to a Netware 3.11 file server, increasing CD-ROM networking capability. Specific limitations concerning software, hardware, and human resources are outlined, as well as its unique features and potential for future networking uses. (EA)

This case study of how the museum community is trying to select standards for data interchange between museum systems reviews the work of the Museum Computer Network's committee on the Computer Interchange of Museum Information (CIMI) and reflects on the issues confronting CIMI as it tries to exploit information technology standards as a strategy.…

Provides political background on the National Research and Education Network (NREN). The growth of computer information networks is discussed, including the INTERNET and NSFNET; the legislative process involved with creating the NREN is explained; and the future prospects for a National Information Infrastructure (NII) are discussed. (LRW)

Describes a proposed Multimedia On-Demand (MMOD) system architecture that will support MMOD network services and will have the ability to solve presentation synchronization problems caused by either transmission line delay or any mismatch between the data transmission rates or the different parts of the system. (Contains nine references.)…

Notes that research on the use of networked information resources, like any kind of social science involving the study of human subjects, raises ethical questions. The tension between traditional research guidelines and new technologies is discussed; public/private distinctions and informed consent are addressed; and possible solutions are…