Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!mandrill!hal!ncoast!robertd From: robertd@ncoast.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.society.futures Subject: Re: The future of simple BBS boards... Message-ID: <5808@ncoast.UUCP> Date: Wed, 25-Nov-87 15:45:43 EST Article-I.D.: ncoast.5808 Posted: Wed Nov 25 15:45:43 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 29-Nov-87 04:23:45 EST References: <4942@ncoast.UUCP> <246@usl-pc.UUCP> <339@ddsw1.UUCP> <373@usl-pc.UUCP> Organization: Cleveland Public Access UN*X, Cleveland, OH Lines: 44 Keywords: BBS network future software complex Summary: Screen editors In article <373@usl-pc.UUCP>, jpdres10@usl-pc.UUCP (Green Eric Lee) writes: > In message <575@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM>, rogers@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM (Bob Rogers) says: > > > >The "Citadel" BBS system has preserved a simple user interface and incorporates > >networking. > > I've never seen "Citadel" myself. Would appreciate it if you sent me a > couple of phone numbers. However, I DO have an example of where modern > technology makes a BBS easier to use: > > Consider a full-screen text editor. This full screen text editor has 6 > commands: cursor movement in all 4 directions, delete a character, and > justify the current paragraph. (I also assume an Insert Function) > I submit that this text editor would be as powerful as any other > simple BBS text editor available, even the C-NET editor which has > about 60 jillion commands doing all sorts of weird and wonderful > things. Yet, it'd be ten times easier to use. > > User interfaces are the solution to the problem of complexity. Alas, > we cannot yet assume that everybody out there has access to a > bit-mapped display, so BBS's aren't going to be running mouse-and-icon > based software anytime soon. However, we CAN assume that either a) > everybody has a terminal emulator, or b), everybody can get one real > easy, perhaps by a pre-login mode that lets people download one > without login in. I mean, if I can get a VT100 emulator with Kermit > for the lowly Commodore 64, I can't even imagine some computer that > doesn't have an emulator available for it (except maybe the Sinclair > ZX81 :-). How about the TRS-80 Model 100 portable computer? It has an 8x40 screen display and uses a wierd set of escape codes for the vt52. I never believe in assuming anything. I have many programs available to me that I just can't use because it assumes I have a 25x80 screen. I screen editor must take these in account. Not just what escape codes to use. [> Rd -- North Coast Computer Resources(ncoast) - 216-781-6201 (or 781-6202) UUCP: ...uunet!amdahl!sun!mandrill!ncoast!robertd