Most  of  you  will  be  aware  of  our plans to run a large multi-user
    computer conferencing system.  Although our existing system can support
    up to six callers at the same time, there is no interaction between any
    of   the   callers.    The   main   problem   with   trying   to    run
    mult-tasking/multi-user  applications  on  an  IBM-PC  is  the somewhat
    leisurely clock speed, and the 640K limit on memory imposed by DOS.  We
    actually  use  a  cluster  of  networked  8Mhz  AT clones, but the same
    limitations still apply to a greater or lesser degree.

    This is why we are switching to a UNIX based machine as a host for  our
    conferencing  system.   The  software we have chosen to run is the CoSy
    (acronym for Conferencing System) system.  CoSy was written by Alastair
    Mayer of the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

    What is Computer Conferencing?
    ------------------------------
    A computer conferencing system can be seen as something halfway between
    a face to face meeting and a very rapidly  published  newsletter.   The
    system  can  be  used  by  hundreds  of  people at diverse geographical
    locations.  Each user must have access to a simple  computer  terminal;
    a typical user sits at his/her terminal once or twice a day.

    The  system  has  a  database,  consisting  of  a  large number of text
    messages.  Each such message can contain any text written  in  ordinary
    human  language  which  the  author want's to put there.  There are two
    kinds of message;  the first, called a 'mail  message',  is  a  private
    message from one user to another user or a listed number of other users
    The second type, called  a  'comment'  is  stored  in  one  of  several
    'computerized  conferences'.   A  number  of  users  are members of the
    computerized conference.  Each  member  (of  the  conference)  normally
    reads  all that is written in the conference, and can also freely write
    messages into the conference, which are  then  made  available  to  all
    other members of the conference.

    The  system  remembers which messages each user has already seen.  When
    users connect to the system, they will get all their  new  letters  and
    all the new entries in the conferences of which they are members.  They
    can directly write their own messages, which will then  immediately  be
    stored in the database.

    It  is  important  to note that rarely do all members of a computerized
    conference sit at their  terminal  at  the  same  time,  conducting  an
    ordinary  meeting  but  with  written  instead  of vocal communication.
    Instead, a typical user connects once or twice a day at times  suitable
    to  this  user,  gets all the news, and writes any comments or messages
    into the system.  Thus the system is in some ways  more  similar  to  a
    very rapidly published newsletter than to a conference.

    Advantages of Computerized Conferencing.
    ----------------------------------------
    Scheduling   for  computer  connecting  timefor  participation  is  not
    required.

    You can take part in many on-going conferences  using  much  less  time
    than for just one face-to-face meeting.

    You  can  read  and  write at times suitable to yourself, when you have
    free time, or when you have something to say or ask for.

    You can skip messages of less interest and use the computer to help you
    search for what you want to read.

    You  can  get  a  large  number  of  people  to look at a proposal or a
    question and get their comments within a day or two.

    Because you save the time and cost of travel,  much  more  intense  and
    close co-operation is possible across geographical distances.

    People with different mother tongues often find it easier to understand
    each other by written than by spoken language.

    Computer conferencing can work well in  large  groups  of  fifty  or  a
    hundred  participants,  while  it well known that face-to-face meetings
    can be cumbersome with more than seven or eight participants.

    A computer conference can be used  to  organise  the  issues  and  test
    solutions  prior  to  a  face  to  face  meeting,  thus  increasing the
    efficiency of that meeting.

    Why CoSy?
    ---------
    Simple  -  it's  the best!  It's written in 'C' to run under Unix, it's
    portable, and it's fast.   The  largest  publicly  accessible  computer
    conferencing system in the world is run by Byte Magazine - BIX.  BIX is
    actually a subset of the CoSy system, although recent enhancements  may
    actually qualify BIX as a superset.

    The  only  problem  with  BIX  is  that  it is very expensive to access
    outside the USA.  Byte Magazine are very keen to  reduce  the  cost  of
    accessing BIX to European callers, so when we told them about our plans
    for CoSy they invited us over to discuss a link-up.

    I  was  already  planning  to  visit  the  International  Fido   Sysops
    conference  in  Colorado Springs in August, so I decided to see Byte at
    the same time.  Over a two day period at the Byte headquarters  in  New
    Hampshire  I met both Phil Lemmons - editor in chief, and George Bond -
    managing editor of BIX.  I told them of our plans with CoSy in  the  UK
    and they were both very keen.  We discussed in pretty vague terms if it
    was in fact possible to run BIX in  Europe.   We  agreed  that  it  was
    possible,  and that it would benefit both parties - the foundations for
    BIX Europe had been laid.

    Two months have passed since those first meetings, and since  then  the
    McGraw-Hill  red  tape has been the biggest hurdle to cross.  Right now
    we are in touch on a daily basis  with  both  Byte  Magazine,  and  the
    University   of  Guelph.   We  put  out  tenders  to  various  hardware
    manufacturers, NCR, Sperry, DEC, Case, to supply the  hardware  and  we
    have  secured  financing  for about fifty thousand pounds.  This should
    pay for all the hardware to run a 32 user CoSy system via PSS.

    Unfortunately our plans to install PSS lines coincide with the Big Bang
    in London, and British Telecom are quoting us two months waiting before
    they can  get our PSS lines installed.  In the interim period  we  will
    be running CoSy through our dial up lines in place of the existing Fido
    system.

    The CoSy system will be a pay to play system;  ie.  a connect time will
    be charged, although we have not worked out the charges.  There will of
    course be preferential rates for existing  Compulink  subscribers.   As
    soon as the service is ready to go live we will tell you all about it.

    If  you  have any views or comments on the switch to CoSy please let us
    know.  The service is being provided for YOU, and without your input we
    could get it all wrong.