Computer Conversations
By Ezra Wolfe
Kansan staff writer
T
trying to have a conversation can be such a chore. Am I making a bad impression? Is my fly unzipped? Do I have to get
cleaned up and go out of the house to meet people?
people?
Now, it's as easy as sitting in front of a com-
puter.
Having conversations via computer is growing more popular and useful. It is done with computer bulletin board systems — a computer system set up to bring computer users together.
Photo illustration by Andrew Arone / KANSAN
There are about 17 bulletin boards in Lawrence. The number is hard to track because the systems are so easily set up that many of them come and so like a bullet train.
Lawrence's largest system is a commercial system called "Metropolis." A commercial system requires that a user pay for using it. Most of Lawrence's systems are noncommercial.
Metropolis can handle many callers at once, which gives users the ability to communicate just as they would talk, but with a computer. One person types and the other reads the sentence immediately. It provides one of the system's most popular features, "chatting," a free-flowing exchange of ideas, complaints and compliments.
"If you want to tell someone about the crummy day you've had in school, but don't want to complain to someone's face, just type it in," said Chris Rand, president of the KU Bulletin Board Society, a 20-member group that reformed this year.
caters operate under relative anonymity, so there are fewer inhibitions about talking about sensitive subjects. Only the system's operator has to know the users' name. It is up to the user to give it out to others.
"You don't have to show your face," said Michael Foulston, Wichita senior. "For some people that can be an advantage."
Foulston said that talking to someone via keyboard was a unique experience. A user can't tell anything about the other user because users are unseen. There is no judging of social class, age or sex.
Foulston said the ability to leave messages could help people who are looking for advice on a particular subject or problem.
"All you know about them is what they they tell you," he said.
"Electric Dreams," a noncommercial board that focuses on discussing ideas, had an ongoing thread about neckties.
What you need
How to log on to a computer bulletin board
A computer
Ary kind of computer can log on to a bulletin board.
The faster the modem, the faster you can communicate and load files onto your computer.
Some free programs are available on bulletin boards, but you can also buy copyrighted commercial programs.
Computer bulletin boards in Lawrence
How to log on
Set your communications software to 8 data bits, no parity and 1 stop bit. The baud speed of your modem needs to be set to its fastest setting. Then disable call waiting if you have it. From a campus phone dial 113, the number is 5046. From a campus phone dial 1170 or 1170, then the number. Next dial the number of the bulletin board you want and follow the directions given.
Atec info Systems 832-2350
Beginner's BBS 843-4438
Big Banger Burger Bar II 749-1743
Carniegh Hall BBS 832-1011
Castle RavenLoft 832-2888
Central Data BBS 842-8300
Eagle's Nest 843-4448
Electric Dreams 832-2246
Lawrence Online 841-2757
MacRoCosm 841-9446
Metropolis 830-0041
Myth and Magick BBS 842-4210
Rock Chalk BBS 841-6147
The Crypt BCS 832-8928
The Dark Tower 841-1700
The Data Bank BBS 842-7444
The Wastelands 542-3771
Continued on Page 8.
Katherine Manweiler / KANSAN
Source: KANSAN staff research
A voice given to the hearing impaired
By Ezra Wolfe
Kansas staff writer
Kansan staff write
For the hearing impaired, computer bulletin board systems are an extra blessing.
They can provide faster communication with more people than any other method of communication, said Ann Edwards, community relations specialist with Telecommunications for the Deaf Inc.
"Computers are to deaf people what wheelchair ramps are to wheelchair-bound people," she said. "Computers will help us in many ways because we're in the link now. Many phases of history have been missed by deaf people because they can't communicate."
Edwards said that bulletin boards were very useful because 40 boards nationwide allowed users to communicate with their Telecommunication Device for the Deaf machines.
TDD are machines that convert typewritten messages into signals that can be sent through phone lines.
Deb Packard, Lawrence resident,
uses computer bulletin boards for
about 20 hours a week. She is deaf and
finds the boards very useful.
"A BBS puts me on the same level as other users," she said. "If I want to communicate, we are all typing, not talking on the phone. The only difference is typing speed."
phone.
Packard, who writes a column for a newspaper for the deaf, said typing was her only contact through the
The relay system is a service mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act that allows a deaf or speech-impaired person to call anybody and communicate via a human translator or by TDD machines.
"Bulletin boards can open up a whole new area of communication for the deaf," she said. "For the most part, people are not going to call a relay system, but most have a computer and modem."
Packard, who is unemployed, said she had found some job leads using bulletin boards systems.
"I am looking out of state, and I have met people through chat link that have information on several of the areas I are looking in," she said.
Chat link is a connection of bulletin boards nationwide that allows people to converse in real-time which is just like talking normally but with computers.
Packard sad she also used the bulletin board's deaf-related issues forum to get information for the newspaper columns she wrote.
But bulletin boards are more than just practical, they offer entertainment in the form of games and social interaction, said Packard.
I cannot imagine not having one to use," she said. "If I did not have something available, I would be back to using relay services and the mail system, United States Postal Service-style."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Your guide to Entertainment in the Lawrence Area.
calendar
Nightlife
Benchwarmers Sports Bar
1601 W. 23rd St.
The Fuzz Box, Thursday
Mountain Clyde, Friday
The Bottleneck
737 New Hampshire St.
The Milhous Nixons, Thursday
Common Ground, Friday
Blue Meanies and Conspiracy opening for
NU330, 18 and over show, Saturday
The Crawl Tatty opening for Agent Orange,
Wednesday
The Crossing
Harmony Hall
12th and Oread
Cocktail Wiens, Friday
Dracomagnet, Saturday
10. E. Ninth St.
St. Patrick's Day Celebration with Newgrange Consort, 8 p.m., Friday, $8 at the door
Hashinger Hall theater
HashingHail "Spring Break Hash Bash"
featuring Self Evident, Suddenly Amish, Easy
Reader and Hey Ruth, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Thursday, $2
Hockenbury's Tavern
1016 Massachusetts St.
The Bon Ton Soul Accordion Band, Thursday
The Which Doctors?, Friday
Bamburners, Saturday
Acoustic open mike, Sunday
Johnny's Tavern
Johnny's Tavern 401. N. Second St.
The Which Doctors?, Wednesday
The Kansas Young Democrats
will be meeting TONIGHT
Continued on Page8.
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