------------------------------------------------------------------------ Information Sources: the Internet and Computer-Mediated Communication ======================================================================== WHO === Compiled by John December (decemj@rpi.edu), 1992-1993 WHEN ==== This internet-cmc.readme file last update: 02 Oct 93. WHERE ===== Anonymous ftp Host: ftp.rpi.edu; File: pub/communications/internet-cmc.readme WHAT ==== This file (internet-cmc.readme) explains files relating to my project to list information sources related to the Internet and Computer-Mediated Communication. The purpose of my project is to list pointers to information describing the Internet, computer networks, and issues related to computer-mediated communication (CMC). Topics include the technical, social, cognitive, and psychological aspects of computer networking and applications of CMC. WHY === I've gathered this information because I'm working on a PhD dealing with CMC and the use of the Internet. I'm sharing this information because I feel it belongs to the network community, for free, because that is where and how I got it. If my effort is worth something to you, I'm glad. Just cite me or acknowledge my work, and preserve my copyright statement; I'm an academic, so I need citations and references to my work more than I need money. Of course, if you have a commercial project or publication idea, I'm interested, as long as this information and updates can remain available on the net for free. In preparing this list, I first developed an ASCII file version, internet-cmc. However, I have recognized the need for this information to be more amenable for entry into other information systems, so I have developed a file tagged with identifier information (internet-cmc.dat). Comments always welcome. Here are the files available: FILES ===== Anonymous ftp Host: ftp.rpi.edu; Directory: pub/communications/ File Explanation -------------------- ------------------------------------------------ internet-cmc.readme this file internet-cmc.dat the `raw data' file for other internet-cmc files, tagged according to the KEY, described below. internet-cmc a human-readable version which can be manipulated or reformatted using Unix scripts; some scripts are suggested in this file itself. internet-cmc.txt a human-readable version which stays in 80-columns; useful for reading as static text (printed or online), but not as useful for scanning and reformatting as internet-cmc internet-cmc.tex the LaTeX version (source) internet-cmc.ps.Z the compressed PostScript version internet-cmc.html the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) version Thanks to Kevin Hughes (kevinh@pulua.hcc.hawaii.edu) for developing an early version of the software to convert internet-cmc.dat to internet-cmc.html. I've since written my own convertor. internet-cmc.dvi the device-independent (binary) version internet-cmc.gif The graphics image that I use in the .html version. The source code for translating internet-cmc.dat into its various formats is available on request from me (decemj@rpi.edu). USE === Basically, o internet-cmc.ps looks best for reading on static paper. o internet-cmc.txt is good if you want the 80-column constraint (other wise, it seems a bit awkward to read with all the continuations). o internet-cmc is great for manipulating with Unix scripts. KEY === to internet-cmc.dat: Look at the file internet-cmc.dat. The format should be fairly self-explanatory. The following is a detailed description of it. Each item of the file internet-cmc.dat is of the form: ::= # ::= | | | ::= EMAIL | FINGER | FTP | GOPHER | HTTP | TELNET | USENET ::= "[:]" ::= % string | NULL ::= ADR | AUDIENCE | BODY | CHECKED | DIR | FILE | GROUP | HOST | LOGIN | PASS | PORT | PURPOSE | SUBJECT | TOPIC ::= | AUTHOR | COPYRIGHT | DATE | DISCLAIMER | END-DOCUMENT | PAPER | SECTION | SUB-SECTION | SUB-SUB-SECTION | TITLE | UPDATES ::= string ::= a blank character ::= PAPER ::= author. (year). title. other publication information. ::= END-DOCUMENT More explanations: Description -------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- # a comment (a # followed by a blank character, followed by any character strings.) #AUTHOR the author of the document (email address) #COPYRIGHT a statement of the copyright #DATE the release date; version #DISCLAIMER disclaimers about document use #EMAIL an email CMC ITEM (see below) #END-DOCUMENT the end of the document #FINGER a finger CMC ITEM (see below) #FTP a ftp CMC ITEM (see below) #GOPHER a gopher server #HTTP hypertext transfer protocol #PAPER a PAPER ITEM (see below) #SECTION a main section title #SUB-SECTION a sub-section #SUB-SUB-SECTION a sub-sub-section #TELNET a telnet CMC ITEM (see below) #TITLE the title of the document #UPDATES how to obtain updates of the document #USENET a Usenet newsgroup Description --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ %HOST computer host Internet address (e.g., for #FTP, #TELNET) %FILE name of the file (used with #FTP) %DIR directory (used with #FTP) %ADR Internet address (used with #EMAIL) %BODY body of the email message %GROUP name of the Usenet newsgroup %LOGIN the login name you should use (e.g, for #TELNET) %PASS the password (e.g., if password for #FTP is NOT 'anonymous') %PORT port number (used with #TELNET) %SUBJECT the subject of the email message Each of the above CMC ITEMs has a "description : long description." The long description is optional, the : separates the short description from the long description. OTHER FIELDS ------------ Note: not all the entries have the following fields filled in yet, and I don't use these fields for anything yet in any other the other internet-cmc files. %PURPOSE the overall purpose for the item; one of: GUIDE to provide an explanatory guide LIST to list information (e.g., internet-cmc is a list) CATALOG to provide a catalog (a list with more description for each item) DESCRIBE to describe something COLLECT to collect/gather information (e.g., a gopher menu) %AUDIENCE the intended audience for the item; one of: NEW a new user to the Internet or the explained application USER an experienced (intermediate) user ADVANCED an advanced user SPECIAL a specialized user %TOPIC the topic the item relates to; one of EDUCATION LIBRARY INTERNET EMAIL TEXT %CHECKED date last checked ======================================================================== (c) 1993 John December (decemj@rpi.edu). Permission to use for non- commercial, educational purposes. This copyright and permission notice must appear in all copies. Provided "as is" without expressed or implied warranty. I make no representations about this document's suitability, accuracy, or stability. ------------------------------------------------------------------------