Chit-chat to electronic journals: Computer conferencing supports scientific communication

In the years 1980 to 1985, the NOTEPAD computer conferencing suite was extended and enhanced to subserve an experimental program into electronic journals and other kinds of scientific communication. The use of the system for chit-chat, synchronous conferences and electronic journals is described. The majority of the users, spread over all the UK, logged first into the informal areas of communication but their frequency of access to the system varied considerably. One result of computer conferencing was that four people who had not previously met had regular on-line conferences to discuss a particular area of work, which was subsequently published as a scientific paper. Because the computer used was also in full use as a university service, some initial trials were made to establish its usefulness as an aid for learning. The paper concludes with a discussion on facilitating computer conferencing communication.