Frank McMahon -- 1/1/96
(written 7/91)
The PHOTO STOP BBS, an electronic bulletin board, is a communication and information tool for those in the photography industry and is sponsored by the Midwest Chapter of the ASMP. Henry Horenstein in his Photography column on the Prodigy Computer Service says that "photographer's will need to use computers in the future like they have needed to use darkrooms in the past." The intent of setting up this BBS is to provide a forum for photographers to exchange ideas and gather information using their computers.
To access the BBS you need a computer, a modem (up to 14,400 Baud), a telephone line, and communication software. Though PHOTO STOP is run off the chapter Macintosh computer it is available to Dos based and other computers.
Signing on to the program is easy. (Actually it is not so easy. The Photo Stop BBS was discontinued soon after the web page started. I am keeping this page up just to show where we came from- fm)
When on the BBS there are a number of areas you can look into and use.
CHAPTER AND PHOTO NEWS. When you first bring up the PHOTO STOP you will see a number of pages of news. There will be a screen of upcoming events, a screen of Chapter News, and a number of screens of Photo News, about individual photographers and photography events in the area. The intent is to update the Chapter News monthly and the Photo News weekly.
E-MAIL. E-Mail is a concept of communication which is faster than a letter but not as immediate as a phone call or phone message. As a form of communication it is probably closest to an inter-office memo. In fact part of the reason for setting up the Photo Stop is to provide for photographers, a generally isolated group, a forum for messaging back and forth much like an interoffice memo.
MESSAGE FORUMS. This is the bulletin part of the bulletin board. These are public messages on various topics that those who sign on can read and comment on.
G-FILES. These are text or Ascii files of documents of interest to photographers and other users of the BBS. They can be captured by your communication program as Ascii files and read at your leisure or imported into your word processing programs and massaged to be finished documents. They should not be longer that 10 pages, typewritten. The G-Files areas are organized according the levels described below.
TRANSFER FILES. These are programs or longer text files that are compacted and should be downloaded using various protocols. This is more complicated that G-Files and requires an uncompacting program. It is uncertain now how deeply the PHOTO STOP will go into these. They are also organized by the levels described below.
It is common for BBSs to have various levels of access based on contributions in either money or programs to the system. The more you contribute the deeper access you have to the system. The PHOTO STOP will also have various levels but access to higher levels will be rated differently.
When you first sign on you will be rated a New-User and you will have limited access in terms of time. You will be able to access the News screens and the first level of G-Files, but not for very long. This is a temporary situation until you are rated to one of the following levels.
LEVEL ONE. On the first level, which is open to anyone in the photography industry, you will have access to the News, ASMP and Chapter Information and will have more time per day on the system than a New-User. You also will be able to E-Mail and have access to the Level One G-Files. LEVEL TWO. On the second level, which is open to all ASMP members, you will have all of the above access, and will have access to the Level Two G-Files.
LEVEL THREE. On the third level, which is open to Midwest Chapter ASMP members, you will have access to all the above areas, will have access to the Level Three G-Files, and will be able to upload to and download from the Transfer Files Areas.
LEVEL FOUR. There is a fourth level which is available to those administrating the ASMP.
Any suggestions as to what should be on the Bulletin Board are welcome. Also, if you have news items, let us know. We would also be happy to hear from anyone who has experience with a running a BBS or is interested on working on this one. E- Mail Number One #1 on The PHOTO STOP or you can voice mail us at the chapter hotline at 312-733-7798.
Anyhow, Happy B-BSing. We look forward to hearing from you.
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Photography on the Web © 1997 Wm. Franklin McMahon |