Billp@neosoft.com ("Billp@neosoft.com")
Fri, 1 Sep 1995 02:20:41 GMT
Message-ID: <837796792@shilstone.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Sep 1995 02:20:41 GMT
From: "Billp@neosoft.com" <BILLP@NEOSOFT.COM>
Subject: Re: ACI and computers
To: CIVIL-L@hermes.csd.unb.ca
From: Bill Polhemus <billp@neosoft.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list CIVIL-L <CIVIL-L@unb.ca>
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 1995 10:20:41 CDT
Subject: Re: ACI and computers
Addressed to: Jay Shilstone <jay.shilstone@SHILSTONE.COM
CIVIL-L@unb.ca
** Reply to note from Jay Shilstone <jay.shilstone@SHILSTONE.COM> 08/30/95
03:27am GMT
> YOUR INPUT IS REQUESTED!!
>
> I am the chairman of the American Concrete Institute committee on the
> Use of Computers. Our mission is to introduce to the ACI new computer
> technologies that can be applied to concrete. This may be in terms of
> new computer products developed specifically for concrete, applications
> that may be used by the industry but are not yet there, or new
> applications that are still so cutting edge they may be more theory than
> application.
[DELETIA]
> QUESTION #2: I am also on an ACI committee to get ACI to develop some
> kind of online presence. Like most organizations, ACI has been hard hit
> by the recession and can't afford to do much that doesn't return some
> income. What would you like to see ACI do online that you would be
> willing to PAY for?
I would love to see digest versions of recent proceedings, archives, case
histories, keyword search of databases, and also to have the capability to
download software (even DEMO versions).
> How much would you pay?
Not sure, but I think it should be a "subscription" arrangement, similar to
computer BBSes, where a fee gives you, say, one year of access, so many
Megs of downloads, browsing of databases, etc. Of course, FTP, Gopher,
etc., can all be accessed with a Web browser.
> What should ACI put online
> for free?
They should allow "free trial subscriptions," say 15 days of limited use of
databases and FTP, etc. Also, "teasers" to entice businesses to subscribe.
> Remember, if you say everything should be free, ACI probably
> won't get online.
I think they should be able to make a buck or two, and that's understood.
Remember, the 'Net is becoming less and less "academic" oriented. It's
only the academic types who, through years of gratis use of the 'net, think
that everything on it should be free. Their socialist attitudes (and
accompanying lack of realization that SOMEONE has to pay, and has been
paying, for their "free" access) are diminishing as more and more
businesses get on the 'net. You should have no problem promoting this as a
commercial venture.
> FYI, ACI produces codes and standards for concrete,
> publishes books and magazines about concrete, conducts conventions about
> concrete technology (not trade shows) and has magazine and CD-ROM
> abstract references.
ALL of this should be available via the WWW. Again, for a subscription
fee. Think of the overhead, viz. handling mail, shipping, etc., that you
would save if all this stuff were freely accessible online.
Anyway, that's MY $0.02.
*********************************************************************
*William L. Polhemus, Jr., P.E.
*Rosser Bovay, Consulting Engineers
*A Division of Rosser International, Inc.
*[THIS IS MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT, SO I DON'T SPEAK FOR THEM, NATURALLY]
*[STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY, IN CASE I'VE MISSED A FEW DOSES OF MY
* MEDICATION]
*********************************************************************