Editor’s Note: Usually we reprint the minutes for the month in question, but for August 1994 the minutes were extremely short. As a substitute, the president’s column for July 1994 is reproduced.

From the July 1994 Bits of Blue

I hope everyone got at least a basic idea about Internet, the global information superhighway, at our last meeting. I hope to schedule a live Internet presentation later this year. As many of you probably noted, a whole new language filled with acronyms and buzzwords is used to relate to the navigation and use of the information superhighway. While these terms are new to us they have in fact been around for quite a long time. Of course you all heard the CIA acronym used along with the word LAOS during the presentation. I hope that everyone realized that these are not Internet words. I am not sure how the presentation diverged into a discussion of the covert operations of the 70’s. Anyway cyber surfing the highway can be rewarding once you have all the tools and have built up the experience. Only you can determine if this digital highway is for you. It is anticipated that the highway will have over 100 million users worldwide by 1998. Whether you just want to use the most basic piece, email, or have access to detailed information about anything, I would recommend you get your hands on one of the many hooks available from your local bookstore. I use The Instant Internet Guide by Brent Heslop & David Angell to clarify the proper netiquette and help me understand the highway.

Please note that a CD ROM drive has been added to the BBS which will provide access to additional online files available for download. We have a subscription that will provide us with a monthly CD containing files from the Association of Shareware Professionals.

This month’s meeting will be presented by Broderbund. This will be the first time that six different products have been demonstrated during a general meeting. There should he a product for everybody. The products include:

• Living Books - Interactive “electronic books’’ for children based on stories and books of proven literary value.
• Kid Pix - Creativity tools that can he used to enhance studies across all curricula.
• 3-D Home Architecture
• Print Shop CD - Desktop publishing for greeting cards, signs, stationery, calendars, banners and more.
• Myst - Surrealistic adventure game with 3-D photo realistic graphics
• Harpoon II - Naval game

Of course special user group offers and door prices of Broderbund products will he made available.

The Tampa Tribune, in conjunction with Prodigy, is in the process of starting a new service. Tampa Bay Online, an interactive local news and information service for personal computer users in the Bay area, will begin operation in August. Imagine reading the daily paper online including photos, graphics and other miscellaneous information. Once again Bill Gates’ vision, “Information at your fingertips” is taking another step forward. A paperless society is in the future and the Tribune is doing its part to speed up that process before we run out of trees. The presentation to our group of Tampa Bay Online by the Tribune has been tentatively scheduled for the August general meeting. I say tentative because this product debut by the Tribune to the general public is scheduled for the day after our general meeting. If Murphy’s law interferes during the days prior to the grand opening of this service, it could result in the postponement of the presentation to our group, until a later date.

We need you to help our group. Bring a guest and get them to join our group. Pass out our flyers to your business associates or friends. Donate those computers and miscellaneous computer items sitting around your home or business. Our group can get bigger and better, but only if you help us. Remember we are now classified with the IRS as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible. Check with your tax accountant for proper deduction filing. u