🚀 go-pugleaf

This article is from allegra!indra!reggie@hplabs.HP.COM
 and was received on  Thu Oct 16 04:12:27 1986
 

         You must remember that this book was published in 1978, nearly eight 
years ago.  I must admit that I am bit biased in my opinions due to the fact 
that I participate on the Electronic Information Exchange System (EIES) , Dr. 
Turoff has taught a class that I took and he is also currently my advisor on 
my MS Project at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

         Dr. Turoff has been recognized as the father of Computer Conferencing.
At the time this book was published EIES had been utilized as a prototype 
system for the purpose of investigating not only its technical aspects, but 
also its impact upon those who would utilize it.  Dr. Hiltz is with the 
Department of Sociology at Upsala College.  I don't think that many people 
were concerned with such areas as psychological aspects of using computer 
systems or analyzing user behavior patterns with systems.  Many empirical 
studies were undertaken with this prototype.  

         The book is not a general treatment of society and computers but only 
views how the eventual use of computerized conferencing technologies could 
impact upon society.  EIES is still a prototype system and a second generation 
system that is more distributed in nature is nearing completion.  Perhaps some 
day this mode of communication will become a reality for the masses and then 
this book will take on a whole new meaning to those who read it.

 George W. Leach			     Bell Communications Research, Inc.