🚀 go-pugleaf

jfraser@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Jane Fraser) writes:

> There could also be sections supporting
> sharing of information and expertise, much like Usenet. 

I haven't seen an alternative model that is as effective at sharing
information and expertise as Usenet is.  The only problems with Usenet
are the human interface has too high an entry fee and it is still too
difficult to filter out the noise.

> Once a match
> is made there would be on-line support for formalizing the contract,
> for locating a bank to handle currency exchange, for handling
> invoicing, etc. (the kinds of things now labeled as Electronic Data
> Interchange).  

Sounds to me like Privacy Enhanced Mail and some digital signature
system (whether the NIST DSS meets the need is not entirely clear).

How do we entice enough people who are looking for the other side of a
deal to the fire hose that is Usenet so that a user will find something
useful a quarter of the times he comes looking?

This is not business related, but I have finally brought enough people
who are working in one tiny little field together in an email mailing
list to make the medium useful in improving their productivity.  Deal
making requires a somewhat larger collection of people.

NASDAQ provides an electronic meeting place.  Coin dealers have a
teletype network that is effective in connecting buyers and sellers. 
Could we find other niche markets and serve them one at a time with a
newsgroup paradigm?

dan  of dlh Performance Marketing  POBox 1419  Mentor Ohio 44061
         NCoast.org!dlhpfm!dlh or ab.com!dlhpfm.uucp!dlh