9.2. National AIDS Clearinghouse Guide to AIDS BBSes.
Description
This article is from the AIDS FAQ, by Dan Greening with numerous contributions by others.
9.2. National AIDS Clearinghouse Guide to AIDS BBSes.
Subject: Guide to AIDS BBSes
Date: Apr 2 1993 (396 lines)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse
A SELECTED GUIDE TO AIDS-RELATED
ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARDS
INTRODUCTION
This is a guide to representative electronic bulletin boards
containing information about HIV infection and AIDS. This guide is not
a complete listing of all AIDS-related electronic bulletin boards, but
has been prepared as an introduction to the subject and can be used as
a starting point to locate information. This document was prepared by
the CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse; please notify the CDC
Clearinghouse with any updates or additions. Inclusion of a service
does not imply endorsement by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the CDC Clearinghouse, or any other organization.
Electronic bulletin board systems, often called BBS's or bulletin
boards, are computerized information services that are accessed by
using a computer, modem, and telephone line. BBS's meet today's
demands for current news on HIV infection and AIDS and provide a
convenient means for information exchange among professionals,
volunteers, and individuals involved in the fight against AIDS.
BBS's can consist of any of the following features: electronic mail,
bulletin board forums, searchable databases, and transferrable
information files. Electronic mail is a convenient way of sending
private messages to others using the same system. Bulletin board
forums, sometimes called conferences, are interactive systems for
posting public messages to groups of users connected to the same
system. Searchable databases can sometimes be accessed through BBSs,
providing a quick means of obtaining specific information such as
bibliographic references, full-text articles, and information about
organizations. Text files of information can be downloaded from most
BBS's, then later edited and/or printed at the user's computer.
Many BBS's provide gateways to national forums. Messages posted on
these forums are "echoed" on networks linking BBS's throughout the
country. Some examples of these forums include the FidoNet AIDS/ARC
forum, the UseNet SCI.MED.AIDS newsgroup (available on all Internet
nodes as the AIDS listserv), the GayComm Talk About AIDS forum, and
the AIDS Education and General Information Service (AEGIS) network's
AIDS.DATA and AIDS.DIALOG.
To access a BBS, your computer (IBM-compatible or Macintosh) must be
equipped with a modem (external or internal; 2400+ baud recommended)
and communications software (such as ProComm, CrossTalk, or Red
Ryder). The modem must be connected to the computer and to a phone
line. It is preferable, but not necessary, to use a phone jack
separate from any telephones; the phone and the modem can use the same
phone line, but not simultaneously.
CDC NAC ONLINE
CDC NAC ONLINE is the computerized information network of the CDC
National AIDS Clearinghouse and gives AIDS-related organizations
direct computerized access to the CDC Clearinghouse and its
information and bulletin board services. It contains the latest news
and announcements about many critical AIDS- and HIV-related issues,
including prevention and education campaigns, treatment and clinical
trials, legislation and regulation, and upcoming events. CDC NAC
ONLINE provides direct access to CDC Clearinghouse databases such as
the Resources and Services Database of organizations providing
AIDS-related services. The system also features electronic mail,
interactive bulletin board forums, and is the original source of the
AIDS Daily Summary newsclipping service.
CDC NAC ONLINE users include U.S. Public Health Service agencies,
universities, health administrators, community-based organizations,
and other professionals working in the fight against AIDS. CDC NAC
ONLINE is a free service for qualified non-profit organizations and
can be accessed by dialing a toll-free number. For a registration form
or more information, call the CDC Clearinghouse at (800) 458-5231.
Continue to:
My Books
