[Ham-Mac] What is PacketScape?

[James Wagner]

PacketScape is more of an idea than a real program, at this
point.

It came from the observation that there are many reasons
why hams have abandoned packet radio. But, one big reason
is that it is so bloody "hard"... as if it is hard on
purpose, just to discourage folks.

One of the things that has helped to tame the internet, has
been the "browser". Before that, you had to know about
gopher and ftp and arcane unix-based e-mail. When browsers
came along, they insulated the user from all of those
details. Yet, there is nothing like that for packet!

PacketScape is an attempt to see what a "browser" style
user interface for packet might look like. The idea is that
such a browser would work in a tcp/ip environment, on
NetRom networks, or in a Rose system or a TexNet system or
a FlexNet system. It would work with digi networks and
KaNode systems. It would work with W0RLI or MSYS BBS; it
would work with LanLink and Paket mailboxes. It would
interface to W0RLI converse servers and tcp/ip converse
servers, providing an interface like "Instant Messanger". 

If you would like to see a very rough demo of what I think
this might look like and add your comments, ideas,
wet-blankets to such a project, download the Mac version
at:

www.applelinks.net/jim_d_wagner/PacketScape.sit

If you know someone who uses Windows and would like to try
that version, then an e-mail to me will get them a copy as
an e-mail attachment. The Stuffed file contains the app
(pre-OSX), a few pages of text on using the demo, and a
copy of the article I wrote for the Spring TAPR "Packet
Status Register" on this general topic.

Cheers and hope to hear from you,
Jim, KA7EHK
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