IT Consumers

itc@geo2.poptel.org.uk
http://homepages.poptel.org.uk/itc

Data continues as the main focus ; for example mailing lists and directories for networking

Ciné-db is a database case study featuring 2000 movies

Acrobat Services is a project to promote uses for Acrobat and related services

An archive exists of accumulated hard copy etc

The Autonomy Scenario is a collection of texts

Data    Ciné-db    Acrobat Services    Archive    Autonomy Scenario
 
 







Data

IT Consumers started with the Worker Co-op Database, using dBase for DOS to produce mailing labels and printed directories. We still prefer dBase and DOS remains a stable choice of operating system.

London ICOM could not continue software development without GLC funding but the project has continued in various forms. Codes and file structures have been suggested as more organisations have data systems. Access support is possible in extreme circumstances.

The current conclusion is that getting agreement on file structures or codes is very difficult. Also  it is hard to persuade people to  learn an interface when there is other software available.So although there is a limited data project the main aim is to find ways of publishing directories as Acrobat using the freely available Reader with search engine.

.More on a demonstration project - "Joining the Menu".

   Ciné-db    Acrobat Services    Archive    Autonomy Scenario    Home














Ciné-db

Ciné-db aims to develop a database of limited information on feature films. It is useful in itself and also illustrates possibilities with databases and Acrobat. Currently there is a Visual dBase 5 runtime application with information on 2000 films. This costs 15 Great British Pounds.

Later there will be documentation avalable so that other databses could be linked to this and also examples of Acrobat files generated from data.

 
Data    Acrobat Services    Archive    Autonomy Scenario    Home
















Acrobat Services

Acrobat services is a project to support the use of Acrobat and also aims to get income from related services. Acrobat is a way to control design on screen in the way that Postscript describes a printed page. IT Consumers offer some training and also consultancy on using Acrobat within a quality system. Other services offered concentrate on the possibility of using Acrobat to communicate print requirements between print customers and pre-press.

There are two web sites, one based at Poptel which is fairly text based-
http://www.poptel.org.uk/acrobat-services

one based at Internet Express with more graphics
http://www/inxpress.co.uk/acrobat

Data    Ciné-db       Archive    Autonomy Scenario    Home
 
 
 
 








 
 

ITC Archive

Virtually nothing in print has been thrown away. Also some hardware remains though the Amstrad portable is in use.

From the mid '80s there are most copies of Byte and Personal Computer World and several others. Also many mailings sent to London ICOM, Roving Eye Electronics and Global Datascope.

The current project is to either scan everything or find the equivalent on the web or find other sites for some of it before it gets out of control. The material is useful as background for other projects, for example the text The Autonomy Scenario and a project by Global Datascope to provide information on computer options for print companies.

Graphics and links for some of the web equivalents to paper

Data    Ciné-db     Acrobat Services    Autonomy Scenario    Home














The Autonomy Scenario

This is a collection of texts which starts by looking at the perspective in "IT Futures...IT Can Work" , published by NEDO in 1987.
 

Versions will be available as Acrobat files - a short free summary and a longer one for sale. More details on this page soon.

 
 
 
Data    Ciné-db    Acrobat Services    Archive    Home
 
 
 
 








 
 


"Joining the Menu"

This aims to offer basic contact data for organisations relating to the Social Economy. It will include-
  • Organisation name
  • Unique ID version of name for indexing
  • Email address
  • Web address
  • Country dialling code
  • Area dialling code
  • Phone number
  • Fax number
  • Keywords
  • At this time there is no agreed list of keywords and it is intended that the first attempt be only 20 records. an actual example will be available soon.
    'Joining the Menu' is a phrase used to a reply on this possibility in a co-op mailing list.

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