Newsgroups/Bulletin Newsgroups/Bulletin boardsboards

Group 6

Historical Context…Historical Context…

Newsgroups

Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis invented the idea in 1979, it was then established in 1980.

Users read and post public messages (called articles or posts, and collectively termed news) to one or more categories, known

as Newsgroups.

Bulletin Boards have been around since 1978 and were originally created as an alterative of a physical notice board.

Bulletin boards are now a lot more versatile that they used to be as they allow you to download and upload onto them.

Bulletin Boards

Target AudienceTarget Audience The target audience for bulletin boards and newsgroups in general

would be people from the ages of around 17 – 50 that are seeking information on a particular subject, however bulletin boards and newsgroups can be based around any topic.

Is it fit for its Purpose?Is it fit for its Purpose?

A bulletin board is a place where people can leave public messages, for example, to advertise things to buy or sell, announce events or provide information. (Wikipedia)

Newsgroups are focused on a particular topic of interest. Some newsgroups allow you to post messages on a wide variety of themes, while others keep more strictly to their particular subject, frowning on off-topic postings. (Wikipedia)

How does it work (Newsgroups)How does it work (Newsgroups)Newsgroup servers are hosted by various

people and organisations. Most ISPs host their own news servers, or rent one. There are a number of companies that sell access to premium news servers (www.wikipedia.org)

Every news server host agrees to frequently synchronise their server with the others that they are connected to. For newsgroups that aren’t widely connected, ‘cross posting’ can be used to post to multiple formats/newsgroups at the same time to aid distribution. (www.wikipedia.org)

How does it work (Bulletin How does it work (Bulletin Boards)Boards)Software run on a computer system –

connected to via Modem, Telnet, packet switched network, or packet radio connection.

The benefits/scopeThe benefits/scopeThe benefits of newsgroups are that

everyone on it in this day and age tends to be more mature as it costs to access a newsgroup.

Bulletin Boards are useful to spread information amongst select groups of people. They can be better then other systems as they allow easy distribution.

Newsgroups are not as quick as email or mailing lists. It almost always takes a day or 2 to get a response.

Another disadvantage to newsgroups are that it may not be truthful information. Anybody in the world can say anything they want on the Internet, and they don't have to know what they are talking about.

Newsgroups are home to many of the least savoury parts of the Internet. So parents could be worried about child protection.

Drawbacks/LimitationsDrawbacks/Limitations

ImprovementsImprovementsFaster transfer speeds, longer storage of

newsgroup posts and access to additional newsgroups

Not many up to date newsgroups and they aren't used a lot anymore.

Many real life forms without the use of the internet can be…

Community schoolsAuditorium ChurchesChambers of commerce

Non-Internet AlternativesNon-Internet Alternatives

The different types may be…The different types may be…VetsGaysAlcohol and drug addictionAnger managementCancer

Other smaller but not inexistent…Other smaller but not inexistent…

TelechatsTeleconferenceMobile phone ringsAmateur radio

Providers of NewsgroupsProviders of NewsgroupsGiganews is one of the biggest providers of newsgroups.

Their advantages are that they provide unlimited speed, 24/7 support and up to 50 connections, but this all comes at a really expensive price.

Providers of Bulletin BoardsProviders of Bulletin BoardsThere are no providers left of actual “Bulletin Board Systems” so I went for a forum system that was evolved from that, and works on the same principles.

Advantages to this are that they provide a service with excellent support, and host it themselves. They also have a cheap plan for those not wanting much. However, the service can often be glitchy, and doesn’t operate the same way as a Bulletin Board System

BibliographyBibliography Wikipedia, 2010, Usenet Newsgroup, (Updated 01 Feb 2010) Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet_newsgroup#How_newsgroups_work [Accessed 11 February]

Marbella, 2003, Promote your site using Newsgroups, (Updated 22 Sept 2003) Available at:http://pda.123marbella.com/123EN.news.results.asp?newsid=21 [Accessed 11 February]

Giganews,2010, Usenet Newsgroups Service,(2010) Available at:http://www.giganews.com/ [Last Accessed 11 February]

Wikipedia, 2010, Bulletin Board System, (Updated 01 Feb 2010) Available at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletin_board_system [Accessed 11 February]

SearchCIO-Midmarket,2005, What is bulletin board system?, (Updated 15 June 2005) Available at:http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid183_gci213807,00.htm [Last accessed 11

February]

Invision Power, 2010, Invision Power Hosted Communities, (Updated 2010) Available at: http://www.invisionpower.com/hosting [Last Accessed 11 February]