8L2C)pJJJJ IH(ȱH:=IH[H`@HcH  $ +   I/H`JLNGȄBȄF aK  haaFF  mJm# KKJ UJ )J ۈ) ;J3ȱJFȱJGJKaȄM  aaNNJFLGJL L FrEdMail Telelesson Project III. COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS (9) What is a collaborative activity/project Background: Almost all novices who have just begun to telecommunicate with a computer and connect to a FrEdMa?DISK.6M' +TELECOM.III:JqMM/ -TELECOM.IV.14ByMM: ? &PRODOS `DaElH$?EGvѶK+`L HHLy XP LM ԠΠˮԥS)*+,+`F)) (*=GJFjJJA QE'+ '== `@ STSP8QSS8 m P o R(8Ril BBS will read messages in the bulletin boards, leave some email, and maybe venture into the Features or file transfer sections just to see what is there. After a few calls, the novice joins the ranks of the "experienced telecommunic  !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@acterized, at least in part, by a sense of "team" effort and spirit, collaborative processes, and a pride in the product or society. Yet, in education we often separate students from one another, isolate their efforts, trivialize their almost all professions and major industries. Team sports, scientific endeavors, vertical manufacturing, and family relationships are all examples of collaborative behavior in our lives. Most successful businesses and nations are char "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 55 FrEdMail Telelesson Project (10) Why would you get involved in a collaborative activity Background: Collaborative activities abound in any curricular area. Some excellent projects are exemplified by the TeleLesson Projects themselves. See chapters 10-13 for more details on why and how to get involved in collaborative projects. t classes by exchanging files over the FrEdMail Network. Students do not directly exchange with each other, but the class works as a "team" to produce a final result which is shared. Collaborative projects can be developed in almost projects involve students in producing a complete local project which is then distributed to the other participating "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 54 FrEdMail Telelesson Projecwith each other. Students are working for a "real" audience, not just a teacher for a grade. Often, one school or class will collect all the exchanges and distribute a final product to all participating schools. Other successfuld as computer files (word processing, text, data base, graphics, or any other type of file) using the FrEdMail Network to transfer the files among the participating schools. Many excellent projects involve students in direct exchanges ative projects are focused packages of student activities which operate at several schools and classes simultaneously. The participating classes exchange and utilize each others work during the life of the project. Student work is exchangeoth students and teachers in "real life" learning in almost all curricular areas. Collaborative projects are exciting, energizing, and can rejuvenate tired curricula and tired teachers. What is a collaborative project: Collaborecommunications can have a strong and positive impact on classroom activities and curricula. Although these projects require no more technical experience than sending and reading email, these projects have the potential to actively engage b throughout the FrEdMail Network. Only one small step beyond email, collaborative projects and activities are currently the most effective way to support and enhance the school curricula. Collaborative projects using computer telator" (it doesn't take much experience to become an "expert" in computer telecommunications) and spends a lot of time sending and receiving email. It is fun and can be quite informative exchanging email with other educators both locally and accomplishments with simple numbers from tests, and make learning a highly competitive activity with precious few rewards. To the extent that educators do that, we are not only not preparing students for the most likely roads to success in their futures, but we are also failing to use the best methods to motivate students and help them learn. As educators we often find ourselves isolated by the organizational and physical structures in which we work. We find it hard topeace is enhanced. And that isn't a bad nor small result for computer telecom collaborative projects. Professional Reasons for Collaborative Projects: Many educators find it difficult to attend conferences or, if they can attend, ffrom the content of the exchanges. As students and educators get to know each other better, even remotely via a computer telecommunications collaborative project, human understanding is improved and the chances for working together in nts (and educators) are often abysmally ignorant of what life is like in other countries, states, and even communities nearby. Student projects frequently spark learning opportunities as these contrasts and similarities become evident These are just a few of the possibilities of structured curricular reasons for engaging in collaborative student projects. Just as important to many educators are the unpredictable and "soft" results which come from student projects. Studece research, especially in the areas of astronomy, physics, and biology is exciting because of the differences found by students in different areas and because the results cannot be predicted (unlike many canned labs from texts). ices and laws are examples of published group work. When the work students are doing has no certain result but is indeed research into an unknown area, attention to the work and excitement with results is almost always a result. Scienork is published and shared with others, students view their work as important and do it with care and pride. Student questionnaires on social topics, opinion polls from different schools and even nations, and student research into local prhis contention is the basis of several writing projects now popular with teachers of English. Collaborative projects such as penpals, network newspapers, and anthologies are examples relevant to language arts curricula. When student wfor Collaborative Projects: There is evidence for the contention that students do "better" work when they do that work for an audience, especially of their peers, than when the work is solely for submission to a teacher for a grade. Tized into at least three major categories: curricular, professional, and personal. "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 56 FrEdMail Telelesson Project Curricular Reasons elecommunications. Especially a solution to many of the problems noted above is involvement in collaborative activities using computer telecommunications. Reasons for "why" one might get involved in collaborative projects can be organcellence we seek in the classroom. There must be a way to address the problems which are associated with these observations about the nature of education in California today. There is such a way for many educators and it is computer tves are often limited by the time required to perform with excellence in our profession. Friends are hard to find and harder to keep considering the demands of our calendars and the large amount of preparation time required for that ex really meet, get to know, spend time, and exchange ideas with our colleagues. In our classrooms, we are often alone with our students. Meetings are structured by others or by the demands of others. As educators, our personal liollow up on relationships made and opportunities created by their attendance. Although professional publications are excellent resources for educators, there are many such publications and it can be quite expensive to belong to the various organizations which publish them. Articles, however well-written, are just articles in a publication. Educators find it very difficult to actually converse with the authors for more depth and to answer questions which have been raisedbar, are there just the same, their messages and email representing them. It is not just a few educators whose sanity has been saved by a few kind words in a piece of email from a knowing friend after a particularly stressful day. Evey night if that be the style of the educator) by simply visiting their local FrEdMail BBS and reading the new messages posted during that day. New email always awaits the active telecommunicator. Friends, though not seated across the come from personal conversations among professionals in a relaxed social setting. Such relaxed settings are often hard to find for professional educators. Those involved with computer telecom can find such a setting every day (or ever "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 58 FrEdMail Telelesson Project Personal Reasons for Collaborative Projects: Many if not most major advances in science and education networks can be a very effective "underground" method of communication. Faster and more reliable than traditional voice phone or paper notes, computer telecom is in wide use in big industry and is coming into its own among educators. voice conversation. It is common for email to be answered in a few minutes to hours while phone messages get lost, taped over, or just forgotten. Private email and open exchanges among professionals on computer telecom systems and hen you send or read your email. One person can send email at a lunch break and the other read it at home at midnight. The message still gets through and, because it is a written message, it is often more complete and succinct than is a vailable. Personal email, although not technically collaboration in the team sense, is a much more efficient and faster way to exchange messages than is the telephone tag game. Email is "non-time dependent" in that it doesn't matter w mail. An important note can get lost in the pile or not be noticed for several days. Phone messages, whether written or on an answering machine, often result in a game of telephone tag. No matter when one party calls, the other is unallaboration via computer telecom includes running the business of professional organizations such as CUE, planning local meeting agendas, and exchanging resource information. Mail boxes in a school staff office are often filled with trash r and the information about authors provided by professional publications and you will find most authors have accounts on one of the commercial computer telecom systems, if they are not a part of the FrEdMail Network. Organizational couthors themselves can be sent email to which they usually quickly respond. Communication with the officers of CUE is a snap as most are users at one of the FrEdMail nodes (several are sysops of FrEdMail nodes). Check the CUE Newsletteal (such as this guide), and creating and sharing curricular materials. Many of the major authors for publications are also active in computer telecommunications. Not only are summaries of their articles to be found on-line, but the a. Professional collaboration via "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 57 FrEdMail Telelesson Project computer telecom includes planning conferences, developing published materin the non-verbal expressions can be found in the funny faces telecommunicators grow fond of creating :-) These relationships, professional and personal, are available all day and all night all year. "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 59 FrEdMail Telelesson Project (11) How do you get involved in a collaborative activity Background: Collaborative projects which utilize computty you want to use in class. Consider the objectives, the methods, and the evaluation techniques you want to use. Ask yourself how it fits in with standards of achievement or other state and local guidelines you may be using. Thny FrEdMail systems is shown. Look for current summaries on your local FrEdMail system. Starting a Collaborative Project: If you want to start a collaborative project, first think it out just as you would any other curricular activitive collaborative projects on the FrEdMail Network. See the chapter "How do you read Features Files" (chapter 8) for details. At the end of this chapter an example of one IDEAS summary which can be found in the Features section of ma Page 60 FrEdMail Telelesson Project in the Features section. These summaries condense a month's worth of IDEAS messages and show what, who, and where to go to get involved in the ac Many FrEdMail systems also show summaries of IDEAS messages in the Features section. Volunteer educators on the FrEdMail Network provide the service of summarizing IDEAS messages and placing them "Introduction to Telecommunications ges" (chapter 7 of this guide) for details. Many FrEdMail nodes also have a separate bulletin board where local collaborative projects are discussed. Check out the names of your local FrEdMail system's bulletin boards to find such a board.AS board, waiting for the interested educator to read them and respond to them. To read and post messages on the IDEAS board is no different from reading and posting on any other board. See the chapter "How do you post/read open messaFrEdMail nodes all have one bulletin board where collaborative projects are advertised and discussed. This bulletin board is often called the IDEAS board or something similar. Messages from the entire FredMail Network are found on this IDEllaborative projects require of those involved a commitment of time, effort, and responsibility not always necessary for "canned" curricula. But these projects are fun and they do work. Looking for existing collaborative projects: rojects can and do support the achievement of standards of achievement but unlike much curricula which derives from such standards, these projects are created by teachers and students according to their own needs and interests. Co student and teacher centered. Working on a collaborative project does not mean relying upon some publisher for lesson plans nor does it mean following some daily script required by someone else's standards of achievement. Collaborative pe they work, because they like them, and because their students are turned on by them. Educators who seek to become involved in such projects are truly working with other educators in a collegial atmosphere on learning methods which are ning) educators for the benefit and involvement of their colleagues who also utilize the power of computer telecommunications in their classrooms. Collaborative projects are created, managed, and evaluated by educators who do it becauser telecommunications are not yet a part of any national standardized curricula. Nor are such projects generally described nor suggested by textbook publishers. Collaborative projects are largely created by a few experienced (and beginink about the time lines involved and who will be responsible for maintaining that time line. Keep in mind that it may take up to a month to get other teachers involved in a project one you have posted it to the FrEdMAil Network. Read the TeleLessons which have been developed to see how others have developed and managed successful projects. Consider that the project you plan to propose will be used by others and not just by you in isolation. One educator may fly a bit 5. SDSU!SDCOE!UIUCED!JLEVIN March 6 Supermarket Survey Jim wants to know what are the featured products at the end of your supermarket aisles, with a view to gaining insight into your local economy. 6son Project 4. SDSU!SDCOE!UIUCED!JLEVIN March 6 Disasters! Jim Levin wants to hear about disasters common to your CMS site. From that, you will define common ones and work out possible coping strategies. ook Reviews Dennis Cowick can send you a database template to help your students create their own book reviews. "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 62 FrEdMail Teleles Pen Pals Leslie Gillis, who teaches a 6th grade bi-lingual and non-lingual class in Massachusetts, would like to exchange letters, preferably with Spanish-speakers. 3. SDSU!SDUSD!DCOWICK March 2 BNEWENG!JBRAUER March 2 Kids' Constitution Jean Rogers, who teaches a 4th grade class in Massachusetts would like partners interested in creating a Constitution for kids. 2. SDSU!NEWENG!JBRAUER March 2 mary file for March, 1988. If your local system does not have a set of such files in the Features section, bug you local SysOp! -------------------- [ start sample call ]------------------------- MARCH $IDEAS DIGEST l. SDSU!de how to incorporate it into their own classroom activities. IDEAS Summary File: The following file is an example of the IDEAS summary files which can be found on many FrEdMail systems. This specific example is the actual IDEAS sumon the IDEAS bulletin boards of all the FrEdMail systems across the Network. Responses may take a week to a month to appear. Be patient. Other teachers must read you message, decide if it fits into their needs and interests, and deci FrEdMail Telelesson Project your proposal to your introductory message. See the chapter "How do you post/read open messages" (chapter 7 of this guide) for details. Your collaborative project will soon be e. Go to the IDEAS bulletin board. Select the [T]ype message option and answer 'yes' when asked if you will be attaching a file. Post your introductory message. Attach "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 61 written proposal is completed, save it to disk as a standard text file (not an AppleWorks or other formatted word processing file). Write a brief introductory message for your proposal and save it to disk. Call you local FrEdMail nod which includes objectives, procedures, time lines, evaluation methods, and names of people responsible for the final product. Create this proposal with a word processor. Have a colleague read and critique it. Spell check it. After thewho are not familiar with all the unwritten details possessed only in the mind of the project author. Once you are satisfied that your project is well defined and can be successfully operated by other teachers, prepare a detailed proposal by the seat of the pants when starting something new. But, the lack of specificity and clarity which often accompanies such experimental classroom activities can spell disaster when it is happening in several classrooms with educators . SDSU!SDCOE!UIUCED!JLEVIN March 6 Black Biographies 6th graders in a class in Illinois will post biographies of famous black Americans, they would like to hear from other sites who have information about other famous minority members. 7. SDSU!SDCOE!UIUCED!JLEVIN March 6 Desert Geology DKISTNER's 4th grade class in Illinois would like to share information about desert rocks and minerals. 8. SDSU!SNLNDRO Scott Douglas, a 6th grade teacher, is looking for an interested class to share letters with his own. 20. SDSU!PEPPER!AMTS!BJANEWAY March 29 Pen Pals Bill Janeway, a jr. high science teacherGY EXCHANGE, offering direct contact with educators whose interests are similar. Contact him for more information on this useful idea. 19. SDSU!PEPPER!AMTS!SDOUGLAS March 29 Correspondence Exchange sted in Spanish language exchanges. 18. SDSU!BLADEN!WSALEM!TCLAUSET March 27 The Technology Exchange Tom Clauset is going to help bring order to collaborative writing projects through THE TECHNOLO SDSU!OCNSIDE!MRIEL March 30 School in Other Places Margaret Riel will act as a link between Japan and any classes interested in intercultural information. She would also like to hear from anyone intere March 26 Erastosthenes Al Rogers has a project for gifted trigonometry classes in which students make measurements of the sun's shadow, share data, and calculate the circumference of the earth. 17. e information about themselves with other students. "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 64 FrEdMail Telelesson Project 16. SDSU!SDCOE!BONITA!AROGERS@BONITA%SANDIEGO would like to share student products and graphics. 15. SDSU!NEWENG!CMANDELL March 21 High School Biographies A group of migratory high school students in Ms. Sharief's class would like to shar write a description of a vacation spot they have visited before, giving travel tips. 14. SDSU!FULLRTN!LINCOLN!JSHEDLOS March 25 LogoWriter Jerry Shedlosky is looking for people using LogoWriter who on, contact Bob Shayler. 13. SDSU!BLADEN!WSALEM!TCLAUSET March 23 April & May Projects The April project from WSALEM is a short FrEdWriter research report on an open topic. In May, students willit on energy is also in the offing. 12. SDSU!SNLNDRO!BSHAYLER March 18 MIX Conference MIX has a conference which publishes articles submitted by student editors around the country. For more informatiience Lab A GIANT science experience in plant growth is being conducted by a 7th grade class. They are interested in schools who would like to duplicate or simulatenously conduct and share other plant growth experiments. A unIDE!NMAYA March 13 Bilingual Pen Pals Nellie Maya is in need of pen pals for bilingual students, grades 4-6 in English and Spanish. 11. SDSU!SDCOE!MT.CITY!CMARTIN March 14 Sc SMichael Waugh would like to make comparisons of fast food prices around the country. "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 63 FrEdMail Telelesson Project 10. SDSU!OCNS!CTW!PHaring March 8 Famous Women This site would like to share information and short biographies of famous women in history. 9. SDSU!SDCOE!UIUCED!MWAUGH March 10 Fast Food in Alhambra CA is looking for pen pals for his class. -------------------- [ end sample call ] ------------------------- "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 65 FrEdMail Telelesson Project (12) Classroom Management of a collaborative project Background Collaborative projects have the potential to make a strong and positive impact on your curriculum and your students' learning. Such projects should nintended as a brief outline for how to participate in a collaborative project in the FrEdMail Network. Quick Guide to Collaborative Projects: 1. Call your local FrEdMail node and get an account. (chapters 1-4) 2. Page 67 FrEdMail Telelesson Project (13) Doing it with FrEdMail Background: The previous chapters of this guide form the background for how to do it with FrEdMail. This chapter is roject. For examples of collaborative projects and classroom management requirements, see the TeleLessons which have been developed for the FrEdMail Network. "Introduction to Telecommunications jective, classroom activities required, format for sharing over the network, and a time line. The educator working the project must also define local deadlines and determine a method for evaluating student work which is a part of the pthen stick to the plan when carrying out the project. Any collaborative "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 66 FrEdMail Telelesson Project project should clearly define the ob or more clarifying messages also posted in IDEAS. Once the project is clear and the management required defined, an educator should determine whether that management is possible and desirable in that educator's situation. If it does fit, the author of the project proposal and ask for those details. The wise project author will respond to such email questions in an open message in IDEAS. Each major project may well require not only the initial proposal in IDEAS but oneyed out in the mind of the educator before being tried out in class. The management techniques required for a project should be spelled out in the project proposal as it is found in IDEAS. If there are missing details, write email to elecom collaborative projects should be selected by an educator at least in part on whether or not that project can be managed by the educator in a manner comfortable to the educator. Project proposals should be thoroughly read and plaollaborative projects is to increase the efficiency of the project and reduce the time it takes. Specifics: The classroom management techniques which work best are those which are successful for each individual educator. Computer tiences more successful. Usually, projects require more time and planning than a lecture/discussion approach but they are more successful as an approach to learning. The most common goal of the experienced educator who is involved in cnd leave time in the years' curriculum for them. Any successful collaborative project will either make the learning experience for the student and the teaching experience for the teacher easier and more efficient or it will make these experyour students. Collaborative projects often arise opportunisticly from a current event such as a national election or an eclipse of the sun. The experienced educator will expect such projects to flow across the FrEdMail Network aot be a half-hearted, last minute, add-on to an already overloaded curriculum. They should be integrated into your plans for the year. These projects should be approached in the same manner as any other major activity in which you involve Read the IDEAS messages and review FEATURES for projects. (chapters 5, 7, and 8) 3. Join a project by sending email to the project author. (chapter 6 and the TeleLessons) 4. Incorporate the project into your classroom activities. (chapters 9-12 and the TeleLessons) 5. Share/report your project over the Network. 6. For technical help and tips, check the "Details" chapters (14-21) of this guide. "Introdureware programs from Vern "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 69 FrEdMail Telelesson Project Buerg. PKARC/PKXARC are found in the PKX35A35.EXE 'best rated' shareware program ffor efficiency of transmission of files via modem. There are many versions of programs which can arc and de-arc files. ARC521.EXE is a copywritten 'standard' from System Enhancement Associates. ARCA/ARCE are archive and extraction sha is available through authorized Apple dealers. ARC FILE: An IBM specific file which can contain within it several files. The contained files may or may not be compressed. The idea is to put many compressed files into one ARC file (3/12/2400) rate (TymNet / TeleNet included) non-prime time. AppleLink front-end software is very easy to use with graphics screens and pull-down menus. It is very informative for Apple users and supports an education Forum. AppleLinkle Corp. It's mission is to support owners and users of Apple Corp products (Apple ][ and Macintosh). It requires its own software (obtainable from dealers) and is accessed via TymNet or TeleNet. Cost is $35/year plus $6/hour at any baud ing system to a sending system to give positive feedback that data has been received. APPLE LINK (see also CompuServe, FrEdMail, MIX, and The Source): AppleLink Personal Edition is a commercial service operated by Quantum Systems for Apped due to their insensitivity and susceptibility for noise interference. In circumstances where a modular wall plug is not available, they may have to be used. ACK: An ACK is a special [ACK]nowledgement character sent from a receivto which one places a telephone hand set. When the hand set is in place, data from the phone will be 'heard' by the modem and translated to data. This is the kind of modem shown in the movie "War Games." These modems are not recommendgh you still must have an account. On commercial systems, accounts will also include billing information. ACOUSTIC COUPLER (see also Direct Connect Modem, External Modem, and Modem): An old style modem which consists of a box-type holder inACDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~r username or userid number, password, and other information about you required by the specific system on which you have an account. Accounts do not always refer to money. On most private BBSes (such as FrEdMail) access is free althou FrEdMail Telelesson Project IV. DETAILS (14) Glossary of Techie Telecom Terms (triple-T's): ACCOUNT: An account is what you must have to access most BBSes and Network systems. An account usually consists of youction to Telecommunications Page 68 ound on many BBSes. Versions of ARC prior to 4.1 should be avoided. Users must read accompanying documentation be certain about program compatibilities. ASCII PROTOCOL (see also Text, X-modem, and Y-modem): ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) is a standard number code for 128 to 256 keyboard characters including control characters and, on some systems, graphics characters. All keyboard characters are coded (e.g. the space is code 32, capital A -Net nodes and GBBS systems in the FrEdMail Network). AUTO-ANSWER: If hardware (such as a modem) can answer a phone without human intervention, the hardware is said to be 'auto-answer'. Most communications programs include an optio attached file. A user sends email to a remote system (not the one the user is on when sending the email) requesting a specific file. The file is returned automatically by the remote system. Very few systems support this feature (some FIDOtached file approach is to send the file to a library (or Files or Download) section and write email informing person 'x' that the file for them is there. One enhancement to the attached file approach is a remote request for anTelecommunications Page 70 FrEdMail Telelesson Project them). Attached files are usually sent and received using an error checking protocol such as X-modem. The alternative to an at upon receiving the email would be informed that there is an attached file. Attached files can be of any file type. Only a few Networks support the attached file method of sending files (FrEdMail and AppleLink are among "Introduction to ample, a BBS user might want to send someone, say person 'x', a graphics file for an Amiga art program. They would write an email message to person 'x' and then they would send the graphics file as an attachment to their email. Person 'x',they are completely Hayes compatible; there are other features to Hayes modems beyond the basic AT commands. ATTACHED FILE (see also AppleLink and FrEdMAil Network): Attached files are files which can be sent along with a message. For ex modem tone dial the phone number 415-895-0135, the command would be 'ATDT4158950135' (without the ', of course). Some modem manufacturers advertise that their modems accept the Hayes AT command set, but that does not necessarily mean communications software according to a specific command set. These commands start with the sequence of letters 'AT', hence they are called the AT command set. 'AT' is reputed to stand for 'ATtention modem'. For example, to have a HayesYNC communications unless the user specifically knows otherwise. AT COMMANDS (see also Hayes compatible): Modems manufactured by Hayes have become the industry 'standard' for data telecommunications. Hayes modems accept commands from sending system is ready to start. This slows down the process of communication but is the cost efficient way for separate computers to communicate. Many modems have a switch for SYNC or ASYNC communications. It should always be set for ASbetween two separate computers. It requires one computer to send signals to the other one bit at a time with special start, stop, and sometimes timing bits in order for proper communications to occur. Transmission starts whenever the er code. Sometimes sending or receiving data by simple ASCII code is called a text send or receive or is called non-protocol or non-error checking send or receive. ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATIONS: The most common type of communication is 65). Information can be sent and received between modems by the simple sending and receiving of such numerically coded characters. This ASCII (or text) protocol can fail when line noise causes a misinterpretation of the received charactn to have the modem answer the phone. The software usually can be set to determine the number of rings to allow before answering the phone. As many modems will time-out after 30 seconds, one should normally answer the phone before the fourth ring. BBS programs have as a major function auto-answering the phone. Phone answering machines do the same thing. Most external modems have a switch for ANSwer or ORIGinate. This switch is usually irrelevant because commuquencies of the tones which are used to generate the carriers for modem transmissions at baud rates of 1200 and less. THe simple low pitched tone one can hear is for 300 baud. The higher pitched raspy sounds are for higher baud rates. ModBBSes is probably fascist. BELL STANDARDS: A set of standards created by AT&T in order to permit a wide variety of hardware and software to communicate with each other. These standards (called Bell 103, 113, and 212A) define the freter Shopper, and MicroTimes. Any nation which permits BBSes to exist is destined to be free! Any nation which restricts the operation of BBSes must be suspected of being run by an oppressive regime. Any nation which prohibits specific audience of users (education, computer techies, teenager hackers, businesses, and even sexually oriented ones). BBS lists can be found on BBSes (of course), commercial systems, and in publications like Computer Currents, The CompuS. They may run on Commodore C64's or mini-computers located in private homes or businesses or schools. Better systems are connected to each other in national Networks (FIDO-Net, FrEdMail, and ProLine). A BBS is usually targeted at a aud. BBS: BBS means Bulletin Board System. A BBS consists of computer hardware and software set up in such a way as to allow people with modems to call and gain access to the computer. There are tens of thousands of BBSes in the Uill handle 2400 baud. New modem purchasers should not consider modems which cannot run at 2400 baud. Printers are often fed data from computers at 9000 baud. Computers which have a direct connect relationship often exchange data at 9600 besson Project Typical baud rates in use are 300 (so slow one can read without pausing), 1200 (normal rate), 2400 (too fast to read but very cost efficient and becoming standard), and 9600 (few systems have this). Most phone lines w gives the approximate rate of transmission of characters (e.g. 1200 baud means about 120 characters/second are being sent). "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 71 FrEdMail Telelts are required for a character plus two or three additional bits are required to help coordinate data transmission. It is usual that one character from the keyboard will require ten bits to be sent. Therefore, the baud rate divided by 10 ights. BAUD RATE: Baud rate is a measure of the speed of transmission of data between modems. Technically, baud is a measure of the number of signal changes per second. One baud usually means one bit per second. Seven or eight bif a modem cannot dial the phone, the user will have to manually dial a phone on the same line as the modem, wait for the connection, and then activate the modem. Modems which are not auto-dial are archaic and should be used as paper weswer the phone and send that nasty modem tone into the caller's ear if the switch were set to ANS. AUTO-DIAL: If a modem is capable of generating the pulses and tones required to dial a phone number, the modem is said to be auto-dial. Inications software usually over-rides the switch setting. The switch should normally be set to ORIG to avoid the situation where a modem is left turned on without being under the control of a communications program. The modem could anems must support 212A standards for rates over 300 baud. Bell 103 is still used for rates up to 300 baud. BINARY: A number system made up only of ones (1) and zeros (0). All data transmission is in binary code. At the lowest level computers understand and work with only binary code. Each one or zero is called a bit. Four bits make a nybble and eight bits are a byte. A byte is required to define keyboard characters. BLU (Binary Library Utility): BLU is anecial phone options which will interrupt a modem communication. People with Call-Waiting should either defeat it prior to using a phone line for a modem call or should activate another extra phone company feature (Call-Forwarding) to transfeboard character. Computer memories and file sizes are measured in bytes (e.g. 64K of memory means 64,000 bytes of memory [actually 65,536 bytes]). Bytes are also said to be made up of two nybbles (four bits). CALL-WAITING: Spn show up according to Murphy's Law. "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 73 FrEdMail Telelesson Project BYTE: A byte is eight bits. One byte is necessary to define a keyis using and the amount of available memory in the computer. BUG: "An undocumented feature." - GBBS-Pro Glossary. Bugs are programming errors in a communications program, the hardware ROM, or the system one is calling. Bugs often in a buffer so the process of sending the message can be accomplished without disk access while on-line. The amount of buffer (often called the 'copy buffer', 'editor', or 'scroll-back' buffer) depends upon the communications program one ea for data in the memory of a computer system. Often a caller to a telecom system will use the buffer to temporarily store incoming text so it can be later saved, processed, and read. A caller can also store a message for transmissiorrupt key for that system. Some 'break' or 'interrupt' keys are: control-C (CompuServe), control-K (MIX), control-X (CMS systems on FrEdMail), and the space-bar (GBBS systems on FrEdMail. BUFFER: A buffer is a temporary storage arpt some large systems and some commercial systems. However, this break key often varies depending upon the system one is calling. On most systems, the standard 'break' key will not work because another keystroke has been defined as the inte or baud rate. BREAK KEY: A break key is any key stroke which will interrupt the transmission of data from a telecom system. There is a 'standard' break signal (a 300 msec interruption of the normal flow of data) which will interrushutting down the power. It is sometimes necessary to perform a cold boot if a communications program "hangs" because of an incorrect initialization of the program or the modem. BPS (see also Baud Rate): BPS means bits per secondBS. BOOT: To boot a computer is to start it up. A cold boot usually means to start the computer and program from a power off condition. A warm boot usually means to start up a program by reloading the operating system but without unny' BLU files. BLU version 2.26 is the latest to include compression as an option. BLU is public domain. BOARD (see also BBS and Message Base): 'Board' is a slang term referring to either a BBS or one of the message bases on a Bency in the transmission of files via modem. There are many versions of "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 72 FrEdMail Telelesson Project programs which can 'bunny' and 'de-b Apple // ProDOS8 specific program which creates files which can contain several other files. The contained files may or may not be compressed. The idea is to put many files into one BNY (not compressed) or BQY (compressed) file for efficir incoming calls to another number. Call waiting can be defeated for the duration of one phone call by dialing *70 (tone) or 1170 (pulse) and then the phone number. CARRIER: A carrier is a constant signal made of a combination of tones generated by a modem when it is on-line and able to transmit / receive data. These tones are defined by Bell standards. When a modem senses a carrier, most communications software will display a message such as 'CONNECT 1200'ess is via Tymnet or Telenet (not included in the hourly charge) or CompuServe's own packet switching network ($.25/hr charge). Call 800-848-8199 for subscriber information. COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE: Any software product designed to makeeducation Forums and has several libraries of files. Initial membership is usually free (offered with new modem purchases) although retailed at about $30. Hourly rates vary but are around $12.50/hour (12/2400 baud) non-prime time. Accrce, TWICS (Japan), uucp.newsnet (via the Portal or PeaceNet), the WELL. COMPUSERVE (see also AppleLink, FrEdMail, MIX, and The Source): CompuServe is the commercial service with the largest total membership in the US. It hosts several lly run on large mainframe computers and may have Tymnet or Telenet access phone numbers. Examples of commercial services which support education message bases (conferences, forums) are: AppleLink Personal Edition, CompuServe, MIX, The SouIf communications software does not seem to be accessing a modem, try changing COM identifications (COM1 to COM2 and vice-versa). COMMERCIAL SERVICE: Commercial services are those which charge the user for access. These systems usua system files. COM1, COM2: These are the DOS names for the serial / parallel ports on an IBM pc/AT. Communications software must be set properly for whichever of these ports is being used by the modem. The Apple analogy is SLOT. FrEdMail Telelesson Project must have no internal errors must be transmitted with an error checking protocol. These types of files include formatted word processing files, spreadsheets, databases, graphics, program and ck is transmitted. If the accuracy check fails, the block is re-transmitted. X-modem and Y-modem use Christiansen standards and methods. Any file which "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 74 A set of software standards and procedures created by Ward Christensen in order to provide for error checking in the transmission of data between modems. A block of data is transmitted and then checked for accuracy before the next block of bytes and that value is compared between the sending and receiving systems. Disagreement means an error during transmission and the block (128 bytes usually) is re-sent. CHRISTENSEN PROTOCOL (see also Ascii, X-modem, and Y-modem): the other window. Chat's disadvantage is that is slow compared to simple voice conversation. CHECK-SUM (See also X-modem, Y-modem, and Protocol): Part of a method of error checking. A value is calculated for the specific bytes in a bloother person and wait for them to read it and compose a complete reply. Typing to each other occurs simultaneously. Some unix systems provide for split screens (windows) with one user typing in one window and the other user typing in t. CHAT: Chat is a feature of BBSes and many commercial networks in which users who are calling a multi-line system at the same time can type messages directly to each other. It's advantage is that one need not leave email for the . If a carrier is 'lost' or 'dropped' either deliberately by a modem hanging up or due to phone line noise or error, then communication is lost. Most communications software will display a message such as 'NO CARRIER' when a carrier is los a computer and modem work together to provide data communications with another computer. Communications software usually works only with one type of computer hardware (Apple ][ or IBMpc or Macintosh) but with all types of modems for that computer. Some primitive communications software is provided with a new modem specifically for that modem by the modem manufacturer. Such modem manufacturer software is often of lower quality than general purpose communications software Many commercial telcom systems have some form of data base search feature ranging from the ability to find keywords in a text file to locating files based upon multiple search criteria. Some systems can connect to sophisticated relationaleceiving and sending systems after each block of data is sent. Disagreement will cause the block (128 bytes usually) to be re-sent. DATA BASE: A data base is a collection of information, usually in text form, which can be searched.ta exchange. Use this method if it is available (CompuServe, GEnie, and GBBS systems). It involves a mathematical calculation which includes each specific byte of a block of data. These result of the calculation is compared between rnot conforming to the currently accepted standards of behavior and expectations. If you are reading this, you may fit this definition. CRC [ CYCLIC REDUNDANCY CHECK ] (See also Protocol): One of the best methods of error checking for daams allow the caller to "strip" (remove) control characters and this should be done if one has a noisy phone line. CRAZY PERSON: See SYSOP! Of course, you don't have to be a SysOp to be crazy but all Sysops are crazy. Crazy means characters. These garbage control characters can cause printers to go haywire and even crash programs [ ctrl-R imbedded in an AppleWorks file will cause a program crash if printed or if the cursor moves over it ]. Most communications progrturn> or , and keys are single keys available on most keyboards to produce certain control characters without having to use the control key directly. Noise during a modem call (garbage) will sometimes include control functions. There are 32 control characters which can be generated from the keyboard by holding down the key while pressing one of the 31 other keys (A-Z plus some special characters such as @ and ^). The arrow keys, . Apple systems do not require that an LF be issued. This causes some incompatibility between text files created on the two different sys of the computer. KERMIT (see also Ascii, X-modem, and Y-modem): An excellent error free protocol not often used in the Apple // family but very common in the unix world. LF AFTER CR: A control character (ctrl-J) which moves the curs81 FrEdMail Telelesson Project such as joysticks and the mouse. The interface may be built-in in which case it is often called a 'port'. Or the interface may be a special card installed in one of the slotsputer so they can work with each other. Generally, computers need some interface to connect them to peripherals such as printers, modems, monitors, and input devices "Introduction to Telecommunications Page re, message bases, and support equipment attached to it. INTERFACE: Something which connects two other things together. In Apple // computers, a Super Serial card can be used to electronically connect a printer or modem and the com acts "just like" a Hayes modem. Many modems claim to be Hayes compatible just like many cars claim to be as good as a BMW. HOST COMPUTER: Host computers are those which run a BBS or a commercial system. The host has all the softwaFor example: ATDT-1-619-292-1816 will cause a Hayes modem to tone dial the phone number for the FrEdMail system at San Diego County Office of Education. HAYES COMPATIBLE: A modem which accepts all the Hayes commands and otherwises mainframe, minicomputer, and microcomputer are somewhat relative. The IBM mainframe of the early 1960's can now be held in one's hand. Generally, a mainframe computer has high speed, multiple users "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 82 FrEdMail Telelesson Project simultaneously, extensive memory devices, and can run multiple programs at the same time (multi-tasking). Mainframes at university and big busiL]ocal [A]rea [N]etworks. Computer based telecommunications Networks are much larger in scope and geography than LANs and are connected via ordinary phone lines. NOISE: Unwanted electrical signals of any type, whether within a ink, CompuServe, GEnie, MIX, the SOURCE). NETWORK: A group of computers or computer systems which are able to exchange files with each other. Some networks are at one place and the computers are wired directly together; these are LANs [dular wall outlet. MULTI-LINE: A telephone or computer system which supports a number of phone lines operating at one time. Most local BBSes are single line systems (FrEdMail) while commercial systems are multi-line systems (AppleLODULAR PHONE: Phones sold over the counter in discount houses and at AT&T stores and which just plug into the modular jack on the wall. Modular phones can be moved and used anywhere in the US or Canada. All that is required is the moinside a computer. Common modems are external to a computer, cost about $200 and operate at 2400 baud. "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 83 FrEdMail Telelesson Project M destroy marriages. It connects a computer to the telephone network and, hence, the world. Modems can be very inexpensive ($25) slow acoustically coupled boxes to expensive ($1000) high quality error proof fast expensive cards which go $80 for CUE members). It is accessed via TymNet (or 800 numbers in Minnesota). Call 800-622-6310 for subscriber information or contact your local CUE affiliate. MODEM: [MO]dulate [DEM]odulate device, a computer peripheral designed to ormation Exchange), Education Technology, Professional Development, and others. MIX is a fee based system with blocks of time purchased in advance. A standard yearly MIX subscription including 10 hours or access time is $150 (about tion E[X]change for Education. A commercial system devoted entirely to teachers, student projects, and education related topics. MIX supports over a hundred conferences which are organized into major groups including STIX (Student Infsages. A message base is analogous to a bulletin board in a grocery or staff office except the messages are computer text files read on-line. MIX (see also AppleLink, CompuServe, FrEdMail, and The Source): [M]cGraw-Hill [I]nforma with the same topic can be read as a group. A message base is the same as a 'Board'. Most message bases have a long list of options or commands available including posting and reading messages and editing or killing your own messystem, a group of sequentially posted messages all relating to one topic or subject. Messages are read one at a time usually on the time order in which they were posted. Some systems support threaded message reading meaning that messages mouse. Menus can be simple lists programmed by a user, scrolled lists from a host computer (MIX), or pull-down and windowed lists mouse controlled by front-end software (AppleLink) MESSAGE BASE (see also Board): On a BBS or commercial ness locations are often interconnected to provide even more speed and power. MENU: A list of options, whether in a restaurant or on a computer screen. Choices are usually selected by typing a number or pointing and clicking with a computer, static on a radio, or garbage characters during a modem connection. OFF-LINE: While connected to a host computer, some communications software will allow a user to call up another program and work with it for a while, even though the modem between the computers connection remains. While working on the other program, the user is said to be off-line (although still connected). ON-LINE: When connected to a host computer and actively engaged in receivid Public Mail): Messages which are sent to a specific person or persons on a system. Private messages can be read only by the person(s) to whom they are addressed. Most systems will reveal the existence of "Introduction to Telecommunithe total byte is used for the error check. UNIX systems and many IBM systems use parity while Apple systems tend not to use parity. PERSONAL DOMAIN (see also Public Domain and Shareware): See Shareware. PRIVATE MAIL (see also Email anta more rapidly, they are harder to manage (program) and are less commonly used, especially with modems. PARITY (See also Data Format): A method of error detection in the exchange of a single byte of data. One of the bits which make up eral in which data is exchanged many bits (a full byte) simultaneously. An analogy might be the multiple check out stands (parallel) at a grocery as opposed to only one such stand (serial). Although parallel interfaces can exchange da list. Lists of usernames and passwords are frequently circulated in the hacker's underground. Be sloppy and yours could be there very fast! PARALLEL INTERFACE (See also Serial Interface): An interface between a computer and a periphelf-deprecation, right?), it is sometimes the case that a FrEdMail password may be the same one used on GEnie. It doesn't take much for that person's GEnie bill to go through the roof if their unsecured FrEdMail password gets into someone'sor phone number of the system isn't a good idea either. Neither are the passwords 'password' or 'joshua'. Although one might think that FrEdMail and other systems a teacher might call are hardly worth worrying about (a little sd which is found in a dictionary or is a name can be 'cracked' by any serious hacker by using programs which systematically check dictionaries and names. A password which is made up of the user's name is no password at all. Using the name ercial systems which charge for access and on systems which contain private information, passwords should be made up of letters, numbers, and other characters such as those obtained by pressing the shift key and a number. Any passwortion of keyboard characters which belong to a single user of a BBS or commercial system. A password is almost always required to access a system. Passwords should be kept confidential and should be changed often. Particularly on commay after a carriage return. Nulls are required during a modem data exchange by some (older or slower) printers or communications software to avoid dropped (lost) characters at the beginning of a new line. PASSWORD: A unique combinatings when they are turned off. "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 84 FrEdMail Telelesson Project NULL (See also Delay): A special character (ctrl-@) sent to cause a delts or half a byte. NRAM (See also RAM and ROM): A type of memory chip which can have data saved to it but which retains that data when the power is turned off. Smartmodem 2400 baud modems must have nram to retain their configuration setng or sending data, a user is said to be on-line. NAK (See also ACK): [N]egative [A]cknowledgement [C]haracter. A special character (ctrl-U) sent to indicate failure in a data exchange. NIBBLE or NYBBLE (See also byte): Four data bications Page 85 FrEdMail Telelesson Project private email only to person(s) to whom the email is addressed but some systems (for example, RBBS) will display the presence of the private mail but not allow its open reading. It is generally true that the SysOp of any system can read all messages on that system, including private email. The ethical and legal issues surrounding the question of a SysOp reading someonected. No-one can sell for profit such software except for the copyright owner. Usually, shareware is obtained on a BBS, commercial system, or from a computer user group. If the person receiving it decides to use it, that person is req (program) and are more commonly used, especially with modems. SHAREWARE (see also Personal Domain and Public Domain): Software which can be openly and freely distributed but which carries a stated copyright and for which a use fee is expetime one after the other. An analogy might be the multiple check out stands (parallel) at a grocery as opposed to only one such stand (serial). Although serial interfaces exchange data more slowly than parallel, they are easier to manage ject standards. See a serial card or modem User Manual for details about RS-232 interfaces. SERIAL INTERFACE (See also Parallel Interface): An interface between a computer and a peripheral in which data is exchanged one bit at a rd and an external peripheral such as a modem. Cables which connect modems and computers often follow RS-232 interface "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 86 FrEdMail Telelesson Procards also contain ROM chips to control their operations. Upgrades to computers often involve changing the ROMs. Another term for ROM is Firmware. RS-232: A standard interface connection between a computer serial port or cainto it. ROMs control the operations of computers including the flow of data from to/from keyboards, monitors, and RAM. ROM chips contain built-in operating systems and programming languages such as BASIC. Modems, printers, and interface ) and packet-switching services (TymNet and TeleNet) require tone dialing. Modems can usually dial either tone or pulse. ROM (See also Firmware, RAM, and NRAM): [R]ead [O]nly [M]emory chip. A chip which has a program built osted. PULSE DIALING (see also Tone Dialing): Old rotary dial phones use pulse dialing. They make the clicks one hears when dialing. Some phone systems only support pulse dialing and most long distance (Sprint and MCI although not AT&TMail): Public mail is the name given on few systems (for example, RBBS) to messages in Message Bases (Boards, Conferences, or Forums). Public mail can be read by anyone who has access to the Message Base in which the Public Mail is p domain software is still covered by the copyright of the author of the software and cannot be resold by others for profit but the author is not requiring any payment for its use. PUBLIC MAIL (see also Boards, Conferences, Forums, and Private , all openly posted messages must be in 'plain English.' PUBLIC DOMAIN (see also Personal Domain and Shareware): Software which can be openly and freely distributed without restriction nor expectation of any future payment for use. Public late) or the message should be encrypted. Encryption programs which use the same algorithms as are used by governments to secure data are available from a variety of sources. It is illegal to post openly an encrypted message; that is else's private email have not been completely determined. If it is important to secure the contents against unauthorized reading, then the contents should either not be posted to a computer based system (Ollie North learned that a bituired to send a fee (usually in the $5-$75 range) to the copyright holder. SLOT: An electrical connector inside a computer on the mother board (main pc board) which allows the addition of cards which have specialized functions. Most quality computers (Amiga, Apple//, Mac, IBM, Tandy, etc) have slots to allow the owner to customize their computer hardware. Internal modems go into one of the slots of a computer and do serial cards to run external modems. SMARTM key or set of keystrokes turns off what is on and on what is off. "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 88 FrEdMail Telelesson Project TONE DIALING (see also Pulse Dialing): e something has called them away from their computer while they were on-line. TOGGLE: An on-off switch. In communications software, some switches are the printer on or off key, the copy buffer on or off key, and so forth. The samesconnected from you. The length of the time out varies by system. On FrEdMail it is two minutes, on GBBS and GEnie systems six minutes. The time out feature is designed to protect the caller from running up big bills on-line becaus is usually about $30. Hourly rates vary from about $25/hr to $9/hour (12/2400 baud) non-prime time. Call 800-336-3366 for subscriber information. TIME OUT: Means you waited too long without doing anything and the host computer died by the ASCII code. THE SOURCE (see also AppleLink, CompuServe, FrEdMail, and MIX): The SOURCE is the third largest commercial service in the US. It hosts several education Forums and has several libraries of files. Initial membership The direct exchange of text data without any error checking. The simple reading of a message sent from a host computer to a monitor screen uses text protocol. Text protocol is usually called ASCII protocol as the characters sent are defindata exchange among two or more groups of people geographically separated from each other. Teleconferences often use satellite technology. TERMINAL EMULATION: See EMULATION. TEXT PROTOCOL (see also Ascii, X-modem, and Y-modem): ough any other means of communication (satellite, laser, fiber optics) provided by a phone company. Often this term is used in a more restrictive sense to mean computer communications by modem. TELECONFERENCE: A visual, voice, and the same clock (work in complete synchronization with each other). SYSOP: [Sys]tem [Op]erator of a BBS. See CRAZY PERSON. TELECOMMUNICATIONS: The exchange of any kind of data (voice, binary, picture) over a telephone line or thror the interface. "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 87 FrEdMail Telelesson Project SYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATIONS: The exchange of data between two or more computers which run on An interface card required by the Apple ][ and //e series of computers to allow the computer to work with an external modem or most printers. The SSC has a firmware chip on it which provides the required Apple // specific programming fata base features allow the user to 'search for string' which means to look through a file for a specific group of characters. This definition contains the string 'ile for', for example (see the last sentence). SUPER SERIAL CARD (SSC): lso Data Format): The first bit of all the bits required to send a byte of data is the start bit. The last bit (or two bits) is the stop bit. STRING: One or more ASCII (keyboard) characters grouped together. Systems which have dODEM: A modem which knows how to answer the phone, dial out, and detect carriers, dial tones, busy signals, etc. Smartmodems can be controlled by software commands. Most Smartmodems are Hayes compatible. START and STOP BITs (See a Almost all newer telephones support and most new phone line installations include tone dialing. Some phone systems only support pulse dialing and most long distance (Sprint and MCI although not AT&T) and packet-switching services (TymNet and TeleNet) require tone dialing. Modems can usually dial either tone or pulse. UPLOAD: Upload refers to the sending data TO a system FROM your own computer. The image of sending a program UP from a mainframe from your perssentially the same as X-modem except that the block size is 1024 bytes and a series of files (a 'batch') can be sent at one time. As larger blocks of data are sent between error checks (which occur after each block is sent), the transmissiart of the text already sent and sometimes it is a string of control-Z characters. Look for these extraneous characters and edit them from your x-modemed text file. Y-MODEM PROTOCOL (see also Ascii, CRC, Text, and X-modem): Y-modem is eg system. Blocks of text sent xmodem will often have extraneous characters 'padding' the end of the file to make up a total number of bytes which is a multiple of 128 bytes (the xmodem block). Sometimes this garbage is a repeat of p of which contain 128 bytes of information. These 'blocks' are not the same size as the blocks stored on disks. Blocks on disks can be 256, 512, 1024, and higher multiples of 512 bytes depending upon the computer hardware and operatinith specific computers. For example, ProDOS X-Modem will not only send an error free file between Apple // computers but will also send the complete catalog data including the file type. X-modem protocol sends 'blocks' of data, eachct X-MODEM PROTOCOL (see also Ascii, CRC, Text, and Y-modem): The Christensen protocol is often called X-Modem. There are a variety of modifications which have been made to the Christensen protocol to make it function more completely wfor stop), and control-K if control-S doesn't work and you are too lazy to read the system documentation file. "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 89 FrEdMail Telelesson Proje. Almost all systems will pause when they receive a control-S but many will restart with any character, not just a control-Q (CMS, GBBS, MIX). Some systems have their own unique (meaning non-standard) XON/XOFF keys. Try P (for pause), S (r than reading it. A phone answering machine is a primitive form of voice mail. XON/XOFF: Characters which cause a data transmission to pause (XOFF) and continue (XON). The standard XON character is control-Q and XOFF is control-Sdem is active (handling a data call), any phone attached to the modem is disconnected from the phone line. VOICE MAIL: Some sophisticated systems support the storage of messages in a form so that you hear the message when you call, rathelking on the phone. Modems often have a voice/data switch. When the switch is in the voice position, the modem disconnects itself from the phone line and an attached phone is active. When the switch is in the data position and the mostem and cannot be changed by you. You will need your user id number and your password to access a system. VOICE: The exchange of data using one's voice instead of computer characters and files (how unique!). Voice means tar user identification number on a system. Most systems use a username, which is a combination of letters from your first and last names. Other systems identify you by a number (CompuServe and GBBS). The number is assigned to you by the sysonal computer may be helpful in differentiating DOWN from UP. Uploading usually means the use of an error checking protocol (such as X-modem) in transferring a formatted file, program, or other specialized file. USER ID: Youon rate is faster than for X-modem (10%-15% is reported) if the files are large and the phone lines are noiseless. If the file is small, Y-modem will still send 1024 bytes and pad the end of the file so the exchange time could be longer for YMODEM than XMODEM. If the phone line is noisy, then the YMODEM block which is eight times larger than the XMODEM block will have to be repeated when an error occurs and this will increase the time required for an exchange to occur. like YMODEM. However, 1K XMODEM does not support batch sends. A few systems support Y-modem protocol (GBBS). "Introduction to Telecommunications Page 90 As a general rule, large files exchanged over low noise phone lines will go faster with YMODEM than XMODEM; otherwise XMODEM is the better choice. There is also a 1K XMODEM protocol which also sends information in 1K blocks just