Dale and Rachel,
I'm not necessarily advocating for WebBoard.  It seems to offer a lot for 
the price, and it's the only web-anchored collaboration tool I've been 
exposed to.  I have encountered enough bugs and unexplained weirdness with 
my own WebBoard implementations, however, that I'm beginning to think that 
the more robust tools might be worth their significantly higher prices.

Once WebBoard is set up with its "mailing list" function fully enabled, 
users can participate exactly like they do in a conventional 
listserve.  That is, new posts show up as regular messages at whatever 
email address you have indicated in your profile and you can either reply 
(using your normal email "reply" function) or start a new thread... all 
from your email client.  (No need to open a browser or even have an 
internet connection, until you are ready to hit your email "send" 
button.)  You can filter and manage the WebBoard/Email messages just like 
any other email.

The main additional benefits right out of the box are the message-archive 
and search capability... functions that DO require a web browser, but are 
generally not available in any form in a traditional listserve.  I'm not 
crazy about the way WebBoard handles attachments (altho, ver. 6 may offer 
more options) and I've had no use at all for the "live chat" functionality, 
but it's there if you want it.  It would be nice to have support for live 
video conferencing, more rigorous authentication, formal balloting, 
document repository with version control, ability to view/edit live process 
models, "white board" functionality for live meetings, etc.  WebBoard does 
support a great deal of customization and one of my associates has gone 
pretty far into this, adding some of these features with a custom 
application linked to webboard.

The first step to "graduating" from plain-vanilla listserves, however, is 
to describe/model the actual process that the collaborative group is 
engaged in... create a requirements list... then shop for or create the 
best tool.  We certainly get a lot of bang for the buck with "old 
fashioned" listserves.  Some day soon, however, I think we should pay some 
serious attention to further standardizing and streamlining the process of 
developing standards.

Regards,
Chris

At 12:29 PM 7/5/02 -0400, Dale Gibbs wrote:
>Chris,
>
>I agree with Rachel. I too subscribe to the X12N/TG3 web board and unless
>something pops up in my e-mail to remind me, I do not log on very often. As
>a traveler using hotel dial up lines, having to be connected in order to
>read and respond will create an added expense I cannot justify. At the same
>time, getting hundreds of e-mails is not high on my list either.
>
>Is there a compromise among the two different methods? Is there a way of
>getting weekly activity summaries sent out from the web board to remind some
>of us to log on for details and at the same time keep us generally
>up-to-date?
>
>Dale Gibbs
>President, E-COM Advisor
>614.871.2314
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Rachel Foerster [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
>Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 12:56 PM
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED];
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: RE: Web Based Conferences versus Listservs
>
>
>Chris,
>
>I don't totally agree with you that email is awkward for long-term complex
>collaboration. The technical work of the initial ebXML initiative, the
>ongoing work of the various UN/CEFACT work groups, the OASIS technical
>committes, etc. have all used email listservs to conduct their very complex
>and long-term standards specifications development and maintenance activites
>in a global environment.
>
>I'm subscribed to not only the X12N/TG3 web board at Washington Publishing
>but also others and I find it wholly unsatisfactory. I do not receive
>messages, I do not have notification of any activity taking place, and thus
>I am forced to periodically try to access these various conferences, when I
>think of it....all with a lot of hassle, etc. trying to maintain numerous
>login ids and passwords. It's just a lot of hassle with not a lot of benefit
>and I don't see very much substantial work being accomplished.
>
>Further, the WPC web board again requires that I maintain a connection to
>the Net and access the web board....something that's not able to be
>accomplished while in airports, on airplanes, etc.
>
>Rachel
>Rachel Foerster
>Principal
>Rachel Foerster & Associates, Ltd.
>Professionals in EDI & Electronic Commerce
>39432 North Avenue
>Beach Park, IL 60099
>Phone: 847-872-8070
>Fax: 847-872-6860
>http://www.rfa-edi.com
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Christopher J. Feahr, OD [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
>Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 8:33 PM
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED];
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: Web Based Conferences versus Listservs
>
>
>Rachel,
>I agree that an email *interface* is a necessity for the reasons you have
>stated, but email-alone is a very awkward venue for long-term/complex
>collaboration.  As you know, Steve Bass has implemented WebBoard for the
>TG3 "IG Harmonization" project and it can be made to "feel" very much like
>a plain listserve, but retaining its excellent archive and search
>capabilities.  In fact, WebBoard just released a version 6 that is
>reportedly even more flexible... enabling it to be used as an "engine" in a
>customized collaborative tool.  There may be better options out there, but
>we DO have to replace these listserves eventually.  I'm seeing over 200
>messages a day and nearly drowning in email!
>
>regards,
>Chris
>
>At 07:05 PM 7/3/02 -0500, Rachel Foerster wrote:
>
>
> >I disagree that a web-based forum be used rather than listservs. Not all
> >participants maintain an active connection to the internet, especially
> >since many of us travel and use airport/hotel time to review and respond
> >to messages. Having messages pushed to us via email is far more preferable
> >than have to connect to the web and then read message threads.
> >
> >
> >Rachel Foerster
> >Principal
> >Rachel Foerster & Associates, Ltd.
> >Professionals in EDI & Electronic Commerce
> >39432 North Avenue
> >Beach Park, IL 60099
> >Phone: 847-872-8070
> >Fax: 847-872-6860
> ><http://www.rfa-edi.com/>http://www.rfa-edi.com
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: John Bristor [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> >Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 3:22 PM
> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED];
> >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >Subject: [Removals] Re: Remove me from these lists please! Why Not..
> >
> >
> >
> >Using email lists and/or email distribution lists are not conducive to
> >long term projects and/or the sharing of information.
> >
> >Why can't there be a web-based forum?   Email lists have their place, but
> >they are not conducive to historial archives or long term projects.
> >
> >Anyone that joins today, cannot see, search, or benefit from discussions
> >of just a week ago, let alone.. months ago..
> >
> >The need for this will increase exponentially over the next 18
> >months.  WEDI needs a web based forum and drop this email method of
> >communication.
> >
> >
> >
> >Please note that it may take up to 72 hours to process your request.
> >
> >The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated. The
> >discussions on this listserv therefore represent the views of the
>individual
> >participants, and do not necessarily represent the views of the WEDI Board
>of
> >Directors nor WEDI SNIP. If you wish to receive an official opinion, post
> >your question to the WEDI SNIP Issues Database at
> >http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/.
> >Posting of advertisements or other commercial use of this listserv is
> >specifically prohibited.
> >
> >
> >Please note that it may take up to 72 hours to process your request.
> >
> >The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated. The
> >discussions on this listserv therefore represent the views of the
>individual
> >participants, and do not necessarily represent the views of the WEDI Board
>of
> >Directors nor WEDI SNIP. If you wish to receive an official opinion, post
> >your question to the WEDI SNIP Issues Database at
> >http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/.
> >Posting of advertisements or other commercial use of this listserv is
> >specifically prohibited.
>
>Christopher J. Feahr, OD
>http://visiondatastandard.org
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Cell/Pager: 707-529-2268
>
>
>The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated.  The
>discussions on this listserv therefore represent the views of the individual
>participants, and do not necessarily represent the views of the WEDI Board
>of
>Directors nor WEDI SNIP.  If you wish to receive an official opinion, post
>your question to the WEDI SNIP Issues Database at
>http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/.
>Posting of advertisements or other commercial use of this listserv is
>specifically prohibited.
>
>
>
>**********************************************************************
>To be removed from this list, send a message to:
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Please note that it may take up to 72 hours to process your request.
>
>======================================================
>The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated.  The
>discussions on this listserv therefore represent the views of the individual
>participants, and do not necessarily represent the views of the WEDI Board
>of Directors nor WEDI SNIP.  If you wish to receive an official opinion,
>post your question to the WEDI SNIP Issues Database at
>http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/.
>Posting of advertisements or other commercial use of this listserv is
>specifically prohibited.
>
>
>
>**********************************************************************
>To be removed from this list, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Please note that it may take up to 72 hours to process your request.
>
>======================================================
>The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated.  The 
>discussions on this listserv therefore represent the views of the 
>individual participants, and do not necessarily represent the views of the 
>WEDI Board of Directors nor WEDI SNIP.  If you wish to receive an official 
>opinion, post your question to the WEDI SNIP Issues Database at 
>http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/.
>Posting of advertisements or other commercial use of this listserv is 
>specifically prohibited.

Christopher J. Feahr, OD
http://visiondatastandard.org
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cell/Pager: 707-529-2268        


Please note that it may take up to 72 hours to process your request.

<P>The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated.  The
discussions on this listserv therefore represent the views of the individual
participants, and do not necessarily represent the views of the WEDI Board of
Directors nor WEDI SNIP.  If you wish to receive an official opinion, post
your question to the WEDI SNIP Issues Database at
http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/.
Posting of advertisements or other commercial use of this listserv is
specifically prohibited.

Reply via email to