5.0296 Notes: Scientific American; Greek & Hebrew (2/84)
Elaine Brennan & Allen Renear (EDITORS@BROWNVM.BITNET)
Sun, 1 Sep 1991 14:16:53 EDT
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 5, No. 0296. Sunday, 1 Sep 1991.
Notes: Scientific American; Greek & Hebrew for Windows
(1) Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1991 08:33:21 -0400 (48 lines)
From: mccarty@epas.utoronto.ca (Willard McCarty)
Subject: Scientific American for September
(2) Date: Sat, 31 Aug 91 16:51 PDT (36 lines)
From: <YOUNGC@CLARGRAD>
Subject: Greek and Hebrew for Windows
(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1991 08:33:21 -0400
From: mccarty@epas.utoronto.ca (Willard McCarty)
Subject: Scientific American for September
One of our fellow Humanists was kind enough to draw our attention to
the latest issue of Scientific American (September 1991), a special
issue entitled "Communications, Computers and Networks". Having just
secured a copy, I would like to repeat the kindness.
There are several articles of interest to Humanists. Let me draw your
attention specifically to the following:
Lee Sproull and Sara Kiesler, "Computers, Networks and Work", pp.
116-23. Many of you will know Sproull and Kiesler's many articles on
this subject, but for those who don't it's a good introduction to how
electronic mail affects interaction amongst people. The authors take
an essentially sociological approach, reporting on experiments they
have made in various professional organizations. The history of
Humanist itself backs up their conclusions.
Alan C. Kay, "Computers, Networks and Education", pp. 138-48. The
intelligence and humanity of this piece are a delight to the mind, e.g.:
"Networked computer media will initially substitute convenience for
verisimilitude, and quantity and speed for exposition and
thoughtfulness. Yet well-designed systems can also retain and expand
on the profound ideas of the past, making available revolutionary ways
to think about the world. As Postman has pointed out, what is
required is a kind of guerilla warfare, not to stamp out new media (or
old) but to create a parallel consciousness about media -- one that
gently whispers the debits and credits of any representation and
points the way to the `food'." Worth the price of admission.
Anne W. Branscomb, "Common Law for the Electronic Frontier", pp.
154-8. A look at the struggle for territorial rights in the frontier
of what we call cyberspace, a consideration of lawmaking as a complex
human process that depends on community standards, consensual
observance, legislatures, and courts. Fascinating to this lawless mind.
There's other good stuff too. I would liked to have seen an article by
Starr Roxanne Hiltz and Murray Turoff, who have written most
intelligently on the subject; a sociolinguistic study would have been
very good; a philosophical, phenomenological study of networking as
dialogic thinking.... no doubt others will find this an incomplete
collection. And why, you may well ask, was Humanist not discussed?
Editors should return their telephone calls!
Willard McCarty
(2) --------------------------------------------------------------40----
Date: Sat, 31 Aug 91 16:51 PDT
From: <YOUNGC@CLARGRAD>
Subject: Greek and Hebrew for Windows
HUMANISTS may be interested in knowing that a Greek and
Hebrew package for Windows 3.0 is now available.
WinGreek 1.1 contains 10 and 12 point Greek and Hebrew
screen fonts for Hercules, EGA, VGA, and 8514 displays;
printer fonts for Epson 9 pin (120x144 dpi), and Epson 24
pin (180x180 dpi; also 360x180 dpi in Hebrew), and softfonts
for HP Laser Jet Series II; a utility for entering accents;
some useful Word for Windows macros; and a utility to
convert to and from CCAT format.
The Greek font has a full complement of diacritical marks
and is attractive and easy to use; I assume the same is true
of the Hebrew font.
The package is produced by WinGreek, 555 Ambercroft Blvd.,
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada M1W 2Z6. Shareware, $35 (US or
Canadian).
The authors are Andrew Fountain and Peter Gentry; at least
one of them (I assume it's Mr. Gentry) is on the net:
peter@atrsci.toronto.edu or peter@artsi.utoronto.ca. The
package is also available (or soon will be) from
Compuserve's MSAPP forum, dl 1 or 12.
Best wishes,
Charles Young
youngc@clargrad.bitnet
youngc@cgsvax.claremont.edu