Re: An Electronic Journal?

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>Date: Thu, 15 Jun 1995 08:19:24 +0100
>From: N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk (N. MacLeod)

>Peter and I seem to agree on most of the issues relating to electronic

I suspect that we do.

>  I guess I'm just more optimistic about the electronic medium.

I am not only optimistic; I'm absolutely sure that electronic publication
is in every scientist's (near) future.

My _only_ reason for posting the notice about the ACM articles, and earlier
about some of the Listserv discussion groups that address e-pub technology,
is to suggest that as Paleo pioneers its own paleo-centered e-publication
effort, that it look beyond the easy (but not so satisfactory) stuff
to what's going on in other disciplines and in the e-pub research sector,
so as to start off with an advantage.

> Regardless,
>paleo. has its own requirements that will demand unique solutions in any
>electronic format.

Absolutely. And, the place for Paleo to start is by bootstrapping from
current research and prototyping efforts of others, and to put Paleo's
real effort and contribution onto identifying its unique requirements.
Good project to be sponsored by some Paleo prof. society......

>What troubles me is the apparent lack of willingness to
>experiment, to make mistakes, to learn from those mistakes, and go on from
>there.

But, not to tread old ground; that's was my caveat. You (Paleo)
_will_ experiment (like everyone else is at this moment); you _will_
make mistakes, and learn, and get it right.  No doubt about it.

>Waiting until all of the so-called problems (many of which might
>not turn out to be so problematical) have clear and widely-agreed upon
>solutions strikes me as a recipe for paralysis.

Waiting? No suggestion (but apparently a misunderstanding) of that in my
earlier posting.
Peter