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Skriven 2011-10-23 00:35:16 av Janis Kracht (1:261/38)
Ärende: FidoNews Vol. 28 No. 43 Articles: Rise and Fall of the Amateurs
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     The RISE AND FALL OF THE AMATEURS
     By Richard Web, 1:116/901

     The twentieth century saw great leaps forward in the ways we
     communicate and share information.  Many of the driving forces
     behind these new methods and techniques were hobbyists and
     amateurs.

     Soon after Marconi demonstrated the principles of radio  telegraphy
     to the world the amateurs got involved.  When spark gap
     transmissions became unusable and highly inefficient the amateurs
     continued to be the pioneers in the field.  That smartphone you
     carry in pocket or purse would not be there today were it not for
     the amateurs.  The amateurs continue today to be pioneers, but
     their days are numbered.

     You may wonder about this statement, but I'm going to demonstrate
     why I believe this is true in the following pages, but first I'm
     going to celebrate those amateurs, at least in the developed world
     they helped usher in the information age and to some degree got
     people ready for broadband connections.

     In 1984 a man named Tom Jennings was developing software for
     various computer operating systems enabling them to run bulletin
     board systems.  He was working with a colleague on the opposite
     coast.

     Collaboration soon became a costly proposition, one would dial the
     other's computer system at 300 baud to just leave a short message,
     or an updated bit of program code, and the other would be present,
     they'd break into keyboard to keyboard chat, or pick up the phones
     to actually talk, turning a couple minutes of toll charge into half
     an hour or so with the meter running.  There had to be a better way
     to work together and keep costs down.

     There were indeed computer networks around then, available to
     government, the military and universities as well as big business.
     They were often out of reach of the hobbyist or the individual
     user.  Still Mr. Jennings and his colleague figured they could
     automate the sending of messages and files between their computers
     during the hours of the early morning when both were snug in bed,
     let the machines do the work, since neither was present at his
     local console they wouldn't end up breaking into conversation with
     the meter running.  Soon after they got it working other systems
     joined in, after all this was pretty neat stuff.

     Fidonet grew to be a monster, and along the way brushed up against
     the numerous cultural and social issues that the networked society
     faces today.  Often new technical hurdles were conquered, but those
     sociopolitical questions remain with us.    Those social and
     political issues are a large part of why the amateur's days are
     numbered, whether it be in the world of radio, or data networking.

     Those in the business of selling access have a strong interest in
     promoting access for a price and eliminating the amateur.  Their
     arguments are actually quite compelling.  They emphasize
     reliability, just pay the fee, connect up and communicate.

     It pays the pros dividends in goodwill and customer retention to
     bring out those portable cellular sites after the fire or storm has
     displaced whole communities after all.  Those customers remember
     that their cell phone carrier of choice responded quickly and
     efficiently.  At one time their only hope of getting messages to
     loved ones and friends might have been that ham radio operator, now
     they pick up their phone and dial direct.  They feel that this
     level of service is something they pay for, and have a right to
     expect.  What happens when the commercial service providers are
     unable to respond quickly and effectively never enters their minds
     however.  After all, the flashy advertisements tell them that
     reliability and ubiquity is something they should expect.  But,
     there will be times when the commercial communications providers
     can't respond effectively.  When that happens the amateur with
     their ad hoc links and services can often rise to the challenge,
     provided they still exist and have opportunities to develop new
     skills and techniques, as well as hone those already developed.

     The amateur on the other hand must have a high degree of motivation
     to continue with his avocation providing telecommunications
     services to the public.  After all, said public often sees him and
     his activities as superfluous.  The cafe where that average person
     had lunch offers wi fi, his device in pocket offers text, email,
     voice, all for that regular fee of course.  It's everywhere, and it
     works.

     "We want the world and we want it now!"  The biggest hurdle the
     amateur telecommunications service provider must jump is the public
     attitudes toward telecommunications in general.  Most telecom
     services provided by the amateur are of the store and forward
     variety.  Compose your message, upload it, and wait for a reply.
     About the only exception to this I can think of is the ham radio
     operator offering phone patch service.  Otherwise, whether it be
     volunteer email links via radio, Fidonet or any other volunteer
     service   the methodology is store and forward.  That radio
     telegram is store and forward as well.  Folks like that
     instantaneous interaction, you text Joe on your cell phone, he
     immediately taps out a reply, etc.  Dial mom on the phone and speak
     with her, a good full duplex connection, she can even interrupt.
     Modern society has no patience.  We hover near the checkout lines
     at the supermarket looking for the shortest line, which is why
     express lines are so popular, as well as automated check out
     facilities.  There's an atm machine on the corner; we want it
     shipped overnight by the dealer, and would be even happier if
     Scotty's transporter could deliver it immediately upon registration
     of our valid credit card info.  This is why hardware and software
     companies can offer real time chat or support via telephone and
     charge a fee for it, because we're too impatient to wait for that
     email to come back, or even bother to read the manual shipped with
     the product.

     For the amateur this means that he has little opportunity to put
     the skills and techniques he's developed into regular use, until
     he's needed.  When he is suddenly thrust into the spotlight as the
     only game in town he's derided as a poor substitute for the
     commercial services, often because he doesn't get the opportunity
     to thoroughly test his skills and techniques on a regular basis.
     The public remembers his shortcomings long after the emergency is
     over, and is quick to point out to anyone who will listen that the
     amateurs can't do the job.


     FIDONEWS Vol 28 No 43              Page 4          October 24 2011




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