============================================================================== RED CIENTIFICA PERUANA SYNOPSYS ============================================================================== S Y N O P S I S Purpose of this document: ------------------------- To help you negotiate with potential publishers. To help publishers assess the book's marketability. You should translate the synopsis to your local language, and alter it as appropriate for your version of the Online World book. Refer to "What you *should* change" below for details about how to do this.. Some publishers may find our other marketing texts useful, when consider- ing the book for publishing. Having access to sample advertisements, letters to retailers, printed reviews, press releases, etc. may further help him in selling the book. Let us exchange local marketing material through ONLINE conference. If you have things that you feel to be appropriate, please submit to opresno@extern.uio.no for evaluation and posting in our archives. Your thoughts and suggestions about the synopsis are welcomed. Since this document may turn out to be an important sales support tool, please review and share your thoughts with the others in the project. What you *should* change ------------------------- Heading: ------- Add your name in line 3 (delete "(your name)") 1. Object --------- You may want to expand the line "Local examples have been added where appropriate" with the name of two or three services. Like this: "Local examples have been added where appropriate, for example from CompuServe, Genie and Prodigy." 2. Subject ---------- No change required. 3. Market --------- No change required. 4. Competition -------------- You should add a few lines of competing books published in your country. The US partner should delete the sentence: "The Online World Book has not been written in American for an American audience." Complete this paragraph: "Odd de Presno has been involved with the Online World professionally since 1974, and (your name) also have several years experience as a user." 5. Size and physical appearance ------------------------------- You may want to change these numbers, or extend it with details related to your local version. 6. Work plan ------------ Add your work plan here: How long do you plan to take to complete the manuscript? Rough it out into a chapter writing schedule. Include a copy of your and Odd de Presno's current vitaes. 7. Outline ---------- No change required. 8. Reviews of the book ---------------------- Give the names, addresses and telephone numbers (if possible) of two potential reviewers. Your best bet is a journalist, who uses to write about online topics. (Sending to the Editor of magazines/newspapers does not always give results.) Ask the publisher if he would be willing to offer a choice of books or a small fee to those asked to write reviews. Appendix -------- Example material. ------------------------------ cut here -------------------------------- SYNOPSIS of "The Online World" book by (your name), and Odd de Presno Purpose ------- To help publishers assess the marketability of the "Online World". Index ----- 1. Object What does the book try to do? How is the subject being treated? What trends and developments in this field will the book address? What kind of book is it? 2. Subject What topics are covered in the book cover? What are the unique elements of it's organization? How does the organizational plan reflect the current and emerging trends in this field? How is the subject developed in comparison/contrast to traditional approaches? 3. Market The book's intended audience. 4. Competition How does the book's features (organization, level, approach) differ from competing books? 5. Size and physical appearance (including illustrations) 6. Work plan (to complete the local language version of the book) 7. Outline An expanded list of chapter headings and subheadings. 8. List of people who may review the book 1. Object --------- The book describes the contours of our new "online world," which is rapidly becoming so important to many people around the globe. It gives background information about the structure and contents of this "world" and details how it works. Focus is on practical applications, and on how to find and get access to relevant services. It follows the readers' assumed needs - like information and help for people with cancer - and refers to sources of information and services set up to serve these. Applications covered range from entertainment and the bizarre to databases and special services for professionals and orga- nizations. The book is full of examples suggesting the range of available services, and multiple references for those who want to know more. It teaches the basics about how to use online services. We do not focus on one single online service. Emphasis is on the offerings of the large services available all over the world. They have the largest, (often) the best data bases, and the broadest range of offerings. Local examples have been added where appropriate. The book starts at an elementary level. The reader is not assumed to be a computer expert or experienced telecommunicator. It is not a tutorial on data communication, but the appendixes contain a lot of helpful information for novices. Experienced readers will enjoy the many references to sources of inform- ation and services. They will also read the suggestions about how to find new sources, and the chapters on cost control and how to cope with a large volume of information. - The book does NOT provide a complete list of available resources and services, nor is it a guide for technical persons on network development and operation. You can read the book like a novel, to get an idea of what is going on. It can be used as a handbook of practical uses of online data bases and news, and as reference book. The manuscript is continuously being expanded and updated. Publishing and translation are handled by a global network of partners using electronic mail and online conferencing. 2. Subject ---------- The book covers the following topics: * Examples showing the value of online information, and what some people do with this important resource, * The structure and contents of the Online World, * Introduction to the use of online services, * Chapters 4 through 11 focus on applications: Hobbies, games, and fun, Home, education, and work, Health, Electronic mail, telex, and fax, Free expert assistance, Your electronic daily news, Searching in databases, Applications for business. * The book winds down with practical tips about how to get more out of the online resource (including cost control), before concluding with our thoughts about the future. * Appendix #1 contains a long list of online services with contact addresses. Appendix #2 and #3 contain introductory texts for novices. The unique elements of this book's organization are that it goes from needs and applications "down" to technology. We try to describe how these needs may be satisfied by a variety of (competing) services and networking platforms. This organization reflects the increased maturity of today's personal computer users. They are more interested in satisfying their information and networking needs, than by how it works. They are pragmatic about what technology can do to better their lives, rather than being enthusiasts. The traditional approach in such books has been to describe how modems and communications programs work technically, followed by detailed explan- ations of how to log on to one or two online services to use selected offer- ings. Some of these books are hard to distinguish from the online services vendors' promotional material. 3. Market --------- The book is for parents and children, teachers, students, business people, social workers, psychologists, young, old, for anybody interested in our "Global Village". Computer enthusiasts -------------------- Those already having computer and communications experience will prob- ably be the first to recognize the book's value. It refers them to forums where they can get expert advice about their computers and software, to vast reservoirs of public domain and shareware software, and databases of information that will guide them when making purchase decisions. Knowledge workers ----------------- The book will be of particular interest to knowledge workers. It tells them how to build a personal professional network of people around the world. It guides them to sources of information that may help them in- crease and maintain their know-how, and services that they can use at work. Business -------- Business people will learn how to monitor competitors, prospects, supp- liers, markets, technologies, and trends. They will read about how to man- age international projects, and how to sell and services goods and servi- ces by modem. Teachers -------- It shows teachers - from kindergarten to university levels - what a powerful tool the Online World can be in their classroom. It refers them to established networks for exchange of curriculums and infor- mation. Students -------- The book teaches fundamentals about the online world and it's applications. such knowledge is believed to be critical for their future - across dis- ciplines and jobs. They will learn about how to handle the huge reservoirs of online information, and about how to find sources of interests to their field of study. Online databases may be important when researching for papers and class projects. Parents ------- The book shows parents how the can give their children a unique advantage. It shows services that can be used to improve their kids' performance at school, and how to help them reach out to build a personal network with peers. Persons contemplating working from home --------------------------------------- Anyone contemplating working from home and live anywhere may find this book useful. It contains numerous practical hints about e-mail, busi- ness research, how to acquire free software, and education. Concerned persons ----------------- People concerned with our times and the future of our society will learn about one of the most profound and exciting revolutions taking place right now. A revolution which is about to change the lives of many people, and possibly also the structure of future society. Increased use of online networking in a country can effect social changes in the political, economic, communications and scientific domains. In many countries it can support democratic tendencies, the transition to a mar- ket economy, formation and support of telecommunications, computer and information industries, the spreading of computer mediated interpersonal and mass communication, forging of invisible colleges among scientists, and breaking-up of traditional and closed information systems developed in some societies. This book is both for those who are new to telecommunications and those who have been around for a while. An American market research company, Simba Information (+1-203-834-0033), published a report in July 1992 called "Online Services: 1992 Review, Trends and Forecast" in the US market. Online service sales grew by 61.1 percent between 1987 and 1991, reaching $9.6 billion last year, according to Simba Information. The company predicts a 48 percent sales increase in the next five years, yielding a $14.2 billion on-line services market in 1996. The development in the US is an indicator of the kind of development to expect in other countries over time, representing interesting prospects for this book. 4. Competition -------------- There are several books in this market. The most important competitors are written in the US: The Matrix by John S. Quarterman (1990): Describes the interconnected global communications networks and conferencing systems. Difference: Not oriented towards applications (!). Focusing on the technical aspects of the networks/structure. The "Online World" may therefore be regarded as complementary! Weak on BBS systems (except FidoNet) Dvorak's Guide to PC Telecommunications, John Dvorak and Nick Anis (1990, 1200 pages) - Currently in it's second edition. Describes the online world as seen from an American perspective. Weak description of the Unix, uucp, BITNET, Usenet, Internet conferencing world. BBS oriented. ** Sold 70,000 copies by the automn of 1991 at US$49.95 ** Most competing books concentrate on one or two specific services or areas, like Internet, CompuServe, or Usenet. It is unusual to see books trying to describe the "online world as such - from a user's perspective". The reason is the size of the task. There are close to 500,000 hosts, and 5,000 data- bases in the world, and numerous other services. Odd de Presno has been involved with the Online World professionally since 1974, both as a commercial online service provider, a free BBS system operator and a professional end user. He is listed in the 1991-1992 edition of Marquis' Who's Who in the World. (Your name) also has several years of experience. Our Competitive advantage: ------------------------- The Online World Book has not been written in American for an American audience. It is the result of a global cooperative project. Each national version has been adopted to its local market. Examples of services not available in this country have been removed. Interesting local offerings have been added. 5. Size and physical appearance ------------------------------- The current basic manuscript is around 520,000 characters large, the equivalent of some 236 typewritten sheets of paper (size A4). It has 17 chapters, and 6 appendixes (including the Index). There are at present five optional illustrations (drawings). These are available as GIF files (which may easily be converted to PCX, TIFF or other graphical formats for publishing). Paper versions of these illustrations may be made available upon request. 6. Work plan ------------ 7. Outline ---------- Expanded list of chapter headings and subheadings: PREFACE 1. That will make me rich, right? Knowledge is Power. Online communication is not just for the privileged or the computer enthusiasts. A larger personal network gives a stronger punch. The value of information, and of having a great time ... 2. The online world From papyrus to bits and bytes. The structure and contents of the online world. Database producers and information providers. Online services, like Bulletin Board systems, discussion lists, conferencing systems, and online data bases. Gateways and networks. The services being offered. Electronic mail. Chat. File transfers. Conferences and discussions. The lightning speed of the electronic message. News. Databases. Just for fun. The user interface. The data transporters, including packet switch- ing services, and network services like FidoNet, i-Com, Infonet, Internet, and others. 3. How to use online services Navigating by menus. Test driving the services. How to navigate like an expert. Tailoring the online services to your interests and needs. Various methods of displaying information on your screen. Connecting the first time. 4. Hobbies, games, and fun About computer programs, online adventure games, chats, threatening vir- uses, planning holidays, hobbies: collecting coins and stamps, genealogy, music, wine and food, shopping, outdoor life, and other leisure activities. Man and woman matters. 5. Home, education, and work House, garden and personal finances. Education, teaching and the exchange of knowledge. Global networking for kids. How to build a personal network. Job hunting by modem, and about working from home. 6. Your personal health-net Online support for diseases like AIDS, cancer, and kidney diseases. Forums for people with physical or mental disabilities, e.g., hearing impairments, learning disabilities, vision impairment, mobility problems. 7. Electronic mail, telex, and fax How to communicate globally at a ridiculously low cost, with hints about how to address your global electronic mail. What to do when the receiver is using another mailbox system. The Internet network. Domain name add- ressing. Bang addressing. X.400 addressing. Directories of services and subscribers. Dialcom. FidoNet. Sources for more information. 8. Free expert assistance How to get free advice about your computer, software and other things. For users of MS-DOS computers. For owners of Amiga computers. Sources for Apple users. Other computers. 9. Your electronic daily news Read national and global news before it is available through traditional media, and get those interesting background facts. Read special interest news that the media never bothers to print. Seven minutes on September 19, 1991. An overwhelming choice. Behind the news. 10. Looking for a needle in a bottle of hay When your personal database fails to deliver. Start by asking others! Buy the services' user manuals. Monitor the offerings. The European Common Market. More sources about sources. Practical hints about online searching: In conferences and forums, In file libraries. Using ANDs and ORs. Using BITNET discussion lists through Internet. Subscribing to discussion lists. Monitoring the action. Other sources available through the Internet. How to get more out of your magazine subscript- ions. Finding that interesting book. 11. Getting an edge over your competitor Using the networks to coordinate projects. Monitoring competitors, prospects, and suppliers, markets, technologies, trends. "Clipping" the news. "Clipping" on CompuServe. "Clipping" on NewsNet. When "clipping" is impossible. Subscription services. Databases with an international orientation. Interested in the European Common Market? Scandinavia. How to monitor your competitors. Intelligence by fax. The Bulletin Board as a sales tool. Marketing and sales by modem. Electronic mail. 12. Practical tips How to get more out of your time spent online. Speed and safety. Different needs, different solutions. When everything fails. Copyright notices and other legal stuff. Unwritten laws about personal conduct. Fax services weigh less than your computer's printer. File transfers through the Internet. Transfers to your local mailbox computer. Transfers of binary files. Binary files transferred as text codes. Transferring pictures. 13. Cheaper and better communications Using packet data networks or competing data transport services. What is cheapest? Using the national packet data services. Outdial through PC Pursuit. Outdial through i-Com. Cheaper access to Compu- Serve. IXI - a European alternative to PDN. Using DASnet to cross network boundaries. FidoNet - grassroots playground. RelayNet. Other interesting services. 14. Keep what you find. Search and throw away. Strategies for locating interesting information. Store incoming information, and build your local personal data base. Post-processing the data. Reusing data on your hard disk. Desinforma- tion, deception and errors. What separates good from bad information. 15. You pay little for a lot! How to figure out the costs: When you pay by the minute. Planning and self-discipline pay off. Modem speed and cost. When you pay for volume. Some practical hints. 16. Automatic communication We all have different needs. The minimum solution. Auto-logon with Procomm. Macros in Procomm. Automating the complete task. Alternatives: Write your own system, Use script files made by others, Special software, Offline readers. Automatic automation. Limitations. To get a lead on your competitors. To avoid duplication of effort. To reduce costs. To reduce boring repetitive work. The advantage of not having to remember all the technical details. 17. Gazing into the future. Our newspaper of the future. Electronic news by radio. Electronic mail on the move. Cheaper and better communications. Wild dreams get real. Simpler communication. New ways of pricing the services. Cheaper data transfers. Sources for future studies. --------------------------- Appendices: 1. List of selected online services 2. How to get started You'll need a computer, and a modem. External modems. Asynchronous or synchronous? Choice of speed. MNP error correction and compression. The speed of your computer's COMM port. MNP and efficiency. File transfers using MNP. Dumb or intelligent modem? The Hayes standard, a standard on the move. The modem cable. Connecting your equipment to earth. The commu- nications program. Connecting to the online service. Getting started with Procomm. 3. Your first online trip Practical data communication. Assembling the equipment. Installing the program. The dial tone. Does your computer have contact with the modem? Does your modem have contact with the phone line? NO DIALTONE. Configur- ing your program. Dialing. What may go wrong? When dialing though a switchboard (PBX). No answer from the remote computer. Sorry, no luck .. Testing on a local BBS system. Partial success. Downloading programs. Downloading text. The term "append". The term "strip". National charact- ers. Protocol transfers. Downloading public domain software. The proto- col transfer methods explained: XMODEM. XMODEM/CRC. YMODEM Batch. Kermit. Super-Kermit. ZMODEM. Decompression of files. Transfer problems. Uploading. Sending electronic mail. Slow down with "pacing". Protocol transfers may be easier. 4. Explanation of some terms used in this book 5. Index Optional appendixes: - Inquiry cards (advertisements) to make it easier for the reader to get information from service vendors mentioned in the book. - This be an extra source of income reducing the financial burden of prin- ting the book. 8. List of people who may review the book ----------------------------------------- Name: Address: Phone No: ----- -------- --------- 1. 2. (op10/10/92) .