Subj : Re: the presentation layer
To   : August Abolins
From : Tony Langdon
Date : Mon Jun 22 2020 02:35 pm

-=> On 06-21-20 17:43, August Abolins wrote to Tony Langdon <=-

 AA> Hello Tony!

 AA> ** On Tuesday 09.06.20 - 19:05, Tony Langdon wrote to Kees van Eeten:

 KvE>> The presentation layer is not the realm of Fidonet. There is
 KvE>> nothing in Fidonet that addresses the user experience.

 TL> That's a succinct way of putting it, and I agree totally.

 AA> Succinct, but not entirely correct.  ;)

 AA>  http://ftsc.org/docs/fts-0001.016  See, "Presentation Layer"

Hmm, a lot of that seemed to either say that there's no real standards for the
presentation layer, other than giving an example for what looked like a WFC
screen.  And the description of the packet looked more appropriate for a lower
level of the stack.  So, other than an Origin: line, what is actually mandated
at the presentation layer?  Very little, if anything, from what I can see. 
That means pretty much a blank canvas to work with. :)

 AA> I posit that even new FTN-specific jargon that represents the
 AA> technology it describes can be invented.

If it serves a purpose, why not?

 AA> New tools, information servers, etc.. that can enchance the end-user
 AA> experience could be helpful.

 AA> As per an earlier vision of what this echo would encompass, how to
 AA> "advance means of access", and "keep Fidonet attractive" include a
 AA> visual component in the scope of discussions.

 AA> One example of a step forward to useability is the ability to
 AA> capitalize on lauching http:// links in messages with a simple
 AA> keystroke directly at a bbs or within an offline reader.  As a couple

That would be nice - my copy of Multimail certainly doesn't allow easy
HTTP(S):// access - I have to do the copy/paste thing.

 AA> of others in the echo alluded to, there is room for designing new
 AA> markup language distinct to fidonet that bbs systems and reader
 AA> programs can understand.

 AA> Let's not forget about the user in the discussions of the future for
 AA> this technology.

This is an area where we could really make BBS technology a viable competitor
to things like web forums.


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