YARN Summit (May 15, 1998) Notes:

Introductions: Richard Lowenberg, YARN
David Rosenberg and Lynnel Pollock, Yolo County Supervisors

Background

Internet development: Department of Defense and NATO; scientific computing network; defense (high speed data and communication); email; early 1990s Internet became a public network; private sector involvement; public funding; WWW developed in Cern, Switzerland; new way of packaging data; browser; 2nd only to email in use; replaced older technology, i.e gopher.

Connectivity: twisted copper, coax and fiber; transoceanic cables; satellites and terrestrial wireless

Convergence: all technology becoming digital i.e. phones, television, computers; long term trends lean towards analog; organic communicicaiton; companies merging

What is this evolving information society?: large as the Gutenberg revolution; impact on society comparable to automobile, electrification; a matter of choice (use it or not); a valuable tool; commercialization of communication; tv, radio ads; internet becoming more info-tainment; Internet technology.

Poll of Summit attendees (partial)
~40 have internet accounts
~8 have no accounts
~5:1 have accounts

Discussion Resistance to technology and net; one to one appreciation; intro computer classes; school labs, students as teachers; new technology
Internet; more cost effective for non-users; slow connections; rural
connectivity; too expensive; we are the last mile; most people don't realize what they can do with net from home; public access Internet (new Esparto Library) and plans to wire libraries throughout Yolo.

Telecom Act & Deregulation Presentation by Philip Marler, Assistant City Manager, Woodland
YARN collaborating group of cities and county rep's are planning and drafting regional policies
Final draft of cell tower ordinance is under review
Looking for regional opportunities to collaborate; discovering duplication of efforts
Financial systems; public works; training opportunities Taking a unified approach cell policy for Woodland, Winters, Davis, Yolo County; joint resolution requires collaboration and strategies;region wide vision; infrastructure ordinance to preserve street integrity; develop common approach; consider draft and accept or reject

Partnerships Hardware companies; local schools; local government locations; social service agencies;m
organizations collaborate; 2 way communication on specialized topics; grants and matching funds

Access and Connectivity Public domain software/middleware; rural internet access; public kiosks; costs; locations: fire stations, city halls, libraries, schools; language; getting fee for service information; developing web resources; whose information goes online?

Training and Education
Searches online; basic education; web pages; maintaining web pages; email; databases; other applications (i.e. FTP, etc); secure information; GIS + remote sensing
Applications for schools; general public; farmers
Keeping information current; what information gets online?

Next steps
Remember public domain/free software; one stop shopping for organizing information; efficient organization; geographic gateways; education, use tools get folks trained; develop networks; maintaining information; democratic decision making; finding other models; assess use of webpage by clientele, other ways to communicate; keywords, metadata standards; assess needs of Yolo County audience with surveys, farm meetings, bureaus; policy on infrastructure; get computers to farmers (in California, 28% use computers for business), get them training; get grants; YARN help provide services and be a data clearinghouse.

Glossary
Netlingo allows search by the first letter of a word and has nice links to other words and examples.
http://www.netlingo.com/
The Computer Network has words arranged alphabetically with examples
http://www.cnet.com/Resources/Info/Glossary/
Electronic Frontier Foundation
http://www.eff.org/papers/eegtti/eeg_toc.html#SEC3
Una Diccionario en espanol.

What Information Gets Online?
Metadata; gatekeeper; commenting on quality; discussion; peer reviews

Afternoon Breakout sessions

Training / Education

Applications
GIS / Waterworks / Ducks Unlimited

Successful Web Pages / Web Marketing
View the AETS invitation