Development of the bulletin board for oral pathology

Abstract

Advances in information technology as well as significant falls in the costs of computer hardware and software have led to changes in the methods by which people communicate. The system of electronic mail (E-mail) has been adopted by millions. Few major corporations, educational institutions, or hospitals do not now have, at the very least, a local area network (LAN) over which E-mail can be sent. The development of the INTERNET with connections to all parts of the world has allowed persons who can access the INTERNET to contact others with similar interests through E-mail or by connecting to special interest groups (SIGs). Many thousands of bulletin boards (BB) or discussion groups have been established that permit people with similar interests to link together electronically and to exchange information and comments about virtually any subject. Several bulletin boards have been organized for people with interests in medical matters and have proven successful. The Bulletin Board for Oral Pathology (BBOP) was set up in September 1994 by the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and the University's Computer Center. The following nontechnical report reviews how the BBOPLIST was established on the University's IBM computer, explains some of the decisions that had to be made at the time of its initiation, and provides an analysis of the first 9 months of its operation. It is thought that this may be of interest to oral pathologists, related specialists, and to others who might be considering establishing a similar bulletin board for another special interest group.