CHI 97 Electronic Publications: Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
ACM SIGCHI Information Infrastructure
Gary Perlman
SIGCHI Vice Chair for Publications
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
6565 Frantz Road
Dublin, Ohio 43017 USA
perlman@acm.org
Keith Instone
SIGCHI Information Director
Computer Science Department
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 USA
instone@acm.org
Abstract
We describe recent improvements to the ACM SIGCHI
information infrastructure,
mainly in the SIGCHI Web site
and SIGCHI use of the ACM LISTSERV for mailing lists and aliases,
and how they have been applied to
provide general information,
support committees,
publications and conferences,
and technical discussions.
We then describe some key areas where volunteers
are needed to improve SIGCHI information services,
particularly in the area of databases.
© 1997 Copyright on this material is held by the authors.
Goals for the Meeting
- Inform Members of Progress:
to discuss recent changes to
the SIGCHI information infrastructure in the areas
of the web site, mailing lists, online publications, etc.
- Evaluate Policies:
to gather feedback on the policies
for different areas of the SIGCHI Information Infrastructure,
particularly for new areas, such as online databases.
- Recruit Expertise and Workers:
We want to recruit people with time and expertise
to help maintain old and realize new SIGCHI information
offerings.
SIGCHI's Information Technology Areas
SIGCHI has based its information infrastructure
primarily on the World-Wide Web
(e.g., the SIGCHI Web site,
www.acm.org/sigchi/,
redesigned in 1996 by Scott Robertson)
and LISTSERV mailing lists and aliases
(recently moved from Xerox PARC,
where they were supported for years,
to ACM, and described in
www.acm.org/sigchi/listserv/).
SIGCHI has also utilized Web Crossings WebX for discussions
(although it has fallen into disuse).
SIGCHI has started to make use of the new ACM member accounts
(described in
www.acm.org/account/).
Application Areas
General Information
An informal news service started at the end of 1996 at
www.acm.org/sigchi/news/,
with time-critical events displayed on the
SIGCHI home page.
Extended Executive Committee Support
SIGCHI is run by the Extended Executive Committee (EEC)
with consists of the Executive Committee (EC) and the Adjunct Chairs.
The people on these committees communicate extensively with
electronic mail, supported now by ACM member accounts and
the ACM LISTSERV
(see
www.acm.org/sigchi/officers/).
For some SIGCHI chairs,
there are corresponding Web pages
(e.g.,
Publications,
Conferences,
Education,
Local SIGs)
and mailing lists
(e.g.,
chi-Publications@acm.org,
chi-Tech-Program@acm.org,
chi-Educators@acm.org,
chi-Local-SIGs@acm.org)
Publications and Conference Support
The SIGCHI Bulletin is in its second year
of a two-year experiment to publish the Bulletin
on the Web at
www.acm.org/sigchi/bulletin/.
As part of the creation of the new SIGCHI mailing lists,
LISTSERV aliases
were created for individual Bulletin editors.
The Annual CHI Conference is publishing its proceedings
on the Web for the third year.
We are compiling access statistics for
CHI '95 and
CHI 96 and
plan to track
CHI 97,
when it is released.
CHI 97 was the first annual SIGCHI conference to use the ACM LISTSERV;
59 lists were created for the event,
and more are planned for CHI 98.
Technical Discussions
SIGCHI open lists have supported announcements and discussions
on many HCI topics.
The SIGCHI Web site describes these lists under the
SIGCHI LISTSERV Web page
www.acm.org/sigchi/listserv/:
New Directions
We several areas where SIGCHI's
information infrastructure can be improved and/or better used.
These relate back to the SIGCHI EC's
goals for SIGCHI to be
a focal point of HCI in the world
and
the heart of SIGCHI members' professional network.
(See
SIGCHI Bulletin, Vol. 28, No. 1, 1996.)
- Use of Web and LISTSERV by Vice / Adjunct Chairs.
Although there are Vice Chairs and Adjunct Chairs
(see
www.acm.org/sigchi/officers)
using the Web and/or LISTSERV mailing lists,
some chairs have not yet made use of these facilities.
There are opportunities for volunteers
to assist chairs (or even hold a chair)
to provide more information to members.
- Databases for Members.
Little progress has been made on efforts to create a
consultants directory, a job bank, or a member
directory (which should build on the ACM accounts at
www.acm.org/account/).
- Indexes to HCI Information.
There is an opportunity for some industrious volunteers
to merge the existing indexes of HCI material on the Web
(e.g.,
HCI-VL,
HCI Index,
HCI Resources)
at the SIGCHI Web site.
- HCI Bibliographic Services.
The HCI
Bibliography
is going to be supported by ACM SIGCHI,
creating new opportunities for volunteers
to provide the HCI community with improved and new services.
- Graphic Design and Usability of SIGCHI Services.
There is a constant need for volunteer expertise in these
areas.
CHI 97 Electronic Publications: Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
