Greetings! I have proposed the following idea to the Mercurians SIG and feel that it is equally appropriate for the Computers, Information, and Society SIG. We could make this a combined Mercurians-SIGCIS session proposal. Here is the proposal: I would like to propose that Mercurians organize a SHOT session around the theme of the computer as a communications device. Obviously, we could do this jointly with the computer SIG, as well. The papers could be on any aspect of the topic. They might touch on the development of the technology, the roots of the idea of computers as communication devices in cybernetics (Norbert Wiener et al), the role of federal dollars, the role of federal policy (eg, communication policy), the role of the military, or the applications of the computer as a communication device, such as in making medical assistance available over great distances or in isolated regions or various auction (e-bay) and other commercial uses. Consumer applications, of course, would dovetail with one of SHOT's themes for this conference. Approaches could be historical, philosophical, sociological, anthropological, etc. Any ideas, suggestions, or proposals? Andrew Butrica Andrew J. Butrica MERCURIANS ANTENNA Newsletter P.O. Box 30224 Bethesda, MD 20824-0224 USA mercurians@earthlink.net www.mercurians.org