CONFER (software)

CONFER is one of the first computer conferencing systems. Highly sophisticated for its time, it was developed in 1975 at the University of Michigan by then graduate student Robert Parnes. The CONFER system continued to be a widely used communication tool until 1999. CONFER is the progenitor of the computer conferencing systems Caucus, PicoSpan, and YAPP.

CONFER is one of the first computer conferencing systems. Highly sophisticated for its time, it was developed in 1975 at the University of Michigan by then graduate student Robert Parnes. The CONFER system continued to be a widely used communication tool until 1999. CONFER is the progenitor of the computer conferencing systems Caucus, PicoSpan, and YAPP. *FILE*=filename directs output to a file #$Run CNFR:CONFER t=5 par=WABC:PROJECT-X #Execution begins Confer II (08/89) - designed by Robert Parnes Copyright & Trademark: Advertel Communication Systems CONFERence for WABC:PROJECT-X Marlou Smith, organizer New item: 1 No new responses No new messages DO NEXT? new Item 1 14:38 Nov10/90 4 lines 1 response Marlou Smith A new beginning! This notice is to introduce you to our new Project-X conference. Please join our conference and respond to this item to indicate that you have successfully joined. Thank you. 1 response Nov10/90 14:42 1:1) John Brown: Thank you for the invitation. I am now a member. RESPOND, FORGET, OR PASS: respond GIVE YOUR RESPONSE > Yes! I too am now a member. > {return}' [a null or empty line] EDIT, VIEW, CANCEL, MORE, OR DONE: done This is response 1:2 DO NEXT? Example 2: Enter a new item for discussion: DO NEXT? enter ENTER NUMBER OF ITEM THAT MOST INSPIRED THIS ITEM: 1 ENTER YOUR TEXT > This is the first line of text in a new item > And this is the second and last line of text in the item > {return} [a null or empty line] EDIT, VIEW, CANCEL, MORE, OR DONE: done ENTER THE HEADER FOR YOUR ITEM ON ONE LINE A new beginning! OK TO USE DISCUSSION RESPONSES? ok Your item preparation is now complete. OK TO ENTER THIS INTO WABC:Project-X? ok Your entry is now ITEM 2 DO NEXT? Example 3: Post a new bulletin that will be shown to all members of the conference: DO NEXT? bulletin YOU MAY POST A SHORT BULLETIN - There will be a short meeting tomorrow for all members of Project-X - in West Conference room at 2 pm. - {return} [a null or empty line] EDIT, VIEW, CANCEL, MORE, OR DONE: {return} [a null or empty line] EFFECTIVE DATE: {return} EXPIRATION DATE: {return} Bulletin has been posted. Marlou Smith Effective: Nov19/90 Expires: Nov26/90 There will be a short meeting tomorrow for all members of Project-X in West Conference room at 2 pm. DO NEXT? Example 4: Transmit a private message to another participant: DO NEXT? transmit ENTER YOUR MESSAGE > I am sending you a test message. Do you read me? > {return} EDIT, VIEW, CANCEL, MORE, OR DONE: {return} ENTER RECIPIENT: john brown OK TO SEND TO JOHN BROWN? ok Message sent at 13:11 Nov18/90 ENTER ANOTHER RECIPIENT (or press RETURN): {return} DO NEXT? Example 5: View a private message from another participant: New message: 2 DO NEXT? message - Message 2 3 lines 13:12:41 Nov18/90 MESSAGE from: Jack Black 13:11 Nov18/90 WXYZ:MF I am sending you a test message. Do you read me? Jack REPLY, DELETE, OR IGNORE: reply ENTER YOUR REPLY > I read you loud and clear! > John > {return} EDIT, VIEW, CANCEL, MORE, OR DONE: done OK TO SEND TO JACK BLACK? ok Message sent at 13:12 Nov18/90 ENTER ANOTHER RECIPIENT (or press RETURN): {return} Continuing with message 2 from Jack Black DELETE OR SAVE: delete Deleted DO NEXT? Example 6: Finish the CONFER session and sign off from MTS: DO NEXT? stop #Execution terminated #signoff ==External links== Arab-Israeli Conflict Web site, Interactive Communications & Simulations, University of Michigan-Flint and Ann Arbor. "Sunday in the Park with Parnes", includes group photo, U-M Computing News, vol.1, no.2 (11 August 1986), Computing Center, University of Michigan, p. 3 Parnes, Robert, Learning to CONFER: The Interplay of Theory and Practice in Computer Conferencing (PhD dissertation), 1981, in the Karl Zinn papers at UM's Bentley Historical Library, box 1, 2 folders. Parnes, Robert, "Learning how to confer: The interplay of theory and practice in computer conferencing", In CHI '81 Proceedings of the joint conference on Easier and more productive use of computer systems (Part - II): Human interface and the user interface, Volume 1981. Wolter, Jan, "A Partial History of Computer Conferencing in Ann Arbor", The Great Green Room, 2007. Zinn, Karl, "Computer facilitation of communication within professional communities", Behavior Research Methods (BRM), vol. 9 no. 2 (March 1977), pp. 96–107. Zinn, Karl, "Case study of a user-oriented conferencing system", CHI '81 Proceedings of the joint conference on Easier and more productive use of computer systems (Part - II): Human interface and the user interface, Volume 1981. Zinn, Karl, "CONFER Connection", Creative Computing, vol.7, no.4 (April 1981), pp. 98–102.

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