You’re reading a story from Sidelines 100, a project showcasing a century of student storytelling at Middle Tennessee State University. Sidelines 100 plans to highlight 100 stories from the newspaper archives this fall and spring.

This story originally ran in the March 3, 1994, edition of Sidelines. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of all things Sidelines 100.

The story has been updated for current basic AP style, but the wording in the story has not changed. Any ideas, perspectives or opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Sidelines.

MTSU students have access to computer-linked conversation from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and 202 countries in between, with the internet computer network.

By tapping into this system, members can exchange anything from online conversation to scholarly articles. It is all made possible through nodes and channels on the internet system.

“The two most popular sections of the internet are email [electronic mail] and IRC [Internet Relay Chat],” said Bill Collier, an MTSU student and internet member.

Through email, members send messages to each other privately. In IRC, members exchange conversation live online.

Messages sent through email are stored in a data bank. When users sign on to the computer system, the system tells them whether or not there messages for them. The member can then check his mail electronically.

Through IRC, members use the “chat” to track down their interests through specific channels and discuss them with other members. There, members find users and bring their words to personal computers all across campus.

Sorting out the information can be done through use of “knowbot.” Through “knowbot,” users can choose from an indexed interest list. George Henderson, author of “The Internet: A High Communications Revolution,” states in his book, “Knowbot is an intelligent information reader program. [It] roams the network, searching for items of interest to the owner.”

A more common term for “knowbot” used at MTSU is “ACAD 1.” The term links students to the MTSU catalogue. The catalogue might not be as easily accessible without the use of the internet.

Over 500 MTSU students are members of the internet.

“Don’t compare internet with Prodigy or other online networks, because Prodigy is commercialized and owned by retailers,” Collier said. “Internet is a lot of computers wired together that lets all of us exchange information. Prodigy is only news and weather.”

Internet allows users information on any subject.

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