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| Title: | US_SALES_SERVICE |
| Notice: | Please register in note 2; DVNs in note 31 |
| Moderator: | MCIS3::JDAIGNEAULT |
|
| Created: | Thu May 16 1991 |
| Last Modified: | Tue Sep 03 1996 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 226 |
| Total number of notes: | 1486 |
173.0. "The Future of VTX - Please help" by KITYKT::GITA (recycled stardust) Mon Dec 07 1992 12:12
I am a consultant with G&A Videotex Services and I am concerned about
the future of DEC VTX/Text Retrieval.
We've been suporting internal VTX applications for the past seven +
years.
Last March our group announced our external consultancy program and we
have had our phones ringing ever since. We have worked hard to
establish a good relationship with the VTX engineering group in
Valbonne so that we could influence the product direction so it would
be more reflective of customer requirements.
Recent announcements have us concerned over the future of VTX. There
are plans to relocate the engineering group back to Spitbrook. No one
is sure when this will take place, who will relocate, etc.....
Customers have again become excited by VTX, especially with the
addition of full content based retrieval, enhanced print and save,
additional desktop coverage and multi-language capability. We,
Digital, can't afford to have engineering development stop, remain
static, or go backwards or we've again lost revenue and market share.
I have written a memo (some call it a thesis) in which I've addressed
my group's concerns about the product and where we'd like to see it
improved. Many of you reading this note may have already seen it.
It was suggested to me that I include it here to reach a wider
audience. It is long. My memo is 7 pages, but I have 11 attachments
that cover a lot more than that.
Please take the time to read this. It contains information that may
open your eyes to the possibilities of VTX. Most of us depend on VTX
one way or another to do our jobs. It is in our own interest to ensure
the future viability of this product.
Thank you for your time.
Gita Devi
1.0 Introduction/Summary
The purpose of this memo is to: (1) increase upper management's awareness of
DEC VTX/TR (Text Retrieval), (2) generate additional funding for the
product and (3) to describe additional high level functionality required for
continued product success.
Intended Audience
-----------------
The distribution list for this document is quite broad and represents
groups with a variety of interests. We felt that it was important to
deliver this message across all business units and to share our
recommendations with all related development groups. We have also included
those organizations that have provided us with input regarding the subject
of DEC VTX/TR product futures.
Requested Action
----------------
If you believe, as we do, in the need for continued investment in this
product, we recommend that you share your input with the appropriate
marketing and/or engineering product management and we would also ask that
you share a copy of your response with us.
If, after reading this document, you would like to discuss the matter of
funding/resources in greater detail, please contact Catherine Robinson,
manager of G&A Videotex Services.
Who are We? G&A Videotex Services
-----------------------------------
G&A Videotex Services is a part of IM&T and has been providing VTX Design,
Applications Development and Operations support to the internal Digital
community for the past 7 years. We have grown from supporting a single VTX
server to supporting over 60 servers on our WAN VTX-dedicated cluster. Some
of our internal customers are Personnel, Sales, Marketing, Desktop,
Finance, Property Waste Management, Transportation and Law.
In late March, 1992 we announced our consulting services to the external
customer base and our phones haven't stopped ringing. The demand for DEC
VTX/TR is growing. With the recent addition of the full text search and
multi-language capabilities of DEC VTX/TR, our potential customer base has
expanded. Once the field became aware of our consultancy service, they
were more willing to promote the product.
Overall, the marketing plan for DEC VTX/TR calls for revenue generation of
$10M in FY93 in license sales alone. In a memo dated 02-September-1992,
Bill Carlisle, then VTX product manager, provided License and Leveraged
Revenue figures of $31.6M for FY93, broken down by quarter as follows:
Q1 $9.0M
Q2 $9.1M
Q3 $6.3M
Q4 $7.2M
We have projected to recover $400K for FY93 and have projected to bring in
approximately $3.5 million in revenue for Digital. This includes VTX
licenses, hardware, software and consultancies. One of the major selling
points of VTX is that the product does generate additional revenue in
addition to the software license. It can be considered to be a "service
enabler." Most customers require training and consulting to fully
implement a VTX solution.
Based on the level of customer demand we have experienced, and the level of
marketing opportunities we have seen, we believe that DEC VTX/TR requires
capabilities identified in Section 4.0, and funding beyond the current
planned committment which is essentially steady-state.
Since May, 1992 we have offered both introductory seminars and 2-day
technical training in DEC VTX/TR which have been oversubscribed and have
resulted in subsequent sales of VTX/TR licenses and consulting engagements.
We felt that this was critical to generate enthusiasm for the product. We
also realized that Educational Services does not offer any classes in the
most recent versions of the product and we wanted to fill this gap. On
three occasions, G&A Vidoetex Services has successfully sponsored Per
Hamnqvist, of the VTX engineering group, to come to the U.S. to provide
this training. During these trips, we have been able to talk with the
external customers that have been attending these classes to ascertain
their perception of the product. Per was also able to visit those
customers with whom the engineering group had already established a working
relationship. Their input into the product direction has and will continue
to prove invaluable (and profitable.)
What Dennis Roberson Has to Say About Pleasing Customers
--------------------------------------------------------
In a memo dated 18-November-1992, Dennis Roberson stated:
"The products and strategy we will continue to engineer were chosen based
on our strategy , which --at a high level-- is to provide "Distributed
Computing That Works.
Customers who come to us are of three categories:
1. Those starting from scratch to create a distributed computing environment
to run their establishment or enterprise....Key attributes should include
strong networking support with high performance interconnections, high
availability and software fault-tolerance, strong infrastructure software
for easy application support, good development tools and environment and
easy systems management.
2. Those moving from mainframe (centralized) environment to a distributed
environment (down-sizing) The slogan here is "Distributed Production
Systems That Work....
3. Those moving from a set of PC LANs to a departmental or enterprise
structure. The slogan here is "Integrated Workgroups That Work"...The
drive from the customer is to escape from unmanageability and reduce the
(unexpectedly high) cost of ownership while establishing connectivity to
the rest of the organization and its wealth of data and applications..."
We believe that DEC VTX/TR fits all three categories and can be ideally
positioned to fit Digital's new engineering strategy.
The remainder of the document is divided into the following sections:
2.0 Clear Customer Messages
3.0 VTX Strengths
4.0 What Needs to be Done
5.0 External customer response
6.0 Attachments (Lots of them!)
2.0 Clear Customer Messages
Several clear messages have been emerging from our direct experiences with
customers, both external and internal.
1. There is a tremendous need for a product such as DEC VTX/TR in the
existing marketplace. Customers are looking for innovative ways
to share data across platforms, networks, companies and countries.
They are looking for ways to reduce costs but increase productivity.
DEC VTX/TR is seen as a vehicle to do all these things.
2. Customers are willing to pay for consultancy. VTX can generate
a great deal of revenue NOW among our traditional customer base.
With the field more aware of the internal support groups available
to assist customers, it is becoming more active in promoting the
product. This leads to point #3.
3. DEC VTX/TR requires enhancements to make it fit the changing
PC market and gain wider acceptance among a more divergent customer
base. If these enhancements are not made, and made quickly,
Digital will constrain the market that DEC VTX/TR can be sold into and
will lose a substantial source of revenue.
Several customers have expressed interest in working with VTX
engineering to solve these issues. Please see the attached memos
relating to this.
4. A stronger marketing effort is required to "spread the word"
about the enhanced product capabilities and the availability of
internal consultants. G&A Videotex Services and VTX Engineering
(as well as a few individuals in the UK) can't do it alone.
5. Digital is in an ideal position to capitalize on its own
multi-national internal use of the product and make it a
showcase of a truly networked client/server application.
3.0 VTX Strengths
VTX already has many strong features, including:
a. Multi language support
b. Structural (hierarchical) and keyword based access in addition to
full text search
c. Poly client access
d. Free, but supported clients on several open desktops
e. Wide area information web. Users rarely know that they can be
accessing systems throughout the network. It appears seamless.
f. Support for back-end applications and dynamic data. This is a
very strong feature allowing for the inclusion of non-VTX data
into the web. DEC VTX/TR can be used to access data, collect
data and store data.
g. Failover servers. Uninterrupted service is guaranteed even
if a portion of the system develops a problem.
h. Move away from frame based text to scrollable pages
i. Multi language clients
j. Removal of DECnet dependency
k. Accessibility via internet which allows companies to share
information seamlessly. The University of North Carolina and
the World Bank are successfully doing this now. The
Environmental Protection Agency has also expressed an interest
in becoming part of this information-sharing "network".
l. VTX can save a customer money and pay for itself. A clear
example of this is the work done within Digital Personnel and their
use of VTX to automate the Disability Enrollment procedure.
The following excerpt is from a memo by Tom Skinner:
Final Disability Enrollment Status Report
23-Oct-1992
Summary:
This was the first program that was designed to allow ALL U.S.
Employees to enroll on-line. Of the 51,014 that were eligible,
39,307 enrolled on-line. Another 4,317 used the forms for
enrollment and 8,626 default to the company core coverage.
It was estimated the on-line process saved the corporation
$390,000.
(text deleted)
Cost Savings based on Mary LaPalme's Memo and PIE calculations:
Rounded Cost per transaction: $12.50
multiplied by on-line enrollments 39,307
equals $491,337
minus development costs $100,000
total savings $391,337
Note: External customers have now expressed interest in viewing this
VTX application for possible acquisition. This represents
one of many opportunities for leveraging internal VTX
applications in the external marketplace.
4.0 What Needs to be done?
Despite all of its strong points, DEC VTX/TR must change. With the explosion
taking place in the PC marketplace, DEC VTX/TR needs to be enhanced to continue
its prominent place as a publishing/text retrieval tool that will generate
revenue for the company.
In an attached memo dated 24-November-1992, Tom Povey clearly states the
major areas requiring change. We will only highlight them here:
1. The user interface technology is still based on VT100
characteristics. Customers expect a more "windows-like"
interface.
2. The inability of VTX to transfer pages in formats other
than text or Digital-proprietary ones such as CDA, Regis
and Sixel. Customers with PCs require graphics and documents
in PC formats.
3. Inability of VTX to hold different types of storage format
for the same page(s).
Other areas that would provide a major return on investment should also be
considered . VTX Engineering has already thought about possible solutions.
To quote from an internal engineering document:
4. "VMS dependency for servers
This problem is fairly bounded and can be worked on in
parallel with other activities. Any attempts to design and
implement an open VTX server should also review some other key
requirements placed on this Poly Text Retrieval system.
Target systems would be Windows NT, OSF/1 and OS/2 for the
server.
5. Native format support" (same point made by Tom Povey)
"Native format support is really two problems in one. The
first part is the ability to store and render arbitrary data
formats....
The second part is new now that our focus is on text
retrieval. Here support also includes being able to index and
search these formats.
It would seem reasonable if the solution to this second part
consisted of storing a draft copy of the document along with
the native format....
It would be desirable to make the drafting interface open as
to allow customers to add "drafters" to formats not part of
the standard kit. We should strive for using the native
applications themselves as drafters rather than writing our
own.
6. Information provider tools
It is important that ... operations can be performed from
the normal VTX client. This should be coupled with the
development of a batch-CC client. This should open up the
doors for people writing their own Information Provider tools
and page management systems, complementing what we may
provide with the standard product.
We should further try to identify other applications dealing
with rapidly changing information and ensure that we have
easy methods of moving stabilized information from such
systems into VTX. One such application is Team Document
Library.
It would also be worth to assist DEC software service
projects that try to provide simple PC tools for VTX, such as
what they are doing for Bechtel (custom IP tool based on
Visual Basic) in such a way that generic solutions can be
provided to other customers later on.
We could further supply a simple suite of programs that
convert stable sources of information into VTX format, such
as VAXnotes, UNIX man pages and Bookreader.
7. Desktop Coverage
VTX is an enterprise wide system and as such must not limit
itself to a few very common desktops. That is, we must move
beyond the DEC centric desktop and MS Windows. We must
rapidly work on the MAC client and on IBM mainframe clients
(MVS and AS/400).... "
5.0 External Customer Response
1. G&A Videotex Services has been notified by Ohio University that they are
willing to work with VTX engineering to develop a MAC client. This was a
result of discussions held with the customer during VTX/TR training.
Potential Revenue of such a client: High, as many external customers who have
MACS have already expressed an interest in a MAC client. We have already
lost business because we haven't had a MAC client compatible with the
latest version of DEC VTX/TR.
2. General Dynamics is currently having discussions with one of Digital's
certified VTX resellers of their funding VTX engineering development of
software that would allow VTX to run over their own internal network.
Potential revenue: $100,000.00 to $150,000.00 for the coding alone.
3. State Industrial Insurance Systems in Nevada stated that they saw VTX as
playing an increasingly more important role in their business over the next
15 years. They said that a scarcity of human resources makes VTX even more
important than ever. Other customers have echoed this sentiment. They
view VTX as the means of disseminating information throughout their
corporation quickly and inexpensively.
4. Some of the customers with whom we have provided pre-sales and post-sales
consultancies:
Bechtel
Environmental Protection Agency
Prudential Insurance Company
Johnson & Johnson/Pharmaceutical Research Institute
Warner Lambert
Scott Paper Company
Coors Brewing Company
Bristol-Myers Squibb
GTE
REECO
BC Systems
State of Florida, Division of Elections
They all have one thing in common: WordPerfect or other non-Digital
formatted documents. The existing off-the-shelf conversion software is not
capable of producing ASCII documents that require no further editing.
We have had conversion software written that can handle most problems
encountered during conversion to ASCII. While this solves some of our
immediate problems, customers have expressed frustration of not being able
to add documents directly to a VTX infobase in the native language format.
6.0 Attachments
There are a total of 11 attachments. Some are quite long, but they support
and reenforce our contention that continued development of VTX is vital if we
truly want to "delight" our customers.
The memos are:
1. Two memos (shortened) from Sharon Keillor
2. Memo from Dick Menard, a certified reseller of VTX in which he states
2 external VTX opportunities and 1 internal opportunity. All projects
would involve making VTX run over additional networks and open VTX to
a wider market
Also is a memo from Gita Devi, Consultant with G&A Videotex Services
about the contents of Dick's memo.
3. Memo from John Lindley, VTX consultant in the UK in which he states
Digital's potentially lost revenue from 5 external companies due to
a lack of PC/graphics support
4. Memo from Tom Povey of the UK Communication Group dated
20-November-1992 during which he addresses the future of VTX
5. Memo from Tom Povey of the UK Communication Group dated
24-November-1992 in which he discusses the future of the VTX Product,
outlines the work he is doing developing a DECforms/VTX user interface,
details the dependency within Digital upon VTX and the cost-savings that
external customers and Digital have realized as a result of using VTX.
Tom also states solutions he sees to overcome some of VTX's weaknesses.
6. Memo from Laurie McCabe of manager, Desktop, commenting on Tom Povey's
memo and where she sees the need for VTX PC improvement.
7. Memo from Joan Blair, Education Business Unit, in which she stresses
the importance of the VTX/Internet capability in a campus-wide
environment.
8. Trip Report from Per Hamnqvist of his attendance at OPIO. Of importance
is the VTX/Internet connection.
9. Memo from Ken Merrick, CUP manager dated 24-November-1992 in which he
outlines some of the more recent IDC-France VTX Support Activities.
10. Memo from John Baker dated 26-November-1992 (includes a customer memo)
in which he expresses concern that VTX continue to meet customer needs.
11. Memo from Cliff Chatten dated 25-November-1992 in which he discusses
how the Digital Partner Network in the UK uses VTX to disseminate
information to external customers.
Attachment 1:
Memo from Sharon Keillor. DEC VTX/TR development should follow
her guidelines.
From: TLE::BUFFER::KEILLOR "18-Nov-1992 1426" 18-NOV-1992 16:00:46.22
To: @DIST,@DIST1,@TNSG_STAFF,@SAK_STAFF
CC: KEILLOR
Subj: SOFTWARE ENGINEERING COMMUNICATIONS -- NOVEMBER 18
******************************************************************************
********* COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL ******* DIGITAL INTERNAL USE ONLY *************
******************************************************************************
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING COMMUNICATIONS
November 18, 1992, Attached
November 23-27, 1992, Next Communication
Given the changes occuring within Digital, it is more important than ever that
our customers know that Digital will continue to support their needs under the
new, lean Digital organization. Software Engineering will support the field
and drive the process of creating and relaying this message to our customers.
In a series of communications, we will deliver to you one unified message
that will speak to the products, support and service that we will continue to
give to our customers.
This is an opportunity for us to be proactive in terms of why our refocusing
of Engineering investments in each product area is in the best interests
of our customers and Digital.
Software Engineering is continuing its plan as a best-in-class, world-class
developer and provider of software. With our focused Engineering
organization, we have enhanced our opportunities to reduce our costs,
streamline our processes and integrate our strategies. Our commitment
continues to the operating systems and environments that our customers need.
Our engineering investments reflect our overall strategy and there will be
an increased focus in the area of partnering, to make our offerings more
complete. As we continue to streamline these processes and to enhance the
focus in specific areas, these changes will be communicated to you.
Digital's software mission, goals and objectives, as well as the commitments
that we have made to our customers and partners, exist as they always have.
Software continues to play a leading role in our business and product future.
As Bob Palmer stated on October 1, 1992, "...ALPHA AXP, "a universal computer',
operating effectively with multiple operating systems like UNIX, NT, and
OpenVMS is important. To complete the job for customer needs means having the
applications, software, system, and service and making it all easy to buy.
Our focus is to continue to invest in services, software, networking and
silicon...".
Our customers need to hear the following major messages:
o Digital is focused on driving the message of our expertise in
"Distributed Systems That Work". This enhanced focus draws on
our technolgoy ladership in distributed computing and networking.
o Digital's Excellence in technology has had a profound impact on
the computer industry for 35 years. And, Digital will have a
powerful impact in the future, as well.
o In simplifying our Product and Services portfolio, Digital will
control cost, manage change and be profitable.
o Digital has a long history of protecting customer investment in
Hardware, Software, and training -- from the PDP-11 to VAX
migration with compatibility mode to the support of DECnet to VMS
applications.
o Digital is changing to best meet the needs of our current and our
future customers. We highly value our customers' input and we
are committed to being customer driven.
o Digital will implement any changes in an orderly manner with
the goal of minimizing customer disruption and fulfilling its
legal and moral obligations.
Attached is the initial information on our ongoing directions in
Software Engineering technology. In future communications (Nov 20)
look for more in-depth statements from the Software Technology areas,
including areas of focus, plans, and support requirements.
At the end of this message is a list of contact people to respond to product
questions; Any NEW notes files, and focal points for press and consultant
inquiries, are also listed. As this information is upated, it will be
communicated to you.
*** NEXT COMMUNICATION FROM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING -- FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23-27 ***
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING ORGANIZATION
STATEMENTS OF DIRECTION
"Distributed Systems That Work" -- Drawing on our leadership in distributed
computing and networking. This positions us to be able to address significant
computer downsizing issues that many of our customers are facing and meets the
needs of a very significant market segment that is struggling with the
integration of their individual PCs and LAN environments. This integration
must be into a shared, robust, rich, workgroup mode of operation, capable of
meeting mission-critical application needs.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Digital's NETWORK AND SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT products and services
are profitable and are critical elements in meeting the needs of
today's and tomorrow's customers. No other vendor has the breadth or
depth of Digital's product and services offerings. Today, Digital
offers management products and services covering systems, networks
storage environments, while delivering the management functions needed in
those environments such as configuration and performance. And, TODAY
Digital products manage IBM, SUN, HP, VMS, U*X environments.
These products and services have been and are being developed by several
Digital organizations. During the past several months there has been
a major effort to reduce duplication and to focus on the most important areas
of our offerings to match customer needs with the future success of Digital.
The roadmap process, of which you may have heard, drove the management area to
define a single corporate strategy and identified critical areas needing focus.
As a result, the top three areas of focus for Systems and Network Management
products and services became Storage, Network Management and Configuration.
In addition, the license management group has joined Software Engineering.
Software developers and end users have expressed a strong need for license
management across heterogeneous platforms and we will ensure that we provide
flexible solutions and business practices to deliver this. Also, as a result
of this process, some projects that are duplications of other work or are
clearly non-strategic, point efforts, are being phased down or merged.
Digital remains committed to providing secure products and to continuing as
a leader in the security business. Digital will continue to provide an
appropriate base level of security in our products for all customers and
provide security products and services for significant markets needing higher
security levels. Security Marketing is being redirected to focus on the
security in our products and services and to the security needed in each
industry.
Digital's long history of customer investment protection continues as we
move aggressively forward to meet and exceed management needs of the future.
Expect more of this agressive approach in addressing your customers' needs
for management products and services. The Network and Systems Management
domain is a strong and vibrant area of business for Digital.
NAS INTEGRATED PRODUCTS
( text deleted)
INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
With Software Engineering's effort to implement a cost effective
product strategy supporting Digital's core businesses, International
Systems Engineering (ISE) will be faced with the task of re-examining its
expenses to meet anticipated funding levels. While this task has not yet
begun, and changes, if any, to the ISE organization are unknown at this time,
we'd like to take this opportunity to restate the following:
- Digital's strong legacy in providing international products will continue.
Digital has delivered international hardware and software products and
language variants for over 10 years.
- ISE's contribution in providing access to incremental markets through its
internationalization and localization services remain a key asset for
Digital. This contribution **WILL CONTINUE** and will proceed, according
to company constraints.
OFFICE OFFERINGS has a NEW BANNER: WORKGROUP SYSTEMS
Personal Computer Applications Engineering (PCAE), Office Systems Applications
Group (OSAG), Image Voice Video (IVV), Appledorn Software Engineering
Organizations and Office Information Systems (OIS) and Electronic Publishing
Systems (EPS) Marketing.
We know that during this time of change, you will need clear and
complete information from us on how these changes will impact your customers,
and we will give you specific information in each area as soon as it's
available. As part of our efforts we are consolidating the engineering efforts
of the PCAE, OSAG, IVV and Appledorn Software Engineering organizations
together with the OIS and EPS marketing organizations in order to deliver an
integrated set of products. At this time, we can strongly affirm Digital's
focus on Office, Image and Document Management, under the new banner of
Workgroup Systems. Engineering, marketing and the field have been investing in
the products and infrastructure to aggressively pursue workgroup computing,
and we are committed to continuing that investment and establishing leadership
market position.
Some of our current products may be de-emphasized; these are difficult
decisions that are being evaluated right now. Our focus on the Workgroup
Systems Business, on providing the core framework for building Workgroup
Systems, is being strengthened. We are committed to supporting the Customer
Business Units in their pursuit of this lucrative market. Where Digital will
not have product in this space, we will continue to align with partners to
meet customers needs, distribute other people's products as appropriate, and
use systems integration to deliver the best multi-vendor workgroup systems to
our customers.
You should continue to sell our Workgroup Systems product family, and know
that our product strategy will enhance these with focus on information
sharing, messaging, workflow, document management, and imaging. We will
continue to communicate to you on a regular basis as changes are implemented.
The ENTRY-LEVEL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS GROUP, Appledorn, The Netherlands, will
continue to support the full strength of our offering of fully integrated
networked solutions for the commercial applications environment.
The emphasis will continue to be in the areas of:
- Client-server solution platforms of networking and systems management
software for SCO-UNIX servers and MS-Windows clients with emphasis on the
functionality required by distributed organizations such as retail banks
and for the SME market. The platform solution package is marketed under
the name DECadvantage.
- Document management/imaging and workflow solutions
- MS-Windows desktop organizer and userfriendly application integration
In light of the renewed corporate strategy we will continue to evolve the
functionality as described above towards use in a distributed environment
based upon NT. Appropriate migration and implementation products will be
put in place in order to serve the specialized market channels which are
depending on these Open Systems solutions.
In light of the refocusing of corporate strategic focus and Digital's
current condition, a number of current products will be transitioned out
of SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGIES (SDT). There is an ongoing decision
process on the future engineering and support of these products. Options
under evaluation include transition to an existing or new third party,
and transition to a Digital organization(s) other than central
engineering.
Through-out this transition, SDT remains committed to providing the key
components of COHESION and in supporting vital programs such as the CASE
Partners program.
In addition, SDT's primary goal during the transition is continuity of
customer commitments. This means no interruption in service to our
customers in terms of product availability, and product support. As a
result, the movement of products will be transparent to our customers and
need not be discussed with customers unless the customer raises the
topic.
Our request of you is to continue to sell any and all of Digital's
software products wherever they meet your customer's needs. We will keep
you informed as more details become available.
As Digital continues to re-evaluate its priorities and refocus its resources,
we want to assure you and our customers that we remain 100% committed to the
products represented within the CORPORATE INFORMATION SYSTEMS arena. In fact,
the more narrow product focus that Digital will pursue will have the effect
of INCREASED focus in the CIS domain. All of our key strategies in this space
will be carried forward:
- We will continue our focus on ACMS as a premier transaction
processing facility. We will maintain and enhance our leadership
in desktop client support for ACMS and in interoperability. Our
plans to introduce an NT client coincident with Microsoft's
announcement of NT remain unchanged. Our plans to introduce a
graphical development workbench for ACMS in early 1993 remain in
place. And our plans to expand ACMS to Alpha, OSF and NT, and to
support open TP standards will be carried forward with renewed
vigor. In addition, our plans for DECADMIRE, a production-class
application code generator for ACMS and non-ACMS enviroments that
has enjoyed an enthusiastic customer and field response since its
introduction in August, will continue, unabated.
- We have an aggressive development underway in the FORMS area which
we intend to maintain. The Forms set of products, led by our
flagship DECforms products, continues to be one of the highest
revenue and profit generators among Digital's software products.
Products for Alpha, OSF, and PC clients will continue as part of
our 1993 development plans.
- Digital has a unique and leadership technology for truly distributed
fault tolerant computing in a product called RTR (Reliable Transaction
Router). RTR development will continue and will be enhanced
in order to capitalize on the unique opportunity which this
technology provides.
- Our investment in MUMPS technology will continue with great
enthusiasm, as we enhance our leadership position in the
MUMPS market. Like the Forms products, Digital's MUMPS products
(DSM) continue to be one of the highest profit generators among
Digital's software products. We will continue to expand our MUMPS
technology offerings in 1993. We will begin shipping DSM for
OpenVMS AXP early in 1993, being the first MUMPS product on the
Alpha AXP platform. Our plans to port DSM to the OSF/1 platform are
underway. We are moving forward with our plans for a client/server
DSM implementation beginning with a PC client.
The CONCURRENT ENGINEERING/CALS BUSINESS UNIT will continue to address the
following key issues and areas:
o Our customers must be able to change rapidly, maintain product
quality, and shorten design cycles to be competitive in
today's market.
o The EDCS/STEP/EXPRESS product sets manage data related to
product development and are deemed strategic agents for our
customer's and Digital's mutual success.
o Our service organization provides the knowledge and expertise
to implement these agents and the specific changes required to
be competitive in today's environment.
Within the PC APPLICATIONS -- DEVELOPER SUPPORT AND DISTRIBUTION area, the
emphasis is on improved service and greater efficiency. As Digital Equipment
Corporation has been re-evaluating its corporate strategic focus, working
partnerships with third party software providers has been an important part of
our recent strategy. This is likely to become increasingly so in the future.
However, we fully expect that there will be consolidation and internal
re-structuring of some of the myriad third party developer support activities
with an aim towards improved service and improved efficiency.
In the interim period there is a clear committment to continuity in our
committments to both customers and to third party partners. The large number
of PC Applications from third parties will continue to be available via Digital
channels. Digital will continue to expand our offerings in the U.S. through
our recently acquired subsidiary, 800-Software, Inc. Program activities to
provide similar capabilities on a worldwide basis are also planned to
continue.
The PC Developer Support Program, which has championed the use of PATHWORKS
over the past few years, also is planned to continue. As part of the
consolidation process it is likely to go beyond just PATHWORKS and provide
support for a variety of emerging Digital APIs and technologies such as
NT/Alpha-AXP.
Our request of you is that you continue to actively sell any and all of the
software products that we distribute, both Digital-built and Third Party-
provided. Your customers should be assured that we are committed to meet their
PC application needs.
Digital has re-evaluated its strategic focus, and is moving
quickly to re-gain our leadership in the market. This means change, in our
organizations and in our product strategy. All of these changes are aimed at
securing a strong future for our company and for our customers. These new
areas of focus are in the most exciting parts of the growth area of our
industry and represent great opportunity for all of us. Software
engineering is committed to delivering the information necessary to
assist you in answering questions from our customers.
( text deleted)
FROM: Sharon A. Keillor
TO: Digital Sales Force, Internal Partners Program members,
Geography Managers
DATE: November 13, 1992
COMMUNICATIONS FROM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
As you know, many changes are underway within Digital. Like you, I want to
be informed as to what the changes are and their impact.
Over the next few days you will be receiving a number of communications
from me that will assist in supporting our field people who deal with
customer questions and concerns. Work is in process in many of these areas
and results will be communicated to you as they become available. The schedule
for these communications is as follows:
o by Monday, November 16 -- Initial statements of direction from
all Software Engineering Expertise Centers
o by the end of November -- Statements of direction from the Expertise
Centers, areas of investment, plans, and support requirements
o Future -- Dissemination of all Bill Strecker and Dennis Roberson
statements relating to the sofware product portfolio and its
support for company-wide initiatives.
It is imperative and for the good of Digital, that you support our efforts
in stopping the distribution of any unfocused, misleading, possibly incorrect
information. I will do my best to support your need for timely, accurate
information on the future of our software products and services.
While it is true that engineering is evaluating and trying to provide clarity
and focus around products that meet customer needs, it is important that you
do not make statements based on non-verified information. You should use this
office to verify the accuracy of information that you receive.
Digital has both an intention and an obligation to stand behind its products.
To that end, we will continue to provide customers with support and service.
Our present focus should be on meeting customer needs using current products
and on supporting the previously-stated company directions.
Please distribute this message widely.
Attachment 2:
Two memos:
1. From Dick Menard, Authorized VTX Reseller
2. From Gita Devi, comments on previous memo
From: DECWRL::"[email protected]" "Dick Menard" 18-NOV-1992 09:00:24.31
To: Gita <furfce::gita>
CC:
Subj: news from reseller
Three exciting developments:
1. large defense contractor in southwestern US desperately needs VTX
and text retrieval capability to cope with new contract. Their network
of 5000 PCs is interconnected over XNS (a protocol I never heard of, have
you?). They are very enticed by VTX
ability to communicate over multiple desktops, and to integrate with
data/text on IBM mainframe. Needed within next 48 hours: availability,
ballpark cost and time estimates to make VTX work over XNS.
2. Large utility in Boston area also attracted to VTR because of its
scalability. Network environment is Novell. Not sure which type of
Novell (tcp or otherwise). Will keep you informed as I learn more
details.
3. DEC public relations group wishes to pursue granting access to
infobase by external publishing community using DSN link.
RAM
From: KITYKT::GITA "Gita Devi, G&A Videotex Svcs, 223-1021" 17-NOV-1992 16:19:41.98
To: CASEE::HAMNQVIST,VIA::HILLERICH,ICS::ROBINSON
CC: GITA
Subj: External customer willing to FUND VTX engineering effort!
I've just spoken to Dick Menard and he had some great news for us. (He's
also attempting to send via internet more background information)
1. General Dynamics, a major defense contractor, in Fort Worth, Texas wants
to fund a VTX engineering effort to develop a VTX client/Server that will
run over their XNS network protocol.
Dick said that General Dynamics has a world-wide network of over 5,000 pcs
and IBM mainframes. He explained to the company that VTX already has the
client/server capability the General Dynamics requires. The customer was
very excited over the possibilities of using VTX/TR as a solution to their
publishing/documentation problems and was willing to put up the money
required to make it work on their network.
2. The Digital Corporate Public Relations group has decided it wants to
use the DSN link to open their infobase to external customers who need
quick access to press releases, etc. They expect the media to be their
main clients, and they are willing to fund this project.
Per, Dick, Paul Doucette and I met about this when Per was here last month.
===============
I am encouraged by this increasing level of interest on the part of
external and internal customers. I was very happy to hear that the first
step in the VTX/internet link has already taken place and is successful. I
mentioned this to my client at the Environmental Protection Agency (Vickie
Wheeler) and she was thrilled as the EPA and universities already work
together. She knows both Harry and Ramesh and will be in touch with them.
These two projects appear to be headed in the direction of making VTX more
appealing and available to the external customer base. I/Dick Menard need
to talk with you both about VTX engineering resources that can be allocated
to making these projects come to fruition.
- Gita
Bill - FYI. In response to the inquiry we sent out about an ELK class,
I've already had enough people respond to hold a class in December, another
after the new year, and a third in Europe. Of course, this is all
dependent upon engineering's willingness to let Per come over again. I
believe that all the time that Per has spent doing this training has, and
will, result in increased customer awareness, enthusiasm, and sales. Our
group is seeing the results already.
Per is doing a lot more than training when he's here. He's lighting a
spark of enthusiasm, both within Digital and within the external customer
base, for VTX/TR. I wish there were more marketing people who had the
same level of enthusiasm and technical expertise so they could continue
where he's left off.
Attachment 3:
Memo from John Lindley regarding necessity to improve VTX
PC client
I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M
Date: 11-Nov-1992 01:41pm BST
From: John Lindley
LINDLEY
Dept: I.T. Core Technologies Group
Tel No: 830 - 3525
Doc No: 006761
TO: Remote Addressee ( _rdgeng::povey )
Subject: VTX PC Client stuff
Current Situation
In the UK, many current VTX sales opportunities focus on the
functionality of the PC Clients, and in particular the ability to display
images/graphics. The lack of a viewer for the PC Clients is a stumbling
block in many of these opportunities, especially since it is widely
percieved by Accounts/Customers that the MS-Windows client displays
complex graphical images.
Most Customers now have PC Clients installed, and would like to publish
images typically created within Harvard Graphics, FreeLance or other PC
based graphics packages. Many have taken the conversion root from PC -->
DDIF/ReGIS and found it to be unsatisfactory.
The Following customers have specific imaging needs:
Existing Customers
British Gas - Have an immediate need for disseminating scanned images
through their organisation. Currently a pilot is planned to scan and
convert to REGIS and purchase VT340 emulators for the Pc. Past experience
suggests they may be dissappointed.
Scotish Nuclear - Possible sale of several licenses and associated
consultancy, if they can display Graphical Output from Harvard Graphics,
and scanned images. The Customer (Ron McConville) may be contacted via
the SNL Account team at the Livingston office.
British Petroleum - Need to display output from various packages,
including 2020, Freelance, Harvard Graphics. Considerable Consultancy
and license sales possible.
Customers at Pre-Sales Stage
Welsh Development Agency - Planning to have a pilot, after which they'll
decide if they want VTX. Both Pilot and full implementation will require
consultancy. 20/25 days consultancy @800 pounds/day for Pilot agreed,
more consultancy if pilot successful.
Unipart [an all IBM customer] has been suffiently impressed with VTX for
a major IBM project to be re-evaluated. A VTX solution is being proposed,
images are a major part. Sales Opportunity in sales of VAX/PCs and VTX
license.
WHAT IS REQUIRED ?
PC users clearly have a need to display PC format images. It is proposed
that a single format be supported (e.g GIF), since convertion between Pc
image formats is available. The criteria for selecting the format could
be based on:
- No of variations within the Format
- Accessibility and cost of Viewers
- Interface to Pc Applications
The PC client to be provided with a 'hook' for recognising a PC format
page and for invoking a Pc viewer application.
Attachment 4:
Memo from Tom Povey dated 20-November-1992
To: Ken Walker, Software Engineering Marketing
From: Tom Povey, UK Communication Group
cc: Jenny Edmondson, UK Software Marketing
Paul Samuels, UK Internal Communications Manager
Sian Purslow, European Field Communications Manager
Scott Cramer, US Field Communications
Wyn Pugh, European IM&T BSCC SAMS Manager
Bill Hillerich, US VTX Product Manager
Brian Mottershead, VTX Engineering Manager
Ken,
I am contacting you following Sharon Keillor's Software
Engineering Communication memo dated 18th November.
I work in the Communication group within Marketing in the UK.
I am currently running a project, sponsored by the UK Board
of Management, to modernise the use of electronic
communication technology in Digital UK and to help increase
revenue by selling to customers the very best of what we do
internally.
The product that I am working with most is VTX. Digital
already has a lot of significant business data stored in VTX
infobases. In the UK, we see VTX as an important employee
communication tool, with the potential to be much more
cost-effective than Email for communicating information from
one source to many readers.
Since Sharon identified you as the person to contact
regarding what is happening to VTX, can you tell me the
following:
o will VTX development work continue?
o will the appropriate technical and marketing resources be
applied to VTX to both increase sales revenue and to improve
our internal use of the product?
o what will be the mechanism for requesting additional
features, wanted by both customers and internal users, for
the next release?
I would like to be reassured that the VTX product will
receive an amount of engineering investment related to its
sales potential. In particular, the UK is investing in a
project, working with VTX engineering, that is aimed not only
at internal cost savings but also at bringing in customer
revenue. We need this work to continue.
With only a little more engineering effort, Digital could
greatly increase the sales of products and services around
VTX and could also generate greater internal cost savings
through improving our use of the VTX product. There are two
particular features currently missing from VTX, neither of
which requires a great deal of engineering effort, that both
internal users and customers here in the UK are asking for.
These are detailed below. Neither is currently committed to
by VTX engineering. We would like to see them funded for the
next release of the product.
The remainder of this memo explains more about what we in the
UK and Europe see as the sales potential of the VTX product.
It details what we believe should be done to increase the
sales and services revenue from VTX. Perhaps you can ensure
that this information gets to the people who are deciding the
future of the product?
regards,
Tom Povey
The Sales Potential of VTX
--------------------------
VTX engineering have, with version 5, produced a product
which is *almost* what we need to capture a significant
amount of new business here in the UK as well as to allow us
to set up an impressive Company Information Service
internally.
With version 5, Digital can offer a product which overcomes
some of the deficiencies that had been holding the product
back. For example: printing support, PC and workstation
clients, and Text retrieval which is itself a major selling
point for the version 5 product.
The next version, V5.2, will add to this to provide for
connections between servers over TCP/IP which will open up
the market into companies using Internet. University campuses
are one likely market here. The V5.2 product will also be
translated into some 7 national languages.
However, in the UK and Europe, we lose sales because of the
following deficiencies in VTX:
1) The user interface technology. The basic character cell
interface is old technology, being based upon characteristics
of the VT100. Although the version 5 product has improved
support for PC's and workstations, it really only puts a menu
bar and a set of icons around a VT100 emulator. Customers
expect a more "windows-like" interface.
2) The inability of VTX to transfer pages in formats other
than text or Digital-proprietary ones such as CDA, Regis and
Sixel. Customers with PCs want to transfer graphics and
documents in PC formats.
3) The VTX user can only print the page or pages that they
see on the screen. There is a need, for example, to be
reading text pages on the screen and to be able to print or
save a postscript version of the same information. Currently,
this can only be achieved by the information provider giving
a menu option to cause a document to be mailed to the user.
This is not really acceptable to customers.
The User Interface
------------------
In Europe, the majority of Digital employees are still using
character cell terminals ie VTs. There is still a significant
market in Europe for products with character cell interfaces.
One part of my project is to integrate the sophisticated user
interface capability of DECforms into the VTX product. I have
had discussions with the VTX engineering group and they
support my work.
If we can update the user interface technology available
within VTX in the near future, ie by summer of 1993, then we
can capture a lot of sales in the UK and Europe.
PC page formats
---------------
This is the ability for VTX clients to take pages of any type
and to run another application either to display or to work
on the page content. This would particularly apply to the PC
client. For example, a company could store graphics pages,
created by PC software, in an infobase. The VTX client would
then activate the appropriate viewer on the PC for the user
to see that page. Another example might be to view or even
locally edit a document created in a native PC file format.
VTX engineering call this feature "launchable pages".
Alternate print formats
-----------------------
This is the ability for an infobase to hold different types
of storage format for the same page such that the VTX client
can print or save whichever format the user requires. For
example, a page might have an ascii format for viewing on all
terminals and a postscript version for printing. Currently,
the VTX service provider must setup a hardcopy mailing
option, via a menu choice, to allow a postscript version of a
document to be sent via mail to a user. The user then has to
file or print the document themselves. Having VTX do this for
them would not only make it easier for the user but would
also save on both network usage and disk space.
{end of memo, 19 Nov 92}
Attachment 5:
To: Dennis Roberson, VP Corporate Software
Sharon Keillor, Software Engineering Communictions
From: Tom Povey, UK Communication Group
Subject: The future of the VTX Product
Sharon, Dennis,
I am writing to you because I am aware of an increasing number
of both internal users and customers here in Europe who are
concerned about the future of the VTX product.
I am working on an internal project in Digital UK that is
goaled with developing the use of VTX to realise cost-savings
within Digital and then to sell that expertise to customers,
thus generating much-needed revenue. We have many customers,
both internal and external, who are dependent upon not just
continued support for the VTX product but also increased
support and further development.
I know that to many people, including it appears engineering
management, VTX is "old technology". However, the recent
engineering work done by the VTX group, especially around
text-retrieval and internet support, and the limited
marketing and training support that has been put into the
product, has resulted in a number of customers, both internal
and external, who want to see the product properly supported
and developed further.
The Videotext market has grown to a greater extent in Europe
than in the USA. Since the VTX product moved to Valbonne, the
engineers have improved it significantly. Many of our larger
customers, some of whom are used to public Videotext services
in their own countries, need to distribute information to
their employees and they lean naturally to buying VTX. We also
have a number of internal groups who see VTX as a way of
distributing information at lower cost and greater
effectiveness than with hardcopy and/or Email.
I can see parallels in engineering between VTX now and ACMS a
few years ago. As you well know, with sufficient investment in
engineering and marketing, ACMS is now a much better product
than it seemed to have the potential to be back in 1987-88. I
believe that with an investment in VTX, Digital can make
internal cost savings and can also increase its revenue from
the sales of software, hardware and services in the Videotext
market.
In another parallel with ACMS, I am involved in working with
the VTX engineering group to integrate the user interface
technology of DECforms into the VTX product. The use of
DECforms can overcome one of the most significant shortcomings
of VTX in the same way that the use of DECforms overcame the
problems that ACMS were having when sales were being lost due
to the use of TDMS.
I would like to make you aware of:
1) the amount that we in Digital are dependant upon VTX and
the cost-savings that have been realised by groups utilising
VTX.
2) the potential for increasing sales of VTX by some
relatively short-term engineering effort on some significant
new features.
3) the need to develop the business side of the VTX
opportunity around not just product sales but also services
and consulting.
I know that there is a lot of decision-making going on at the
moment and that there are very many things to consider. I
offer this as my contribution to make you aware of the
tremendous potential of VTX. I know many others share this
view and indeed you may hear directly or indirectly from them.
I attach some supporting information regarding internal
projects that are using and planning to use VTX together with
some known cost-savings that both Digital and its customers
have realised from the use of VTX.
VTX was Digital's first major client-server application back
in 1983-84. It was ahead of the market at the time. We now
have a large installed base both internally and externally.
Now is the time to put resources behind it to fully realise
the potential of the product and make it a world-leader in the
market.
regards,
Tom Povey
Internal Projects and Cost-savings from the use of VTX
======================================================
Some of the internal projects currently underway which are
dependent upon continued support for and development of the
VTX product include:
1) The UK Company Information Service.
2) The French, Swedish, German, etc and European area VTX
services.
3) The European Sales Communication Programme
4) The UK ISO 9000 Accreditation Programme (TQM)
5) The UK and European CSO network information services for
customers.
Some of the cost-savings that we know about are:
Digital UK Payroll VTX
Between its introduction in April 1990 and the end of the
year, there was a direct saving of �40K on printing costs.
Indirectly, it also freed up one full-time person to do other
work using time previously spent on the telephone.
Digital UK Field VTX
In the first year (1988/89), field VTX saved �200K in
printing costs, and �50K in distribution costs.
There has also been a �1.3 million general productivity gain
on performance of sales people who have been able to get to
the information quicker.
In the first year there was 50% usage of the system, now
it's up to 80%. Background: Pre-VTX, sales people received
documents which amounted to a pile of paper a metre high
each month which they had to wade through to obtain the
information they needed. If they were not in the office very
often, the problem was compounded.
Total saving since the inception of Field VTX has been �3
million. However, many people in the field are not happy with
the way they have to interact with VTX to get at the
information. Hence the need for user interface development work.
Digital UK Car Fleet
An investigation was made as to what difference it would make
NOT to have the Car Fleet information on VTX. The extra work
this would generate meant that 2/3 extra full-time people
would be needed just to answer the telephone, the nature of
this job would mean a high turnover in staff and a
deterioration of the service.
It would cost the company individual's time which they would
spend on the phone with questions and waiting for an answer.
At senior management level, this would be tremendous!
US Health Care Programme
They recently transferred much of the information and contact
process onto VTX with a saving of some $390,000 on the
previous hardcopy distribution method.
Use of World Messages Digital UK currently use Email to get
management information to employees. These Email messages
are often referred to as "World Messages". One study a
couple of years ago suggested that a 1-to-1 email message
costs �1 to send. This means that each world message costs
over �4,000. This does not include the costs of the people
who have to work the process involved in sending the
messages out. Putting the information onto a Company
Information Service (ie VTX) would, once the service is set
up, involve negligible cost.
Two Customers experiences:
Barclays Bank, UK, CCIS
A VTX application for managing business accounts, it is
similar to the Digital UK Field VTX. Barclays estimate that is
saved them �2 million in its first year.
Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte in the UK
Their research shows that if they were to do away with their
VTX system, they would need to employ some 30 extra staff to
answer telephone queries.
The Sales Potential of VTX
--------------------------
VTX engineering have, with version 5, produced a product which
is *almost* what we need to capture a significant amount of
new business here in the UK as well as to allow us to set up
an impressive Company Information Service internally.
With version 5, Digital can offer a product which overcomes
some of the deficiencies that had been holding the product
back. For example: printing support, PC and workstation
clients, and Text retrieval which is itself a major selling
point for the version 5 product.
The next version, V5.2, will add to this to provide for
connections between servers over TCP/IP which will open up the
market into companies using Internet. University campuses are
one likely market here. The V5.2 product will also be
translated into some 7 national languages.
However, in the UK and Europe, we lose sales because of the
following deficiencies in VTX:
1) The user interface technology. The basic character cell
interface is old technology, being based upon characteristics
of the VT100. Although the version 5 product has improved
support for PC's and workstations, it really only puts a menu
bar and a set of icons around a VT100 emulator. Customers
expect a more "windows-like" interface.
2) The inability of VTX to transfer pages in formats other
than text or Digital-proprietary ones such as CDA, Regis and
Sixel. Customers with PCs want to transfer graphics and
documents in PC formats. We have customers in the UK who would
eagerly sign to buy the product if this capability were
supported.
3) The VTX user can only print the page or pages that they see
on the screen. There is a need, for example, to be reading
text pages on the screen and to be able to print or save a
postscript version of the same information. Currently, this
can only be achieved by the information provider giving a menu
option to cause a document to be mailed to the user. This is
not really acceptable to customers.
The User Interface
------------------
In Europe, the majority of Digital employees are still using
character cell terminals ie VTs. There is still a significant
market in Europe for products with character cell interfaces.
One part of my project is to integrate the sophisticated user
interface capability of DECforms into the VTX product. I have
had discussions with the VTX engineering group and they
support my work.
If we can update the user interface technology available
within VTX in the near future, ie by summer of 1993, then we
can capture a lot of sales in the UK and Europe.
PC page formats
---------------
This is the ability for VTX clients to take pages of any type
and to run another application either to display or to work on
the page content. This would particularly apply to the PC
client. For example, a company could store graphics pages,
created by PC software, in an infobase. The VTX client would
then activate the appropriate viewer on the PC for the user to
see that page. Another example might be to view or even
locally edit a document created in a native PC file format.
VTX engineering call this feature "launchable pages".
Alternate print formats
-----------------------
This is the ability for an infobase to hold different types of
storage format for the same page such that the VTX client can
print or save whichever format the user requires. For example,
a page might have an ascii format for viewing on all terminals
and a postscript version for printing. Currently, the VTX
service provider must setup a hardcopy mailing option, via a
menu choice, to allow a postscript version of a document to be
sent via mail to a user. The user then has to file or print
the document themselves. Having VTX do this for them would not
only make it easier for the user but would also save on both
network usage and disk space.
{end of memo, 24 Nov 92}
Attachment 6:
Memo from Laurie McCabe
From: NAME: LAURIE MCCABE
FUNC: U.S. Desktop Marketing
TEL: (603) 884-1426 <MCCABE.LAURIE AT A1 at CGHUB at MKO>
To: NAME: VMSMail User GITA <GITA@KITYKT@MRGATE>
Hi Gita,
I think Tom's document does a good job of summarizing "the sales potential
of VTX" in regard to what enhancements need to be made to bring the product
fully into the PC world, which by far represents the vast majority of
desktops today.
The risk of NOT doing these enhancements is that VTX will lose out in the
external market, and become too costly for DEC to maintain just to satisfy
internal requirements. There are already a number of pilot efforts going
on in DEC with third party products to work around some of the VTX
limitations.
A few comments:
I agree whole-heartedly that the MS-Windows and DOS clients need not only
to be enhanced, but that a major awareness and education campaign needs to
take place within Digital so that people know about them and use them. If
our field people use them and like them, they will be much more
enthusiastic about selling VTX in environments (most) where there are lots
of PCs. My frustration is that it appears to still be a "mystery" as to
how the average, non-technical PC users can get and use these clients.
Maybe this is a VTX packaging issue (I understand they are only packaged
with the server software). They should be packaged and sold separately,
and be idiot-proof user installable! Someone from VTX should be working
with US Sales IM&T to make this happen!
We (and DEC customers) desperately need to have the ability to store,
display, and print pages created with PC application software. A perfect
example of this is the EXCEL spreadsheets I asked you and Bill to check out
because we needed to use MAIL FOREIGN with their postscript files. If we
could just load up the original PC application file formats (I would
start with major Microsoft and Lotus applications, and Word Perfect) a lot
of problems would be solved.
One thing Tom did NOT mention. The Digital infobase owners, Corporate VTX,
ACCESS, the Voice of DEC, US Sales IM&T all need to WORK TOGETHER to get
our Digital infobases streamlined, more efficient, and more effective. We
basically have a big mess of information out there, redundant in many
places, yet still hard to find! I've found these groups are NOT currently
working together. This needs to be corrected quickly.
If these groups did get together, and make a unified effort, I think it
would be easier to get funding for the VTX engineering support.
Regards,
Laurie
Attachment 7:
Memo from Joan Blair of the Education Business Unit
THIS MESSAGE IS FROM JOAN BLAIR, EDUCATION BUSINESS UNIT
Gita, I received your message regarding VTX. I am traveling
and sending this from Todd's account for expedience sake.
Please reply to me, Joan Blair @mro.
I want to respond because I feel very stongly about the
continuation and strengthening of this product.
1. The market for supported campuswide information systems is
growing
In the Education Market one of the major market trends is the
development of campuswide information systems (CWIS). These
systems are gateways to information about courses, lectures,
athletic events and even what's to eat in the cafeteria.
Currently VTX is the leading CWIS in the US with about 20
CWIS installations and there are more than several users in
Europe. The competition for VTX are two unsupported freeware
info systems TECH INFO from MIT and Princeton News Service
from Princeton. As market growth in education is in the low
end - community college, k-12 and 4 year colleges - freeware
is not as attractive as it might be to a university. There
simply is not the staff to support freeware. VTX is an
attractive alternative.
2. With the growth of the Internet the need for hierarchial
guides to information is larger than ever.
The Internet has thousands of newsletters and conferences and
millions of users. Navigating the Internet has become a
passion of a small few who want to develop guides to all this
information. Our knowledge of how to do this and our
understanding of organizing knowledge give us a logical head
start. Some have said that the development of navigation
systems for the Internet will be the blockbuster application
that will propel Internet use into the office and home.
3. NREN will happen
I have just returned from D.C and a meeting of the
Coalition for Networked Information. The ground swell to
organize politically and technically to move Gore's NREN
proposal is palpable. It will happen. There will be
government money for network navigation tools. The best
brains around are mulling the navigation problem. Digital
has much to contribute.
4. VTX needs updating
In order for VTX to realize its potential as the navigation
system of the INternet we need:
- some thoughtful people who want to make their mark in
history by creating networked information navigation tools
- a graphic user interface that appeals to the eyes, the
intellect and emotions of millions of people
- a UNIX implementation
- connections to the Internet community
I would be happy to have further discussion with others who
are considering the future of VTX.
Attachment 8:
Trip Report from Per Hamnqvist of the Network Services Conference
held in Pisa, Italy in November, 1992
Key point of interest: Internet and VTX
(Some information deleted)
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
| | | | | | | |
| D | I | G | I | T | A | L | I N T E R O F F I C E
| | | | | | | | M E M O R A N D U M
+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
TO: Date: 18-Nov-1992
From: Per Hamnqvist
Dept: VTX Engineering [OSAG]
Loc/MS: VBO/SAT-0 B-G 06
DTN: 828-5218
Net: CASEE::HAMNQVIST
Rev: 0
Subject: NSC'92 in Pisa
1.0 Overview
During the 3-5th of November 1992 I attended the Network
Services Conference in Pisa, Italy. This conference was
organized by EARN, the European Academic Research Network.
Subjects covered were things such as WAIS, Gopher, Archie,
World-Wide-Web and character conversion problems. In other
words, Internet information retrieval tools, from an
international perspective.
It was obvious during this conference that a signfificant
window of opportunity is opening up for anyone, including
DEC, in the area of Internet services. Plans are underway to
privatize the internet (see end). That will further fuel
activity in this field. It would not sound like a bad idea if
DEC built a focus group around Internet services. It may be
that this focus group could be formed from internal people
already working with Internet related activities.
With the exception of the next brief sections, the rest of
this document is organized as follows:
2.0 Emerging themes
3.0 Opening speeches
4.0 World Wide Web
5.0 WAIS
6.0 Minnesota Gopher
7.0 Archie
8.0 Project JANUS at Columbia Law
9.0 Commercializing the Internet
1.1 General conference information
Some 360 attendees from 46 countries attended the conference.
There were even attendees from remote places such as
Swaziland, Azerbaijan and the USA. The organizers were
pleasantly surprised by the high turnout.
The opening speech mentioned that this was the First
International conference dedicated to the Services offered on
the network as opposed to the protocols and the hardware.
Interestingly enough this conference was supposedly sponsored
by DEC. But our presense seemed limited to showing off Alpha.
All the attendees got a copy of Microsoft's glossy on their
Electronic Messaging Strategy while Microsoft wasn't even
sponsoring the show. Next time it would seem very prudent to
present some of our stuff that applies to the academic world,
such as VTX, Mercury, our knowhow in Internationalization of
software, external research program(s), software and service
packages for the academic world, etc. The least we can do is
to send a box of glossy handouts.
2.0 Emerging themes
During the conference a number of themes emerged:
[1] The explosive growth of the internet, as high as
4 fold yearly increase in Europe alone. This leads
to a number of conclusions, such as the likely de
facto standardization of internet as the world
information backbone. Slides showed several million
nodes connected already.
[2] The commercialization of the internet is now
around the corner. This realization opened up
several discussions in the area of commercial
service providers for the internet. Perhaps
our next world-minitel will live here? The person
that defines the LOTUS-123 of internet will
likely be (rich and) famous.
[3] The efforts of trying to make various popular internet
tools interact with each other. It is clear that
several tools are competing for *the* interface to
the vast pool of information on the network. It
is was also interesting to note that most of these
tools do, in fact, have a very similar information
model.
[4] The former eastern block's attempt to join the
rest of the world of networked academic computing.
Several presentations suggested that there were
four legues of countries at the conference:
(a) Highly advanced -- USA. Has enjoyed the
privilege of being one single country
and also being the founder of internet.
(b) Very advanced -- Europe. Has the knowhow,
but the means are expensive and the various
national legislations have been preventive.
This is changing, with the unification of
Europe and the commercialization of the
internet.
(c) Behind -- Eastern Europe. Definitely has
the intellectual capacity, but the former
setup currently leaves them at approx 1980.
The new free flow of information and reduced
cost of equipment will probably put forward
many good software engineers from these
countries over the coming years. By looking
at attendance and presentations Hungary
appeared furthest ahead.
(d) Desperately behind -- Third world countries.
Have only a small number of individuals
understanding the significance of Internet
and does not have the technological infra-
structure to take advantage of it yet.
3.0 Opening speeches
There were two opening speeches that addressed a number of
things around the subject of the conference. The key points
were:
* There is an increasing need for hiding the network.
Today, many of the network tools make end users aware
of things like 'ftp', which really only works if you
deal with a small community of techie users.
* If you have information then people will come and
access your service. If you don't have information
then build a gateway from your source to the information.
* Too much eneregy is being spent in information
technology trying to narrow down on relevant
information (when posing queries). Many great
discoveries have come from combining unrelated
things. We therefore need to develop logic that
can assist users in making associations.
* One area to look out for in the future, now that
the trend is to merge information systems is Universal
Information Identifiers.
4.0 World Wide Web
WWW is a multi platform, distributed, hypertext system that
emerged at CERN from the need to share textual research
information in the area of particle physics. At present, the
majority of information available in WWW appears to be
related to particle physics, although this is not a
constraint of the architecture.
WWW supports two basic operations: (1) follow hypertext link
and (2) text retrieval. A result menu is, in fact, a sort of
dynamic page with lots of hypertext anchors on it. You can
also make a pointer to a result menu and when such a link is
followed the query is re executed. The WWW database consists
of documents encoded in a variant of SGML called HTML or
Hyper Text Markup Language.
Non WWW information sources can be accessed through it but
still using the one WWW interface. It seems like they have a
bi directional model translator of sorts. WAIS and Gopher
integration is part of the system. Searching can be done of
non WWW sources, such as 'ftp'. It was explained that
searching was performed by the "WWW server", which could be
as primitive as a shell script.
WWW does not contain a builtin server registry. As with VTX
this requires manual effort. The network protocol includes a
format negotiation whereby the server will understand what
the client can really view. There is no security built into
the system, but this is planned for the future.
The tool supports something known as a Mail Robot which
effectively is a mechanism to submit queries via mail and
then receive results back in mail. A sort of batch mode
client is used to process these requests.
WWW gave a very "researchy" impression in that the UI and
porting activies seemed somewhat ad hoc.
5.0 WAIS
Wide Area Information Service. Nothing really new here. No
information hierarchy: (1) directory servers and (2) the
information servers themselves. Queries are, and can only be,
posed in natural language. Results are organized by
relevance although the relevance is a function of each an
every server implementation. WAIS has no failover server
mechanism.
One nice feature is the relevance feedback mechanism which
allows users to select relevant documents on the result menu
and ask for "more of this". User can also select a paragraph
of one of the results as being very relevant. How effective
and performant this mechanism is, if you are not using a
16,000 processor connection machine, was not clear. Nor was
it clear how good the recall precision was when a large
collection of documents where used.
This presentation was given by someone from Thinking
Machines, probably from their local Italian office. She did a
real good job of promoting their stuff, such as occasional
photos of their connection machines with lots of red lights.
TMC said that they focused on the high-end market in terms of
data size and performance. Also, WAIS was touted as
synonymous to Electronic Publishing. It was being promoted as
a campus wide information system, in addition to terms
Corporate Memory and Virtual Library. I get the strong
impression that the only reason for why they can say all
these things is because they give away one flavour of their
software for free. Note that they do charge for their real
version, which only runs on the connection machine. We could
certainly capitalize on several of these marketing slogans
with our product and also be able to put substance behind it.
She mentioned that one of the things they did at TMC was to
archive large number of internet mailing lists and then
index them. This, she said, helped their internal people to
quickly locate information related to their work. Perhaps
this is something that DEC should investigate too?
The speaker mentioned that TMC was working on some stuff
supporting other languages than english, but it was fairly
clear that this was only stuff being underway in their lab
and that it was only going to be available for there for-pay
version (connection machine).
One bullet that probably escaped parts of the audience was
that it is *based* on Z39.50. She then went on to say that
this was a widely accepted standard, etc. What probably got
lost during her clarification of Z39.50 was that WAIS does
not use the standard, but their own variant of the standard.
Another interesting tidbit of information was that Brewster
Kahle appears to have formed WAIS Inc. It was suggested that
he has left TMC, but that may only be a rumour.
5.1 Some statistics
To get an idea on the wide-spread use of WAIS, it was
mentioned that TMC does keep track of all users who go to
their so called directory server. According to their count at
least 15,000 users had at least once connected to it. It was
suggested, by the speaker, that the actual count of users
probably was higher since not all users may have connected to
the directory server; I am not familiar enough with WAIS to
be able to tell if that would be the case.
According to an earier speaker there was some 80 servers
serving approximately 300 indexes.
6.0 Minnesota Gopher
This very primitive tool is a bit of a poor man's VTX. It is
a menu oriented hiearchical browser. It employs client/server
technology. The menu pages appear to be just list files where
each line end up being one menu item. The targets are typed
and can point to other menu pages, invoke a telnet session or
dowline load software.
It has text retrieval built into it (actually CBR from DEC).
It has gateways to WWW, WAIS, ftp and Archie making it
possible to render all of the above with the Gopher
interface. The menu structure is separate and requires no
modifications of the source documents. It is also very lean
on host computer resources, which I assume is true inless of
perform full text searching.
The system was also demonstrated to me by one conference
attendant. Despite its technical shortcomings its was quite
useful. Its biggest difficency was not technical but
administrative: the complete lack of a central menu
authority. The attendant mentioned that it used to be quite a
handy tool, when there were only seven servers. But there
are now 1,200 hundred sites wired into this web and the lack
of coordination has created somewhat of a menu chaos. It is
now impossible to find stuff unless you have memorized the
path. The attendant pointed out that it did, however, make an
impressive demo for the uneducated manager when a few key
clicks could bounce you back and forth between universities
around the planet. Almost felt like VTX inside DEC but
without our corporate VTX program.
7.0 Archie
Archie is a sort of one-stop shopping for finding pointers to
other sources of information on the internet. It contains
only secondary information. Its most famous directory
contains a list of all anonymous ftp directories. But it also
contains lists of WAIS servers, etc. They are looking at
building a internet wide yellow pages directory, as well as
white pages (a.k.a. whois).
It proactively gathers data and then builds Archie indexes.
It represents a centralized data model; multiple archies is
accomplished using file mirroring. Work is underway to
develop a new Archie employing a distributed approach where
the information space would be partitioned amongst
coorperating Archie servers.
When asked if Archie was not the same as X.500 the speaker
mentioned that the biggest value in Archie is the information
that it holds, not the underlying storage engine. In fact,
the speaker mentioned that the storage engine could be
selected by the operator and, hence, X.500 could be
underneath Archie.
It was also interesting to note that the author has just left
the university to form a company that would basically supply
information to Archie. With this in mind it is understandable
why the speaker was keen on asking the audience to write
programs to interface with the archie server while also
defending the limited Archie clients.
8.0 Project JANUS at Columbia Law
Project JANUS was started as an effort, at Columbia Law
School, to find alternatives to microfilm archiving for large
amounts of textual information from the law school library.
It was also desirable that the new method would allow text
retrieval.
Some of the challenges of the system was to bring textual
information that had never existed in electronic form into
the computer. This required quite advanced scanning and
optical character recognition code, especially with older
documents that did not have computer generated fonts. Another
interesting challenge was the amount of data: it was
concluded that to bring it all on-line they would require
just short of 1 TerraByte.
The system is based on a 32K CM2 system from Thinking
Machines and is also a collaborative effort with them. The
system is based on WAIS, but has since evolved into something
called the WAIS seeker and employs yet another enhanced
flavour of Z39.50. The speaker jokingly called this V3.5; the
current approved version is V1.0 while the changes proposed
to accomodate free WAIS is known as V2.0.
Some of the research done by the computer department there
showed that the advantages of using a natural language
interface outweighted its drawbacks; the school was already
using two other boolean systems but suveys found that the
students really only mastered one of the two. Using a natural
language, provided it was able to find the right stuff, would
have better penetration.
Another rather interesting thing was how they stored
documents. They stored them as 600dpi TIFF files as well as
indexed OCR:d data. Due to the lack of international standard
around resolution for bitmaps, they had decided to wait with
scanning in their sensitive historical documents. When a user
would view the matching documents s/he would get the text
version, *unless* the OCR process had market the document as
too difficult to decode in which case the bitmap came up.
9.0 Commercializing the Internet
One very hot topic was brought up during at least two Q/A
sessions: the commecialization of the Internet. It was very
clear from these discussions that it is just a matter of time
before the Internet will become fully commercialized, with
for-pay services and all.
Service in this context is not really selling the service of
managing someone's TCP/IP network. Rather, it is providing
electronic services on the Internet. For example, the Blue
Book (used in the US to get price quotes on used cars).
Another example would be putting DECdirect on-line, or other
things such as our Live-wire, press-communication, training
schedules, SPDs, etc ..
It was also pointed out that Al Gore (VP of the United
Stated) indicated, before he was elected, his interest in
working with these issues.
One of the reasons for the trend of commercializing the
Internet is that a lot of the academic world have not paid in
proportion to what they use and now that commercial companies
are starting to pay for lines, etc, they naturally want to
control their investments. And it does not seem likely that
the educational system will ever be able to match the funding
of the commercial market.
This discussion lead to areas such as ownership of
information, what are public domain tools, and whether we
would not soon see things like cable TV using the internet to
relay shows.
Several notable people mentioned, during the conference, that
the educational marketing is gradually discovering the value
of supported software which means paying for it. One part of
their problem is that once the student that developed tool X
graduates the support disappears. Such situations are not
uncommon and they make it very hard to invest in using the
tool unless you are willing to commit institution money.
Another part of the problem has been that there has not been
a lot to buy and that the cumputer companies have not yet
capitalized on the Internet. As mentioned earlier, the
inventor of Archie has now left his university to form a
company working with Archie.
Interestingly enough VTX/TR is technically quite well
positioned to take advantage of this situation. There are
already some 20 universities using VTX as their campus wide
information system. And last week I heard that World Bank
in Washington has their VTX service transparently linked
to the 6 VTX universities in North Carolina. And I found out
the other day that EPA, a rapidly growing VTX/TR site, are
very excited about connecting their VTX/TR environment with
the educational world, as World Bank did.
[end]
Attachment 9:
Memo from Ken Merrick, CUP manager, VTX documentation manager
From: CASEE::MERRICK "Sliding down the razorblade of life" 24-NOV-1992 11:38:36.02
To: FURFCE::GITA
CC: PER,MERRICK
Subj: I: As requested, brief notes on whatwe are trying to do.
IDC-France VTX Support Activities
- Developing existing technology for tomorrows needs.
The following proposals are aimed at bringing greater awareness to customers of
the powerful tool they probably already have - VTX.
1. Development of VTX Text Retrieval Demo.
This demo is aimed at the automotive industry, but can be adapted to any
major industrial organisation. It will present an image of a car which
contains hotspots. By clicking on the hotspots, the user will be able to
navigate through the cars major components. The final page will be a query
page which will lead to a form page where the part could be ordered.
The selling point is that it offers (in principle) "interactive micro-fiche"
- fast search and text retrieval capabilities, plus the potential to
complete an order.
Uses VTX5.1 or TR1.0 (or later) on Motif only.
[ It is planned to have this available in January 1993 for presentation to
major European customers]
2. VTX support material
Through the help system, users will be able to locate documentation in
PostScript format. Specifically; User Reference Guide, PC User Reference
Guide, Modifying TCP/IP, VTX Troubleshooting Handbook. Delivery will be
with the kit or through VTX User Magazine.
3. VTX User Magazine
A trial issue was prepared using QuarkExpress. This issue contained
information about the latest release, tips and troubleshooting information,
and the proposal for VTXLaptop. The original idea was to have PostScript
files available, but for the time being ASCII text files will be
distributed via E-mail etc..
4. VTX Engineering/IDC France co-ordination
IDC-France is aiming to project the idea of the "online library" to VTX
customers in Europe. TR V1.1 Multi-Lingual version enables us to present
the idea and concept of the online library to non-english customers
without the additional I18N costs. IDC France consultants can look at a
customers documentation jungle and transform it into an orderly library
accessible through the customers existing hardware.
For large multi-national companies, this has the benefit of them being able
to operate more than one language at a time.
Attachment 10: Memo from John Baker dated 26-November-1992
From: BIGUN::BAKER 26-NOV-1992 03:33:45.94
To: CASEE::CIOT
CC: BAKER,BAKER
Subj: VTX Futures
Hello Thierry,
I have been thinking about the future of VTX as a product for my customers
in the light of recent changes to database systems to support imaging, the
emergence of interprocesses and linked applications in Windows using DDE
and OLE, and the growing need for clients to be able to bring together
data from disparate sources in an intelligent manner.
A call from one of our customers has prompted me to write to you to see if
there is a long term vision for VTX to help us get this into context.
The current VTX worries me. It has an underlying transport second to none,
brilliant programming libraries in ELK and RUSL and the Text Retrieval is
great. The problem I am having is that most of the user interfaces are useless
for the majority of problems I see VTX being a solution for. The clients
are too fixed to allow us to, for instance, put some driving logic such as
decision trees into them. Ideally I would like to be able to build a customised
tool for my clients that can pull together disparate information sources and
co-ordinate their activities based on some logic. If you have seen DECtree
or ObjectVision from Borland with the capacity to pull in VTX, Image, Video,
Bookreader in a co-ordinated fashion you may see what I mean. The problem is
that the PC based front ends are not open to me to incorporate them into
my applications. They dont even have a DDE interface to allow co-ordination
via other applications. This would perhaps be the simplest way to allow this
capability to be added.
Is there a mechanism to take VTX beyond the present static presentation
scenario? I have seen Carrel, unless it can be driven with an underlying logic
I cannot see how it would meet this requirement. Have we produced any papers
that indicate where VTX is heading or its relationship to such things as
Multi-media relational databases such as RDB/MM or PC based databases with
Binary Large Object Support such as Paradox?
I've typed in the letter the customer has sent below.
Thanks and regards,
John Baker
---------------------------------
Dear xxxxxx,
As you might recall I am running the videotext service for XXXX (XXXXtext).There
are a couple of questions I have and XXXX XXXXXX suggested I would address them
to you.
Recently we started to use a scanner to input images in the XXXXXX service. It
is not hard to imagine that the next step up from here will be imaging
applications. I am interested to know what Digital's vision is on imaging and
how that fits into an Open Systems approach in relation to VTX.
In XXXXXX we use the keywords and menu structures to build some "information
providers knowledge" into the service to allow users quick access to the right
information as well as cross reference information to possible other topics
and subjects. The next step up from this application is expert systems. Again
the same question, what is Digital's vision on this and is there a link with
videotex.
If we elaborate on these two trends we are talking about knowledge based
systems, object modelling and information sharing. Topics that are addressed
in the Enterprise-wide network concept. In such a ubiquitous network computer
power will be more distributed to departmental levels. I recently read IBM's
white paper on their vision of such a network. Does DIgital also have a
business view on these topics? I can see a leading role for videotex in such
a concept but I would like to check my view with some Digital experts. It might
also be that Digital's view does not hold a prominent role for videotex in such
a concept, in that case I would like to know what Digital believes the future
holds in that respect so that we can take that into account in the planning of
future XXXXXX developments.
XXXXX I realise that these are not easy questions to answer, but they are of
great importance to the future of XXXXX. I was wondering if you could gather
some information on this and/or arrange some discussions with Digital experts
on these topics.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Attachment 11: Memo from Cliff Chatten dated 25-November-1992 in which he
discusses how VTX is being used by the Digital Partner Network in the UK to
disseminate information to external customers
Author: Cliff Chatten
Date: 25-Nov-1992
Posted-date: 26-Nov-1992
Subject: DPN & Vtx
After talking with Tom Povey recently I thought you may like view of how VTX
is being used to meet the needs of supplying Digital information to its
customers.
In UK we offer an electronic dial in range of information and services to our
third party customers. I manage this from a marketing group within the CSO
organisation. The service is known as Digital's Partner Network previously as
CSOnet in UK and Europe, and as ISVnet in the US.
We offer customers Email for communication, Notes for group conferencing and
of course a VTX service for the majority of the regularly updated information
that we supply.
This UK service is essentially the same service that is being offered by a
lot of the European countries to their Partners. Indeed we are beginning to
use VTX client/server functionality to share information across Europe and
the US service to save all of us on the cost of data entry and therefore be
able to provide a better quality service for our customers.
Before going further you may be interested in the size of the customer base
using the system. We have about 1000 users of which about 350 make regular
use of the system each month. In September we counted 11,500 customer logins
in the month with an average connect time of around 60 mins.
Its always difficult to judge cost savings but I would be surprised if each
customer logins would not have cost 1 pound to provide the information the
customer needed.
As someone providing a customer service ,we are essentially in the business
of providing information to our customers in a form that they can use. That
means either providing the ability to print or being able to extract data to
transfer to the user's system to print locally. With this in mind the
functionality included in V5 where the clean text can be saved greatly helps
me provide the service I want.
We are providing a broad based service with many different customers using
different equipment to connect, with of course different keyboards. The
individual keyboard mapping now available is another part of my aim of making
the data easy to extract to find and use, i.e. not frustrated by the system.
I said that the service is currently targeted as third parties. However some
or much of the data is equally applicable to end users so we are planning to
start a service for end users that will give them a separate service but
hopefully share some of the data services and again therefore share costs.
If this goes to plan we will have an additional 1000 dial-in users also using
a VTX based information service within 12 months.
VTX has had an old fashioned image but the recent changes and the proposals
for V5.3 that I have seen from Tom in the area of user interface seem
brilliant. I want to get them implemented fast to demonstrate our technology
to our Third parties. These are the same customers who sell computer
solutions and it would be extremely useful to influence them enough to
propose our products as a solution to their customers.
We do have some unique problems that are not yet addressed. We are trying to
get information to a large number of customers, the current service works
well for small numbers of users in a company but does not address the problem
of a big company like DEC getting information from Digital. One solution
would be to put a VTX system into the customer so they supply a service for
many users and simply connect to Digital as a data server but without a
DECnet connection over perhaps a PSI connection.
As a summary VTX is vitally important to us in providing services to our
customers, and helps us provide a cost effective solution to getting timely
information to a large number of customers. I want to carry on using our
technology to provide quality information services to our customers.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 173.1 | Ouch! | ROWLET::AINSLEY | Less than 150 kts. is TOO slow! | Mon Dec 07 1992 16:29 | 9 |
| re: .0
Please don't post such a humongous note without a guard note to warn those of
us using the DECwindows Notes interface. You tied up my window for almost 15
minutes waiting for all those lines to be sent to my machine.
Thanks,
Bob
|
| 173.2 | It's DECwindows notes fault | SMAUG::GARROD | From VMS -> NT; Unix a mere page from history | Mon Dec 07 1992 20:40 | 7 |
| Re .1
I suggest you go yell at the DECwindows notes developers instead of the
poster. I found it interesting. It's not his fault that DECwindows
notes is broken.
Dave
|
| 173.3 | Did I miss something? | LURE::CERLING | God doesn't believe in atheists | Tue Dec 08 1992 09:05 | 22 |
| re: .2
DECwindows Notes is not broken. That is just the way it works. Until
it is changed, it is common courtesy to recognize its limitations and
be kind to those of us that use it. Most people, once aware of this
quirk, are more than happy to post a pointer instead of the entire
file.
re: .0
Could you give a summary of what you are trying to do. I read the
first few pages of your document and was unable to determine what your
concern is. The only thing I saw seemed to be that you didn't like the
idea of the engineering moving from Europe to the States. I must have
missed something.
FWIW, if you hope to get management's attention, 2200 lines of text
won't do it. In my experience, they are not as patient as I am. If
they can't find the reason / concern of the problem in the first few
lines, it goes into File 13.
tgc
|
| 173.4 | Re: .3 - You missed something! | KITYKT::GITA | recycled stardust | Wed Dec 09 1992 09:58 | 21 |
| First - I want to apologize to those of you using DECwindows. Since I
don't I had no idea that my note would cause such a problem.
In reponse to the previous note - The very first section of my memo
outlined the reasons why I/my group wrote this.
It had nothing to do with the proposed move of the engineering group to
Spitbrook. In fact, if the engineers do move, then it's much easier
for us to work with them! (If the current engineers do not relocate, then
the product is in even greater trouble than we outlined in our memo.)
The issue is that VTX must be enhanced to meet the changing
marketplace. And - funding is required to make these enhancements.
Our concern is that those in a position to allocate funds are not aware
of the increasing usage of VTX both internally and externally.
I hope you go back and reread Section 1.0 -
Gita Devi
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| 173.5 | trying to help your cause | LURE::CERLING | Naturally blond, please type slowly | Fri Dec 11 1992 09:19 | 24 |
| Well, I did go back and re-read .0 section 1.0, three times. You state
the purpose of your `memo' as:
1) increase upper mgmt awareness
2) generate additional dollars
3) describe needed functions
Then you go into a whole bunch of stuff about the money you are
bringing in with the product. One line asks for continued investment
in the product, but I don't see in the memo any explanation as to why
you think this won't happen. Another line says VTX needs the functions
described in 4.0 and additional funding. One could imply that the
additional funding is to add the functions described in 4.0, but it is
not stated.
I am not trying to belittle your effort on obtaining more funding; I
agree with you that VTX needs to be enhanced. My point is that I
found your message to be not very clear and definitely buried in excess
verbiage. I would suggest that you tighten things up, say everything
in 3-4 pages (maximum) and define a business case. That is, if you
give me this much money, I will give you that money + in return, based
on the past history of what we have done.
tgc
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