> From: [email protected] (Christopher Raum)
> Subject: Update on Usenet newsgroup creation process
> Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 00:30:33 -0600 (CST)
> To: [email protected]
>
> After posting the proposed Request for Discussion for the creation
> of a MEMS/MST newsgroup to the various MEMS/MST mailing lists, I took
> it to a group that double checks newsgroup proposals.
>
> Their one big problem was with the name. As proposed it would be
> "sci.microsystems". The group thought it belonged one level down,
> however, in the sci.engr (engineering) hierarchy. In other words:
> sci.engr.microsystems.
>
> One mentor felt that because it is "the creation of systems and it is
> engineering" it shouldn't have its own sci. hierarchy. If
> microsystems had its own hierarchy underneath sci, it should show, by
> number of posts on existing mailing lists, that it would support other
> groups. I.e. sci.microsystems.actuators, sci.microsystems.sensors,
>  etc..
>
> While I admit that there is only enough traffic to warrant one
> newsgroup, I wanted the top hierarchy because I wanted to encourage
> people other than engineers to post to the group. I strongly feel
> that as the science matures, while engineers will remain facilitators
> of the technology, other scientific groups will be the main
> users. Placing the group in the engineering hierarchy might deter
> some non-engineers from contributing to the group. A loss to
> everyone to be sure.
>
> Therefore as a compromise to satisfy both the perceived need to
> fulfill the "engr" name space requirement, and the goal of getting
> more people involved with the science of microsystems and MEMS, I
> propose that the newgroup be entitled:
>
> sci.engr.micromachining
>
> I believe that as novices and laymen search through the listing of
> over 9000 currently available newsgroups, people will be more
> easily drawn to "micromachining" than "microsystems" (even though the
> later may be more accurate in terms of nomenclature).
>
I joined this list in the hope of learning more on the subject of MEMS. I am
particularly interested in the modelling of MEMS at system level. What I have
observed until now, is that the primeray interest of list members is
micromachining technology. If this is the intended focus of the newsgroup,
sci.engr.micromachining is the best denomination. However, I would never have
joined a list entitled micromachining, for this is not my prime interest.

If the newsgroup is intended for a larger public, interested in device
modelling and simulation, microsystem design, electronics and DSP for
microsystems, etc. I think sci.engr.microsystems conveys the idea of a much
broader scope, and would be more appropriate.

Best regards,
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