Because of these several impediments, as well as other technical difficulties, you will find typos and occasional replication of text. In our humble opinion, typos show that the logs are of *live* chats, not canned interviews, and minimal editing of these logs has taken place.

Alan has worked with computer systems in some form or another since the late 1970s. Whether it was writing "Hello World" across the screen of a Tandy TRS-80 or creating and deploying e-commerce applications, his allure to computers and the ways in which this technology has become ingrained in our lives has always been a fascination. 

Alan's current research is in the field of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and security. In particular Alan looks at designs, methods, and techniques to improve the means through which computers can better serve humanity with improved application and Web interfaces. He also looks at how applications can not only be made more secure but also how to make users feel more secure when using them. 

[Cybling] Folks...good morning from the green room...welcome Doc Rea.
[Doc_Rea] Good Morning all!
[Ryan] Hello! =)
[Cybling] Alan Rea has worked with computer systems in some form or another since the late 1970s
* Serenah_SS_Suchomimus waves
[RedRaptor] hello
[Serenah_SS_Suchomimus] Good day!
[Cybling] He's on several panels here at Chicon.
[Doc_Rea] Back at ya'll from Chi-town. . .
[Cybling] How has your convention experience been so far Doc? Too many parties yet?
[Serenah_SS_Suchomimus] lol
[Doc_Rea] You can never have too many parties. ;}
[Kimmo] Ryan: well, I did what I was here to do, and then I started IRCing. Darn BroadVision... needs handholding every day it seems.
[Cybling] LOL.
[Doc_Rea] It makes getting up for a 0900 chat a bit difficult though . ..
[Cybling] Sorry it's so early Doc.
* Kimmo grins
[Cybling] I think some folks who are here have been up all night too? lol
[Cybling] Doc... I wanted to ask you a little about what you do in the Real World...
[Doc_Rea] No problem. ..
[Ryan] Probably not as bad as most folks.. stayed up to 2:30 am
[Cybling] and then we'll talk about what you're doing here at the convention.
[Doc_Rea] I'ma Professor of Information Sytems at Western Michigan Univ.
[Doc_Rea] I spend most of my time working on computer systems and teaching folks how to work with them. . .
[Cybling] Excellent. Are there any particular courses you teach?
[Cybling] coding, encryption?
[Doc_Rea] Most of my courses I teach ona regular basis are Web Design and Development, E-Commerce, and programming
[Doc_Rea] I do teach courses in VBA, Java, and some C++
[Kimmo] I wish more people would take the Web Design & D courses, there are way too many awful sites out there. ;)
[Doc_Rea] My research is in Human Computer Interaction and Security (particulary viruses andhacking)
[Cybling] Is encryption the most important part of e-Commerce, and if so do you think there are any good low-cost programs out there right now?
[Doc_Rea] I hear you Kimmo. .
[Doc_Rea] Encryption and the ability for secure transactions are essential for the passing of information, data, etc.
[RedRaptor] that's why I'm here, hopefully to get some info on web design
[Doc_Rea] Most people want to know that their credit card numbers are safe on-line, as well as their personal data
* Serenah_SS_Suchomimus listens intently
[Doc_Rea] What would you like to know?
[Kimmo] Yeah, the Net is turning into a big marketplace
[Doc_Rea] Yup.
[Cybling] Doc, you were on a panel yesterday. Melissa, Chernobyl and Michelangelo
[Doc_Rea] Yes, I was. . .
[Cybling] It was specifically about viruses?
[Doc_Rea] Yes. About the social implications, technical side of viruses, why people write them, what they are, etc.
[Cybling] Interesting. There's a basic type of person who is compelled to write viruses
[Cybling] ?
[Doc_Rea] There needs to be a distinction betweeen Pre-EC (E-commerce) and Post-EC virus writers. . .
[Cybling] yes?
[Doc_Rea] Pre-EC did it mainly to research and seek knowledge about systems and how they interact.
[Doc_Rea] Post-EC takes a more "us versus them" attitude against the many business infriging upon "Geek Space"
[Cybling] Okay.. lol. Understand that.
[Cybling] Do most computer users even know what a virus is and how you can "catch" one?
[Ryan] Viruses centered towards IRC have been a problem for awhile. However, many networks have found effective ways of dealing with them. They continue to remain a problem though.
[Doc_Rea] Many learn about them too late. For example, how many people got "I love you" e-mails and still opened them even if you didn't know the person sending it.
[Cybling] Yeah. True.
[Doc_Rea] Or even if they did know the person. . . I got about 200 of them. I knew most of my students don't love me ;}
[Kimmo] Whoa. 200?
[Doc_Rea] IRC is a big culprit as well. ..
[Kimmo] I didn't get even one. Waaah, nobody loves me ;)
[Doc_Rea] Yup. You accumulate many students over the years. . .
[Serenah_SS_Suchomimus] lol
[Serenah_SS_Suchomimus] Ah, right...
[Serenah_SS_Suchomimus] How risky is using IRC really...?
[Doc_Rea] Kimmo--I have a copy if you really want to feel "loved" ;}
[Kimmo] Do your worst, it won't infect my beloved Pine mail prog ;)
[Doc_Rea] IRC can be risky if you simply accept programs and information freely sent by others. .. including images.
[Serenah_SS_Suchomimus] And otherwise?
[Doc_Rea] So true. I use pine for most of my e-mail as well.
[Ryan] This network used to be plagued by SubSeven clients, and sometimes still is. Clients are sent here unknowningly by SubSeven victims, where they join a channel and give their IP address and their password to connect with the SubSeven client. Do you have any advice to take care of these clients, Rea?
[Kimmo] Pine + Procmail is a killer combo
[Doc_Rea] Otherwise, it can be OK as long as you don't continually leave your connection open.
[Doc_Rea] Know who and where you are always sending your information. You can get programs to track where yourr information goes and who is requesting it.
[Doc_Rea] Kimmo--Yup.
[Cybling] Doc. I've turned the preview pane off on my mail, don't open mail from folks I don't know, and even when downloading from friends, download the file to floppy and virus-check it. I also accept no files via IRC. Am I safe, too conservative, not careful enough?
* Serenah_SS_Suchomimus nods
[Serenah_SS_Suchomimus] Thank you for that info!
* Serenah_SS_Suchomimus idles again, heh
[Doc_Rea] I think you are practicing safe-computing. One item I would add is to update your virus definitions in your anti-virus software daily.
[Cybling] Daily?
[Doc_Rea] Yup. I update mine at least once a day, more frequently when a virus rears its head.
[Kimmo] Get a program that makes it easy. Norton, or maybe F-secure...
[Cybling] Can you recommend any particular virus program, or would you prefer not to name names?
[Doc_Rea] Norton is one of the better ones on the market. Some folks don't want to pay so use F-Prot and it's OK, but I'll spend a few bucks to protect my systems.
[Cybling] Do we have any more questions about viruses, trojans, worms et al?
[Kimmo] Doc_Rea: we have a fairly nifty installation of F-Secure here at work. Downloads updates by itself and distributes to the workstations. Took me a while to get it working right tho. ;)
[Doc_Rea] Yup. It's a good network solution. We use it in some of our labs. . .
[Cybling] F-Secure...is that for a single system or only for networks and lans?
[Doc_Rea] Either. . .
[Cybling] And what are we talking $$$wise?
[Cybling] about.
[Kimmo] Don't have any prices in my head, sorry
[Doc_Rea] Not sure on F-Secure. I would say $30-$60 can get you a good program though.
[Cybling] Well that's not that bad. Thanks Doc.
[Doc_Rea] No problem. ..
[Cybling] Any other virus questions?
[Kimmo] Personally I run Norton at home and think it's very solid... for whatever that's worth.
[Doc_Rea] It's worth much to you, eh ;}
* Kimmo tries hard to shut up as he realises he's not the chat guest
[Cybling] LOL. Thanks Kimmo...we do want to make this an "interactive" experience.
[Kimmo] But I have an unfair advantage to you guys, it's afternoon here so I'm already awake :P
[Cybling] If there are no more questions on virii et al....
[Cybling] Okay..then let's go on to the other panels you're on Doc.
[Doc_Rea] OK.
[Cybling] Distant Stars, Distant Students: Teaching the Literature of Science Fiction On-Line
[Cybling] Distant teaching is a viable thing now, and why Science Fiction online?
[Cybling] How do you plan to approach this panel later today?
[Doc_Rea] I think that almost any subject canbe apprached as long as certain considerations are given to the ...
[Doc_Rea] technical implementation, training for the instructors, and consideration for how the students interact.
[Doc_Rea] For example, how well would a course go if the instructor did not answer e-mail in a timely fashion.
[Cybling] Just as mail-order and short-wave radio classes have been working for years, then?
[Cybling] As long as the instructor is responsive?
[Doc_Rea] Sort of. But the convenience factor plays a large role in this new era.
[Doc_Rea] How long will a student wait for an e-mail response? Will there be immediate responses via chat or video-conferencing?
[Cybling] I've always thought of the internet as a thing SF thought up and SF Fans implemented. Is there a dirth of SF teaching go on out here?
[Doc_Rea] I do think that the SF crowd is more willing to embrace the technology and has been via e-mail, USENET, etc.
[Cybling] Okay...any sorts of classes that should be taught best here? SF Writing, plotting, research techniques?
[Cybling] What would you teach in the sf vein for instance.
[Doc_Rea] I think the idea of writing workshops work well on-line. I've conducted some informal sessions as people met online and discussed others writing.
[Cybling] If you have questions for our guest, please just ask. But please, let the guest answer one question before you ask another.
[Cybling] Okay...Doc...tomorrow you're on another panel... Technology Takes Over: The Dystopian Vision
[Cybling] As in Cyberpunk?
[Doc_Rea] I think Cyberpunk will play a large part in this panel, but also just ideas of what happens when we give too much power to technology.
[Doc_Rea] I think that technology is a double-edged sword. We love it and use it, but we also must give up something.
[Cybling] We have a technocracy in the making you think?
[Cybling] Or is the technocracy already ruling us?
[Doc_Rea] I think we are already in Postman's technocracy...
[Cybling] Frankly, Doc, I'm kind of glad that the geeks have the power on the net now.
[Doc_Rea] I like to think that geeks do, but there is a great influx of corporate influence. We didn't get from 4 host computers in 1969. ..
[Doc_Rea] to over 75 million today just because of geeks. . . Money came from somewhere.
[Cybling] Is this a bad thing...are we of the pseudo-intelligencia not taking the responsibility we should be taking?
[Doc_Rea] I think many of us are like the EFF and others, but recent events suh as the DSS against 2600 are a bit disturbing
[Cybling] Folks...time for one last question before our next chat guest joins us. Anyone have a final question for Doc Rea?
[Cybling] Doc, I want to thank you for getting up this early after a long night of IRC troubleshooting to join us in chat. Folks, let's give Doc Rea a hand!
* Cybling applauds.
[Doc_Rea] Nice talking with y'all. ..Back to buying more t-shirts ;}
* Serenah_SS_Suchomimus waves a paw in a no, then waves to Doc
[Cybling] LOLOL!