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Modem communication must become simpler to fulfill its potentialDouglas E. WelchInfoWorld, March 8, 1993 v15 n10 p41(1) COPYRIGHT InfoWorld Publishing Company 1993 Douglas E. Welch is a PC network support specialist with a Southern California entertainment company and a member of InfoWorld's Corporate Advisory Board. Modem communication has changed greatly in the last few years, but one thing that hasn't changed is its complexity. Fax, with its "one-button" operation, has quickly become the data transfer method of choice. Modems need to gain the simplicity of fax or they will remain the domain of computer technophiles and never live up to their potential. Although fax is convenient, it has several limitations. It doesn't allow for the transmission of digital data. Too often, users are forced to rekey data from faxes that should have been transmitted via modem. This introduces errors, wastes time, and destroys productivity. Fax also contributes to excessive paper flow. Unless a company is using a fax/modem, most documents must first be printed before they can be faxed. The solution to these problems lies in the hands of hardware and software manufacturers. They need to develop products that make modem communications simpler and more effective to use. Modems still belie their hacker origins. Making users fiddle with cryptic "AT" commands, initialization strings, and more protocols than a diplomatic banquet is no way to introduce people to the world of communications. Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) have been developed for operating systems, and yet modem communication is still relegated to ASCII-based terminal emulation. Hardware manufacturers need to develop standards that go beyond the "standard" Hayes AT command set, which often varies from modem to modem. Each piece of software must be customized with a specific setup string and other parameters for the specific modem it is using. Why can't modems be designed to work out of the box? Something has to be done to shield users from this unneeded complexity. Hardware manufacturers need to develop relationships with the companies creating the software. Joint development ensures that hardware will work with software without forcing users to stand on their heads. Software also needs to be simplified. Products such as America Online and CompuServe's Navigator point the way to smart front ends for host systems that shield the user from the vagaries of modem communications. Auto-starting file transfer protocols such as Zmodem and CompuServe Quick B make data transfers easier. Off-line readers, systems that allow users to gather mail quickly and read it off-line, provide another way to simplify communications. There are many out there, but one clear standard has yet to emerge. Surely we have advanced enough to support automated sessions and intelligent interfaces on our communications. All that is needed is a little cooperation. Front-end packages allow users to get the most from their communications hardware as quickly as possible. The next step is to develop software that provides access to a myriad of different services from one stable platform. As users create links to commercial services, local bulletin boards, and the Internet, they need a product that is capable of managing and automating all their communication needs. Users shouldn't be required to learn different software and a different interface for every service they access. Such a system could even integrate fax and voice mail as well as data communications. One system should be able to gather all types of communications and present them to the user with a unified interface. Manufacturers need to make it easy to keep data digital. It remains more accurate, easier to access, and easier to distribute. The popularity of fax has shown everyone that users want communications technology, but they want simplicity as well. Unnecessary complexity will ensure that modem communications remain the domain of those few users willing to dare the treacherous waters. "Peer to Peer" gives readers a forum for discussing computing and management issues. Send submissions to Rachel Parker, opinions editor (MCI Mail 340-4371). Submissions can also be faxed to (415) 358-1269.
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