Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: gamin@ireq-robot.hydro.qc.ca (Martin Boyer)
Subject: Re: Splitting comp.robotics
In-Reply-To: nivek@cmu.edu's message of 01 Sep 1994 11:44:20 EDT
Message-ID: <GAMIN.94Sep3074824@amadeus.ireq-robot.hydro.qc.ca>
Lines: 23
Sender: news@ireq.hydro.qc.ca (Netnews Admin)
Organization: La division Robotique de l'Institut de recherche d'Hydro-Quebec
References: <NIVEK.94Sep1114420@scythe.cmu.edu>
Date: Sat, 3 Sep 1994 11:48:24 GMT

>>>>> Kevin Dowling writes:

>many I talk to in the academic community say there is too much noise
>and too wide a spectrum of experience for good discussions in
>c.r. Treading on dangerous ground here: They may be called elitist
>but many won't join in discussions or even read comp.robotics because
>the level of discussion, for the most part, is at a hobbyist level.

It's not a matter of level, but of topic; there is nothing wrong with
hobbyist robots, but many scientists (such as me) don't build robots
but use them, and program them.  It is true, however, that most of the
robots we use are too sophisticated to be assembled in a garage.

I would certainly read and contribute more if this group's readership
was of a more academic or industrial nature.

A split should include a research, theory, or "advanced" group.

--
Martin Boyer				mboyer@ireq-robot.hydro.qc.ca
Division Robotique			mboyer@ireq-robot.uucp
Institut de recherche d'Hydro-Quebec    +1 514 652-8412
Varennes, QC, Canada   J3X 1S1
