COMPUTER SYSTEM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS

On July 7-9 a major conference on community-based research, sponsored by the Community Research Initiative of New York and the County Community Consortium of San Francisco and funded by the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR) and NIAID, brought together representatives of community-based research organizations, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies. (For more information about this conference, see articles in THE NEW YORK TIMES, July 9, 1989 and THE WASHINGTON POST, same date.)

Plans were begun to set up electronic communication networks among organizations interested in community-based research, using conference calls, electronic mail, fax, and perhaps voicemail. A number of groups are buying computer equipment at this time, and it is important that a standard be suggested so that the groups will purchase compatible equipment and software to facilitate electronic mail and the sharing of text files and research data.

No official umbrella organization was formed at this time, so there was no body to decide on a standard. However, it is almost certain that the community-based trials organizations will follow the standard already set by NIAID's Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS. That is because many of the organizations involved have applied to that organization for funding, and those who receive contract awards will be required to purchase the specified computer equipment and software. (And from our own background in computers, we can tell that the recommended standard was clearly well selected and appropriate for the task.)

The following specifications are from instructions to community-based research organizations applying for NIAID grants:


"Equipment will be required for computer-to-computer electronic mail communications, report generation, and data
analysis. Specifically:

* MS-DOS/PC-DOS microcomputer IBM compatible PC/AT or equivalent,

* Monochrome display,

* Minimum of 20 megabyte hard disk and 640 K memory; the 3.5" diskette drive is recommended,

* A 2400 baud modem and cable (to be specified by AIDS Program),

* 132-column printer and cable (Epson LQ-1500 or equivalent),

* Communications software to be specified by AIDS Program,

* WordPerfect word processing software (version 5.0 is preferred)."

The NIAID recommendations for communication software are not final, but they will probably include MCI Mail and Lotus Express. The modem specified will probably be any which is 2400 baud and Hayes compatible.

Any organization buying computer equipment for the purpose of community-based research should strongly consider following the recommendations outlined above. But if you already have a computer which is not compatible with these specifications, it might be OK for a time, so there is no need to rush to buy new equipment.