8.8. HIVNET/AEGIS Gateway. Is AEGIS unique?
Description
This article is from the AIDS FAQ, by Dan Greening with numerous contributions by others.
8.8. HIVNET/AEGIS Gateway. Is AEGIS unique?
The "Guide to Selected AIDS-Related Electronic Bulletin Boards
and Internet Resources," published by the CDC National AIDS
Clearinghouse, contains information on dozens of computerized
AIDS-related services.
Only AEGIS is given a separate appendix, which contains an
overview of AEGIS and a 10-page list of over 150 AEGIS affiliates
in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It says
of AEGIS: "This comprehensive information collection is current
and easily accessible; simply stated, this is one of the best."
There are few significant alternatives to AEGIS. One of the
newest is the AIDS/HIV Forum, a product of HandsNet, a nonprofit
company whose clients are human services agencies. Its AIDS/HIV
forum has received a two-year establishing grant from the Henry
J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
AEGIS is different from HandsNet in three ways. HandsNet targets
only AIDS service organizations in this country. AEGIS is
available to anyone and any organization, and is global in reach.
HandsNet has a graphical interface. AEGIS does not, although it
is praised for its ease of use. HandsNet charges fees that will
average about $400 a year per agency. AEGIS is free to the user
and seeks contributions from those who believe in its mission.
In California, CAIN--the Computerized AIDS Information
Network--is sponsored by the State Office of AIDS. Like AEGIS,
CAIN includes e-mail, an interactive bulletin board forum, and
databases of AIDS information. CAIN is far less comprehensive and
up-to-date than AEGIS. CAIN also resides on the Delphi network
and is available by subscription only.
What makes AEGIS unique is that it is a single, all-inclusive
AIDS/HIV resource with a global reach that is free to the user.
You can access AEGIS by having your computer dial 714.248.2836.
Communications protocols are 8N1/Full Duplex. AEGIS supports
v.34 (28,800 bps) on all lines.
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