Conferences (BBS, forums) can be accessed in 3 ways:
- via the Unix shell on the
Grex
Unix server, by typing: bbs or ft at the shell prompt. To connect to the Grex server you need to SSH or ssh with a browser. Note: this link will only work if your browser has been configured to start a SSH client. If it doesn't work, you may need to change your browser's preferences, or in some cases, download an SSH client application program. - via a web browser
- by downloading Fronttalk (ft) to your computer and running it; this requires some form of Perl to be installed (ActivePerl, on Windows).
The conferences are the heart of Grex. Since its inception in 1991, Grex has provided conferencing as a way for people to get to know each other, exchange ideas and form virtual communities based on shared interests.
There are now a large number of conferences on Grex, covering a wide range of topics. A number of these are highlighted on our front page, but here is a complete list.
These conferences were at first only accessible by dialing into Grex and running Picospan - a software developed in 1983 by a Grex staff member (Marcus D. Watts).
Within a few years, Grex added an internet connection which permitted users from all over the world to participate in these conferences. We now have users from many countries, with many different points of view, and many interesting stories to tell.
In 1996, when the web became more popular, two other Grex Staff members developed the Backtalk conferencing system. This further simplifies the process of participating in these conferences by making access possible to all of Grex's conferences directly from a web browser, with no need to connect by SSH. Backtalk is fully compatible with Picospan, and they share the same conference database on Grex, so it really makes no difference which one you use.
Eventually, the two Grex Staff members developed the Fronttalk client to the Backtalk conferencing system. This further simplifies the process of participating in these conferences by making access possible to all of Grex's conferences directly from any machine, with no need to connect by SSH, just by installing fronttalk. Fronttalk looks like Picospan, when running.
Today, PicoSpan has been retired and replaced by FrontTalk.
OK, then. Let's go to the conferences