INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
A Case Study
by John C. Oeffinger


Recently a friend remarked that online communications is
"becoming routine." Not that he has lost his enthusiasm for
computer conferencing; quite the contrary. After six months on
two networks, he is very proficient using his computer to
communicate, but he misses the initial excitement of entering
the world of online communications.

Fortunately, there is an antidote. A few months ago, I had the
rewarding experience of helping others learn to use electronic
networking technology as the means to a very valuable end. That
experience may help other organizations and individuals involved
in global networking to sustain and extend their energy in this
medium.


INTERNET
========

In Santiago, Chile, last April, we introduced sixty physicians
and biomedical engineers to computer conferencing on an
international level. This conference resulted from an award by
Apple Corporate Grants to the Baylor Research Foundation,
establishing InterNet, a pilot-project among several Latin
American medical research groups. McDonnell-Douglas supports the
program by providing network access via Tymnet to organizations
in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. The Latin American
Cancer Research Information Project (LACRIP), part of the Pan
American Health Organization, is an important member of the
InterNet project. Dr. Jorge Litvak (Chief of Adult Health
Programs and Director of LACRIP) and Dr. Jose Pablo Dominguez
(Director of the Hospital Jose Joaquin Aguirre; University of
Chile) sponsored this conference--a first in Latin America in
health.

The conference taught us three important lessons useful to
future technology transfer seminars.


BE PREPARED
===========

You don't have to be a Boy Scout to know that good preparation
is extremely important to technology transfer conferences. In
this case, "be prepared" first meant creating a thirty-five page
booklet outlining microcomputer communications, packet-switching
networks, and an overview of two electronic messaging systems.
Translated into Spanish, the material was available for
participants to take home with them. (A limited number of copies
are still available.) During the conference, overhead projector
transparencies of key pages highlighted the topics which were
further developed during the presentation.

Most important was the time allocated to actual online and
hands-on demonstrations. Sixty percent of the seminar was spent
online. Before the conference, we developed specific
demonstrations--from E-mail to Conferencing to Bibliographic
Search Requests. During the conference, participants were
encouraged to access the two networks.

A real-time conference--involving participants in Santiago;
Washington D.C.; Dallas, Texas; Mexico City, Mexico and
Cupertino, California--added to the excitement. LACRIP
participants carried out several Bibliographic Search Requests;
many took part in the messaging.

A word to the wise: allow at least two days to set up the
microcomputer system and become familiar with local PTT nuances.
The local PTT gateway probably caused the differences between
Tymnet in Chile and in Texas.


PRIVATE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER SUPPORT
===================================

Be sure to work with private sector organizations--both
voluntary organizations and corporations. The success of the
seminar rests in large part with Xerox de Chile, representative
for Apple Computer in Chile. Xerox de Chile not only provided a
unit for the actual demonstrations, but also set up many other
models for hands-on use between presentations. Several resource
people were available to assist participants--very valuable
especially to first-time users.

Xerox provided a large screen projection system so that everyone
could see the online demonstrations as they took place. It was
fascinating to watch the reaction of the physicians when the
bibliographic search abstracts were sent back from Washington.
The projection system allowed each individual to participate in
the process by suggesting E-mail and Conference messages.

Russ Systems, a Santa Cruz-based company specializing in Apple
// communication products, helped create communications tutorial
software. Materials from the resource booklet and the overhead
transparencies were included with additional examples.
Individuals could actually take part in a simulated online
demonstration without ever going online. Again, they were able
to familiarize themselves with the technology at their own pace,
without pressure.

Private sector involvement in the creation of global networks
will be absolutely essential. Those networks that build upon the
capabilities and resources of the private sector will grow and
develop. Thought should be given to looking not only for money
and equipment, but also for alternative mechanisms for support.
A software tutorial or a large screen projection system can add
immeasurably to the program. Nothing will ever take the place of
resource participants.


LIFE-SAVING RESULTS
===================

Wanting to get to the meat of the subject, LACRIP Director
Litvak often asks "Donde esta la substancia?" (Where's the
beef?) New technology is fun, but substantial results are
enduring. Clearly defined technology transfer goals and end-
products are essential for any developing global network.

Since April, the Hospital Jose Joaquin Aguirre has averaged
three Bibliographic Search Requests per week. In the past, a
physician would write the LACRIP office in Washington to request
a search; air mail letters take as long as six weeks to arrive.
Its search completed, the LACRIP office would air mail the
abstracts back to the physician; another six weeks. The
physician would then have to request the selected full-text
articles--starting the cycle again. Now requests are handled in
hours not months--reducing the suffering and saving the lives of
cancer patients.

We are expanding the number of LACRIP centers on the network and
increasing their use of E-mail and Bibliographic Search
Requests. One day in the not-too-distant future, the LACRIP
Selected Dissemination of Information will be available online
in a searchable database. This data includes the most recent
cancer research abstracts, the current clinical trials that are
in progress, and new cancer treatments. The material is updated
quarterly and goes back several years.

The ability to access this material in a timely fashion and then
discuss it in an electronic conference will be the "beef" Dr.
Litvak looks for. Networks like this--in which technology is the
means to an end--will have an immense impact in less-developed
countries. And give us all something nourishing to chew on.


CONCLUSION
==========

Online communication offers real opportunities to bridge the gap
between less-developed and more-developed countries. It offers
unlimited possibilities for introducing cultures and lifestyles
to many people. Individuals can travel to several countries in
an afternoon simply by accessing an international network from
their home or office. Even this technology could become routine.
But, with sound technology transfer mechanisms, we can develop
global networks of the future with energy to sustain us all.

-----

Author's note: John C. Oeffinger is Vice President of the Baylor
Research Foundation and Chairman of International Informatics
Access '87. He can be reached at Baylor research Foundation,
3500 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75246. (214) 820-2687. Via
modem: GEnie: [OEFFINGER], EMSAPPCOM [APPCOMDT.CT/BRF1] and
ECONET [APPCOMEO.BAYLOR].