Users' group
Encyclopedia
A users' group is a type of club
focused on the use of a particular technology
, usually (but not always) computer
-related.
Users' groups started in the early days of mainframe
computers, as a way to share sometimes hard-won knowledge and useful software, usually written by end users independently of the factory-supplied programming efforts. SHARE
, a user group originated by aerospace industry corporate users of IBM
mainframe computers, was founded in 1955 and is the oldest computer user group still active. DECUS
, the DEC
User's Society, was founded in 1961 and its descendant organization still operates. The Computer Measurement Group
(CMG) was founded in 1974 by systems professionals with a common interest in (mainframe) capacity management
, and continues today with a much broader mission. The first UNIX
users' group organized in 1978.
Users' groups began to proliferate with the microcomputer revolution
of the late 1970s and early 1980s as hobbyists united to help each other with programming
and configuration and use of hardware
and software. Especially prior to the emergence of the World Wide Web
, obtaining technical assistance with computers was often onerous, while computer clubs would gladly provide free technical support
. Users' groups today continue to provide "real life" opportunities for learning from the shared experience of the members and may provide other functions such as a newsletter, group purchasing opportunities, tours of facilities, or speakers at group meetings.
A users' group may provide its members (and sometimes the general public as well) with one or more of the following services:
Users' groups may be organized around a particular brand of current hardware (IBM, Macintosh) or current software and operating systems (Linux
, Microsoft Windows
, Clipper
), or more rarely may be dedicated to obsolescent systems or historical computers, for example Apple II
, PDP-11
, Osborne
.
Computer user groups meet both virtually and in hackerspace
s. Computer user groups may consist of members who primarily use a specific operating system
, such as Linux
. While many hackers use free and open source software
, others use Macintosh, RISC OS
, Windows
and Amiga OS. There are also other user groups that concentrate on either Mac OS (Macintosh User Group
or MUG) or Linux (Linux User Group
or LUG).
Many computer user groups belong to an umbrella organization, the Association of Personal Computer User Groups
or APCUG.
Club
A club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists for voluntary or charitable activities; there are clubs devoted to hobbies and sports, social activities clubs, political and religious clubs, and so forth.- History...
focused on the use of a particular technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
, usually (but not always) computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
-related.
Users' groups started in the early days of mainframe
Mainframe computer
Mainframes are powerful computers used primarily by corporate and governmental organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning, and financial transaction processing.The term originally referred to the...
computers, as a way to share sometimes hard-won knowledge and useful software, usually written by end users independently of the factory-supplied programming efforts. SHARE
SHARE (computing)
SHARE Inc. is a volunteer-run user group for IBM mainframe computers that was founded in 1955 by Los Angeles-area IBM 701 users. It evolved into a forum for exchanging technical information about programming languages, operating systems, database systems, and user experiences for enterprise users...
, a user group originated by aerospace industry corporate users of IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
mainframe computers, was founded in 1955 and is the oldest computer user group still active. DECUS
DECUS
The Digital Equipment Computer Users' Society was an independent computer user group related to Digital Equipment Corporation.The Connect User Group Community, formed from the consolidation in May, 2008 of DECUS, Encompass, HP-Interex, and ITUG is Hewlett-Packard’s largest user community...
, the DEC
Digital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation was a major American company in the computer industry and a leading vendor of computer systems, software and peripherals from the 1960s to the 1990s...
User's Society, was founded in 1961 and its descendant organization still operates. The Computer Measurement Group
Computer Measurement Group
The Computer Measurement Group , founded in 1974, is a worldwide non-profit organization of data processing professionals whose work involves measuring and managing the performance of computing systems...
(CMG) was founded in 1974 by systems professionals with a common interest in (mainframe) capacity management
Capacity management
Capacity Management is a process used to manage information technology . Its primary goal is to ensure that IT capacity meets current and future business requirements in a cost-effective manner. One common interpretation of Capacity Management is described in the ITIL framework...
, and continues today with a much broader mission. The first UNIX
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
users' group organized in 1978.
Users' groups began to proliferate with the microcomputer revolution
Microcomputer revolution
The microcomputer revolution is a phrase used to describe the rapid advances of microprocessor-based computers from esoteric hobby projects to a commonplace fixture of homes in industrial societies...
of the late 1970s and early 1980s as hobbyists united to help each other with programming
Computer programming
Computer programming is the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code is written in one or more programming languages. The purpose of programming is to create a program that performs specific operations or exhibits a...
and configuration and use of hardware
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
and software. Especially prior to the emergence of the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
, obtaining technical assistance with computers was often onerous, while computer clubs would gladly provide free technical support
Technical support
Technical support or tech support refers to a range of services by which enterprises provide assistance to users of technology products such as mobile phones, televisions, computers, software products or other electronic or mechanical goods...
. Users' groups today continue to provide "real life" opportunities for learning from the shared experience of the members and may provide other functions such as a newsletter, group purchasing opportunities, tours of facilities, or speakers at group meetings.
A users' group may provide its members (and sometimes the general public as well) with one or more of the following services:
- periodic meetings
- annual or less frequent users conferences
- public lecturePublic lectureA public lecture is one means employed for educating the public in the sciences and medicine. The Royal Institution has a long history of public lectures and demonstrations given by prominent experts in the field...
s - a newsletterNewsletterA newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
- a libraryLibraryIn a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
of media or tools - a software archive
- an online presence such as a dial-up BBSBulletin board systemA Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
or InternetInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet... - swap meetSwap meetSwap meet can mean:*Swap meet, a type of flea market*Swap Meet , a song by Nirvana*Swap Meet, a pricing game on the Price is Right game show*Swap Meet , an episode of the television program CSI...
s - technical supportTechnical supportTechnical support or tech support refers to a range of services by which enterprises provide assistance to users of technology products such as mobile phones, televisions, computers, software products or other electronic or mechanical goods...
- social events
- Code CampCode CampCode Camp is a form of an unconference. Originally begun as a Microsoft-slanted take on barcamp, but not strictly limited to the Microsoft Windows or .NET platforms.Code Camps are free to attend. Code Camps do not take place during the typical work week...
Users' groups may be organized around a particular brand of current hardware (IBM, Macintosh) or current software and operating systems (Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Clipper
Clipper programming language
Clipper is a computer programming language that is used to create software programs that originally operated primarily under DOS. Although it is a powerful general-purpose programming language, it was primarily used to create database/business programs....
), or more rarely may be dedicated to obsolescent systems or historical computers, for example Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
, PDP-11
PDP-11
The PDP-11 was a series of 16-bit minicomputers sold by Digital Equipment Corporation from 1970 into the 1990s, one of a succession of products in the PDP series. The PDP-11 replaced the PDP-8 in many real-time applications, although both product lines lived in parallel for more than 10 years...
, Osborne
Osborne 1
The Osborne 1 was the first commercially successful portable microcomputer, released on April 3, 1981 by Osborne Computer Corporation. It weighed 10.7 kg , cost USD$ 1795, and ran the then-popular CP/M 2.2 operating system...
.
Computer user group
A computer user group (also known as a computer club) is a group of people who enjoy using microcomputers or personal computers and who meet regularly to discuss the use of computers, share knowledge and experience, hear from representatives of hardware manufacturers and software publishers, and hold other related activities. They may host special interest workgroups, often focusing on one particular aspect of computing.Computer user groups meet both virtually and in hackerspace
Hackerspace
A hackerspace or hackspace is a location where people with common interests, often in computers, technology, science, or digital or electronic art can meet, socialise and/or collaborate...
s. Computer user groups may consist of members who primarily use a specific operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
, such as Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
. While many hackers use free and open source software
Free and open source software
Free and open-source software or free/libre/open-source software is software that is liberally licensed to grant users the right to use, study, change, and improve its design through the availability of its source code...
, others use Macintosh, RISC OS
RISC OS
RISC OS is a computer operating system originally developed by Acorn Computers Ltd in Cambridge, England for their range of desktop computers, based on their own ARM architecture. First released in 1987, under the name Arthur, the subsequent iteration was renamed as in 1988...
, Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Amiga OS. There are also other user groups that concentrate on either Mac OS (Macintosh User Group
Macintosh User Group
A Macintosh User Group is a group of people who use Macintosh computers made by Apple Inc. or other manufacturers and who use the Apple Macintosh operating system . These groups are primarily locally situated and meet regularly to discuss Macintosh computers, the Mac OS, software and peripherals...
or MUG) or Linux (Linux User Group
Linux User Group
A Linux User Group or Linux Users' Group or GNU/Linux User Group is a private, generally non-profit or not-for-profit organization that provides support and/or education for Linux users, particularly for inexperienced users...
or LUG).
Many computer user groups belong to an umbrella organization, the Association of Personal Computer User Groups
Association of Personal Computer User Groups
The Association of Personal Computer User Groups is a nationwide organization in the United States that helps local computer user groups by facilitating communications between local groups, computer hardware and software makers, and hardware and software vendors. A non-profit corporation as...
or APCUG.