Digitas Holds First Meeting

Digitas, a recently-formed student group that will explore and advocate emerging technologies, held its first meeting last night.

The organizers clearly distinguished the club from the Harvard Computer Society (HCS) at the meeting, saying they plan to compare not only multimedia software, but also new ideas in stereo equipment, advance cordless phones and even video game technology.

"[We're interested in] new gadgets that are cool," said Jeff C. Tarr '96, co-president of Digitas and former resident of HCS.

Although there were only eight people at last night's meeting in Science Center B, Tarr said almost 50 students have subscribed to the mailing list.

Digitas announced the meeting through the Internet news system as well as through more traditional posters.

Tarr and Ishir Bhan '96, the other co-president of Digitas, are both members of HCS but said they wanted to form a new club independent of the Computer Society.

"I didn't see much interest in [new technology] at HCS," Bhan said.

But Eugene E. Kim '96, president of HCS, said the computer society has a very broad charter and "any club that deals with technology could fall under the jurisdiction of HCS."

In the past, HCS has provided many services to the Harvard community, including the publication of Computers@Harvard and the Adopt-a-Dorm program to help students get on to the campus-wide network.

Members of Digitas, however, doubt the benefits of falling under the umbrella of HCS, according to Bahn. "It would be a grave mistake," he said.

Tarr said Digitas has a distinctly different goal.

Digitas is "not trying to help people" in the same way, he said. Instead, Digitas is intended to explore and advocate new technologies through guest lecturers, meetings--including weekly "virtual meetings" over the Internet--and electronic publications, Tarr said.

The group hopes to produce an online newsletter to be "delivered to student's electronic doorsteps," said a flyer distributed at the meeting.

Steven W. Wardell '94-'95, who attended themeeting, said he enjoyed the presentation. "Thetwo co-founders are at the cutting edge ofmultimedia technology," he said. "We don't get tosee that through courses.

Steven W. Wardell '94-'95, who attended themeeting, said he enjoyed the presentation. "Thetwo co-founders are at the cutting edge ofmultimedia technology," he said. "We don't get tosee that through courses.