Taken from July 9th 1993 *StarShip* 5-MINUTE Weekend Newscast


               PC-Tumor Amiga BBS offers JPEG Medical Images
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   / _  )         *StarShip* News Network -- July 5, 1993
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(_/C-Tumor, we believe, is the first BBS of digitized images of human
neoplasias (cancers). There are over 200 digitized images primarily color
microscopic images from various tissues and organ sites. So far all have been
digitized using Amiga computers by three experienced Board Certified
pathologists: Drs. John Minarcik, Peter Shireman and Mariano Alvira.
Digitized images are all compressed using the JPEG "lossy compression"
routines so they can easily been accessed and viewed by multiple computer
platforms. Uploading of images is encouraged providing that you use the
Zmodem protocol and they are "JPGED". The Sysop, Dr. John Minarcik, reviews
all uploads and supervises the quality of the material. We hope that PC-Tumor
will contribute to the dissemination of professionally produced color digital
images of human cancers, a difficult and expensive task to do in routine
printed publications, and will contribute to the advancement and knowledge of
human cancers.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW USERS

Welcome to PC-Tumor!. If you are an experienced BBSer, you probably don't
need to read any further.

Here are a few tips to help you move around better on PC-Tumor.

1) Read all screen prompts CAREFULLY. All of the instructions for using
PC-Tumor to the max are laid out right before your eyes. Just read carefully
what command to use and enter it precisely as directed.

2) No matter what computer you are using, you can download and view these
images, but you best remember:

A) You must use the ZMODEM protocol for all downloads.

B) Your software (and hardware) must be able to decompress and view .jpg
image files. Browse through conference #2 and download JPG2GIF.EXE and
MVGAVU60.ZIP and PKZ100.EXE. These may be helpful for most IBM's with VGA or
better graphics.

C) PC-Tumor uses the fastest modem available, a US Robotics 16.8 Dual
Standard. It should be compatible with any other type of modem, and transfer
rates over 5400 cps have been possible on some textfiles, which approaches
57,600 baud (slightly faster than the speed of light!!!). The modem will slow
down to keep up with your modem however.

D) Our current hardware is Amiga based. Although our Mac and IBM friends tell
us they get great images on their home systems as well, the best "near
photographic quality" images we have seen are on our own home or office based
systems. The quality of images you get will depend on: a) Your hardware
(special graphics boards are NOT needed usually, if you have VGA systems). b)
Your software and how you "tweak" it. c) A lot of other variables. d) Luck.
We do not recommend anything unless asked.

E) Please UPLOAD images too, if possible. PC-Tumor is dying to get images
better than the ones we put up.

F) What is JPEG?

JPEG or .JPG files, short for Joint Photographic Expert Group, is THE major
format for image compression. Typically, a 1000K (or one Megabyte)
near-photographic quality, "true" color (or 24-bit color), image, can be
compressed to a mere fraction of its original memory requirements. Our JPEG's
are typically around 30K which means at 2400 baud, you can download an image
in about 2-3 minutes. If you have a high speed modem, the same transfer would
take just a few seconds.

G) The main purpose of PC-Tumor BBS is to educate users on the appearance of
tumors. It is also, however, a message base for anything you want to talk
about, a workshop dedicated to improving the quality of digital diagnostic
medical images, and a tool for diagnostic physicians to transfer images to
other physicians around the planet for "stat" consultations and second
opinions, without having to wait for the US Postal Service or Federal
Express. For us, PC-Tumor has been a lot of fun!

H) Browse through Conference #1 to see what tumors we have. Browse through
Conference #2 to see gadgets and info.

Sysop: John Minarcik, MD
Contributors: Peter Shireman, MD and Mariano Alvira, MD
For more information call PC-Tumor BBS: (407) 234-1287