Unleashing Exercise
Physiologists
Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, FASEP
Professor and Chair
Department of Exercise Physiology
Director of Exercise Physiology
Laboratories
The College of St. Scholastica
1200 Kenwood Office
Duluth, MN 55811
The
web is a key indicator of the way life is changing in the United States.
Most people who use the Information Superhighway, the Info Highway, I-Way,
or some other term used for this electronic system understands this point
rather well. Because of rapid changes in almost every aspect of life, the
information overload through digital technology has contributed to pervasive
ideas and yet interesting ideas. The world no longer belongs to just the
school, the organization, or even the government. The Information Superhighway
has changed all of that with digital reality.
Surprised! You shouldn't
be. Today the personal computer is a common fixture everywhere. Users are
distributing rapidly to millions of people their ideas and electronic touch
on "what is what." Their online services and innovations, through easily
created Web sites, access audiences through direct deployment of online
information.
This technology is real.
It is here to stay, and the communication among people (including exercise
physiologists) has moved to another level. Gentlemen, wake up and get involved.
The days are numbered. The experiment is being played out with a broad
base of viewers. The technology has freed us to focus on matters more worthy
of our professional intellect, producing a world in which a Society of
exercise physiologists coexist with other professionals.
What can be achieved with
the Information Superhighway is limitless opportunities to promote, extend,
ensure, and protect the efforts of exercise physiologists as academically
prepared professionals. The agenda for action is presently being played
out through the ASEP internet web pages. Many projects are already completed,
others are in the planning stages. The range of activities is wide and
challenging, but doable.
Across the United States,
exercise physiologists are sending in their ASEP applications for membership.
Users of the I-Way have connected with the feelings and desires written
into the ASEP pages for confirmation of professional status. The fee for
being a member is small. Registration is simple, and the vehicle for sustained
connection is the Internet pages.
Original. Yes. There never
has been such an opportunity before in history. The Internet has created
a gateway of instant communication and link with exercise physiologists
who are necessarily members of other organizations. They have read ASEP's
vision and objectives, and have begun to better understand the reason for
the Society. Some have submitted manuscripts for publication in the first-ever
electronic Journal
of Exercise Physiologyonline.
Developed by ASEP Board Members, the JEPonlinecommands
respect even as a youngster in the publishing medium.
The
real advantage of the Web is its ability to publish instantly on a global
scale. Students are as likely to become part of the network world as college
faculty. Professional communications between students and professionals
in the field should create almost magically a better understanding of the
professional issues that need clarification and answers. Students now may
take part in the actual development of the profession in real time by voicing
their ideas, thoughts, and feelings on the ASEP
Public Forum.
This
type of interactive dissection of ideas and concerns has never been a part
of exercise physiology. The good news is that it will be. In another type
of beneficial Internet contact, a new professional journal exists for publishing
manuscripts that are not of the traditional research type. Countless times
during the past two decades, I have wanted to publish an article about
the development of exercise physiology. However, there has never been an
outlet for such "face-to-face" types of communication.
Now,
the new journal, Professionalization of Exercise Physiology, exists to
begin the teaching process of what is and is not exercise physiology and
where it should be headed. There is no intent to manipulate the message
or to focus too strongly on one topic versus another. It is about making
it in the United States as an exercise physiologist. The real world outside
of the college environment is not fully aware of what we are and what we
do. Because the Internet is the most advanced concept of multi-communication
available to us, the journal is both imaginative and supportive of the
multidimensional aspects of the exercise physiology profession.
While
still in its earliest stages of development, there are at least a thousand
well-planned and useful ideas and papers waiting publication in the journal.
If your interest is immediate publication without costs to you personally,
why not publish your paper where potentially thousands of people in the
United States and around the globe for that matter can read it?
