The internet has opened up possibilities for discussion undreamt of in the past. The place of Newsgroups is important in the exchange of news and views though perhaps being overshadowed by the advent of blogs.
The following USENET newsgroups have lots of topical messages on instrumentation, control and manufacturing issues.
This list is by no means intended to be all-inclusive, nor is it complete. If a newsgroup you find useful or interesting is missing from this page, feel free to let us know.

• comp.ai Artificial intelligence discussions
• comp.realtime.comp.robotics Robotics
• comp.robotics.misc Robotics
• comp.robotics.research Robotics
• sci.aeronautics The science of aeronautics
• sci.astro Astronomy
• sci.bio.technology Biotechnology
• sci.chem.comp.ai.neural-nets Neural Networks
• sci.comp-aided Computer - Aided Research
• sci.data.formats Modelling, storage and retrieval of Scientific Data
• sci.electronics Electronics
• sci.electronics Electronic theory and circuitry
• sci.electronics.cad Computer aided electronic drawing, schematics etc
• sci.engr General engineering
• sci.engr.analysis Analysis
• sci.engr.chem Chemical Engineering
• sci.engr.civil Civil Engineering
• sci.engr.control Possibly the most important I&C news group.
• sci.engr.electrical.compliance which has some discussions on the CE Mark among other topics
• sci.engr.heat-vent-ac HVAC Applications
• sci.engr.manufacturing Engineering in manufacturing
• sci.engr.mech Mechanical Engineering
• sci.engr.metallurgy Metallurgical Engineering
• sci.image.processing Image processing and analysis
• sci.materials Materials Engineering
• sci.op-research Research,, teaching and applications of operations
• sci.physics Physics
• sci.physics.research Physics research
• sci.polymers Polymers
• sci.systems Systems

Blogs are another way of communication with like minded people. There are many kinds and qualities of blog andf blogger and here are a few which may be of interest to automation professionals!

AN-Ex. Thoughts on what's happening in the Ex field. This blog has been created to give a view of what's happening in the field of hazardous area instrument and electrical systems. Though started by MTL personnel it seems relatively unbiased.

Bill's Blog Contemporary Controls' "online journal" created to increase awareness of Industrial Ethernet.

Evolving Excellence - Thoughts on lean enterprise leadership from the editors of Superfactory.

In Control - About embedded electronic control systems - mantained by David Gibson, SPLat Controls

Mackey's Musing Steve Mackey of IDC Technologies puts his thoughts on-line!

Gary Mintchel's Blog - Editor In Chief Automation World. Listen also to his podcasts Automation Minutes.

The Nanotechnology Test Weblog keeps visitors abreast of the latest news in the nanotechnology and MEMS industry through frequent posts of technical and business developments.

Talk to Me - Perspectives from ISA's InTech Editor Greg Hale.

Jim Pinto's Weblog - Though strictly not a blog this has lots of interesting and sometimes controversial stuff to read.

Sound off! Control Editor's blog (Walt Boyes)

Processingtalk Blog - your chance to comment on the editorials on Nick Denbow's Processingtalk.co weekly enews.

ProSoft Blog - ProSoft Technology talks industrial automation

The PTO blog - to keep you abreast of PTO events and happenings almost as they happen. (ProfiBus US).