Date: Thu, 6 Apr 1995 10:46:23 -0700
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Greetings, folks -
Enclosed please find a one-week summary of Internet-related
news which I put together by reviewing some of the major
publications (U.S. and international). This series will be part of
a regular, weekly feature on the Mecklermedia Web site
(http://www.mecklerweb.com), beginning next week. Comments,
suggestions, addenda, etc. most welcome.
I, too, will be at "Internet World" in San Jose, giving a talk
on "The Internet, UNCTAD, and Global Trade." Hope to chase down a
few/many coffees/beers with at least some of you -
madan
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Madanmohan Rao Phone: (212) 963-1175
Communications Director Fax: (212) 754-2791
Inter Press Service E-mail:ipsny@undp.org
United Nations rao@igc.org
New York, NY 10017
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International Publications Review Global Impact of Internet
-----------------------------------------------------------
A special feature in this edition of "World Press Review"
magazine offers a range of views from 9 international publications,
examining the promises and pitfalls of the Internet and other media
technologies. For instance, Singapore is on its way to becoming the
world's first "digital economy," where all information is available
in digitised form - but this may have dramatic cultural and
political effects on the Singapore regime. According to the
London-based "Economist" newsmagazine, the Internet has created a
"virtual economy" - but still needs a new and secure currency - the
"cyberdollar," perhaps.
The Toronto "Globe and Mail" identifies the issue of
intellectual copyrights as the single most important issue to be
addressed if the Internet is to fulfill its promise. According to
the Rotterdam-based "NRC Handlesblad," many Third World countries
have inadequate telecommunications infrastructure for dedicated
Internet phone lines, but other solutions like gateways, satellite
transmission, and packet radio can be used.
(World Press Review; April 1995)
Copyright Laws Need Updating in Cyberspace
------------------------------------------
U.S. copyright laws need to be updated, because of the
challenges posed by "all the kinds of intellectual property
floating around in cyberspace." That makes it difficult to
determine who has the rights to the products. It is also difficult
to determine the right analogy for online vendors - are they like
telephone companies, publishers, or bookstores?
(Forbes magazine; April 10, 1995)
The "Right" Lane of the Information Superhighway
------------------------------------------------
Media analyst Frank Beacham explains how right-wing elements
in the U.S. have demonstrated a quick mastery of information
technologies ranging from talk radio to the Internet. Two years
ago, the Republicans were "ridiculed for their typewriters," but
now the Democrats have had their thunder stolen by opponents like
Newt Gingrich, who describes himself as a "conservative futurist."
(EXTRA!; March/April 1995)
Freenets Grow, But "Internet Literacy" Still Has A Way To Go
------------------------------------------------------------
Ray Archee reports that the Cleveland freenet is now the
world's largest community network; at least two dozen freenets are
now Internet accessible. However, Jim Romenesko reports that in a
recent Gallup poll, over 60 percent of the white-collar workers
interviewed had not heard about the Internet, and only 10 percent
knew how to access it.
(Online Access, April 1995)
Worldwide Developments In Information Technology Reviewed
---------------------------------------------------------
The recent Barings collapse has sharpened the urgency of
examining new information technologies and their global impact.
This 20-page special supplement includes about 50 articles on
information technology, including desktop computing, networks,
video-conferencing, multimedia, office software, electronic data
interchange, and teleworking.
(Financial Times, London; April 5, 1995)
AT&T, Baby Bells Continue Fight Over Deregulation
-------------------------------------------------
As the U.S. Senate prepares a deregulation bill to let the
Baby Bells and the long-distance phone companies into each others'
lucrative markets, AT&T and two Baby Bells - Bell Atlantic and SBC
Communications - continued to trade accusations of antitrust
practices, unfair measures to stifle competition, and price
misrepresentation.
(Wall Street Journal; April 5, 1995)
United Nations University To Hold World Summit Via Internet
-----------------------------------------------------------
The United Nations University (UNU) will hold a World Congress
which will be the first video Internet conference of its kind, with
200,000 participants hooking up from 100 nations. The conference on
zero emissions will be held at the Tokyo headquarters of the UNU
from 6 to 7 April, using video connections through the Internet.
(United Nations Press Release, New York; April 4, 1995)
Internet Economics: Has Adam Smith Got Lost In Cyberspace?
----------------------------------------------------------
Andrew Orlowski asks if Internet culture is really altruistic,
or if money is made on the Internet in more subtle ways. The answer
is "a mix of the two." According to Cliff Stanford, pioneer of
low-cost Internet access in Britain, costs of hard-disk space and
telecommunications can be more than covered if a sufficiently large
number of users is charged a small fee. Furthermore, software
developers can get some publicity and credit for their efforts, as
well as offer support and consultance to users. After all, some
people are willing to pay for support "so they can have someone to
shout at," according to a software consultant.
(The Independent, London; April 3, 1995)
All Primary Schools in Wales Linked to the Internet
---------------------------------------------------
Welsh Secretary John Redwood is expected to announce that all
1,800 primary schools in Wales will be linked to the Internet. The
effort will cost 3 million pounds, but will enable students to be
captivated by the fruits of the Internet - "even French grammar."
(The Times, London; April 3, 1995)
Soccer Club "Fanzines" Draw Contributors From Around The World
--------------------------------------------------------------
More than 40 soccer clubs have launched "fanzines" on the
Internet, which now draw contributions from fans in Hong Kong,
Malaysia, Singapore, France, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden.
British club Millwall's fanzine can be found at http://zippy.
spods.dcs.kclac.uk.loccy.
(The Times, London; April 3, 1995)
U.S. Encryption Engineer Receives Award - But May Be Indicted Too
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado-based consultant Philip Zimmerman received a Pioneer
award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation last week for his
encryption program called "Pretty Good Privacy," which enables
privacy protection. However, the distribution of the program over
the Internet may be a violation of U.S. export laws. This could be
a "landmark case" for the culture of cyberspace, according to a
professor.
(Washington Post; April 3, 1995)
Moderators, Filters Can Improve Internet Discussions
----------------------------------------------------
More than 120 megabytes of messages - "the equivalent of half
the volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica" - are posted on 14,000
Internet newsgroups every day. However, the sheer volume and
quality of the messages leaves a lot to be desired. Electronic
filters can help sift through this information, but a more valuable
role can be played by moderators who function like newspaper
editors.
(Financial Times, London; April 3, 1995)
Information Technology Industry Applauds New Indian Budget
----------------------------------------------------------
The Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (MAIT)
and NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service
Companies) have expressed their elation over the new budget in
India, which slashes import duties on information technology (IT)
products and provides tax breaks for the IT industry. This should
help create a better atmosphere for India to establish itself as a
"world IT superpower."
(Express Computer, India; April 3, 1995)
"Planet Internet" and the Computing Universe
--------------------------------------------
The Internet has "shifted the center" of the computing
universe. It may be the "biggest thing since the IBM PC" in terms
of effects on products, strategies, companies, markets and
fortunes. This 7-page special report also highlights some of the
Internet plans of companies like IBM, Microsoft, Sun and InfoSeek.
For instance, IBM plans to make all of its machines "Web-ready." A
sidebar discusses flat-fee versus usage-based pricing strategies
for Internet usage.
(Business Week; April 3, 1995)
"Satan" Program - Friend or Foe?
--------------------------------
Dan Farmer of Silicon Graphics plans to distribute a program
called "Satan" as shareware on the Internet. Satan is supposed to
help systems administrators detect flaws in the security of
Internet hosts - but can also be used by hackers.
(Newsweek; April 3, 1995)
We Live in the "Internetcine Era"
---------------------------------
What should we call the age we live in? This column includes
readers' suggestions for the name of our era, including "E-Poch,"
"Cyberia," and "The Silicon Age." But given the "simultaneous
national disintegration and electronic transnational unification,"
one reader suggests calling our era the "Internetcine Era."
(New York Times; April 2, 1995)
British Lament Internet's Effect On Their Mother Tongue
-------------------------------------------------------
As if the assault on the English language by American slang is
not challenging enough, American spellcheckers and now the global
Internet may make English the victim of its own popularity. Peter
Millar explains that such corruption is evinced in new words like
"cyberspeak" and the fact that a "desktop" is a vertical screen,
while an "icon" has long since ceased to mean a religious painting.
(The Sunday Times, London; April 2, 1995)
British Consultant Debunks "Superhighway" and Other Myths
---------------------------------------------------------
It seems to be a popular myth that "all communications will
soon be online," says Kieran Levis. However, the effect of the new
networks will be to "expand choice further, and not funnel it down
one route." The bigger challenge to video recorders will come from
video CDs, and not movies over phone lines. Levis says that the
commercial significance of the Internet is "not that it provides
access to vast stores of information, but that it makes possible
new kinds of transactions."
(Financial Times, London; March 31, 1995)
Korean Government Publicises Policies Through Internet
------------------------------------------------------
The Korean Ministry of Information and Communications is
publicising its telecommunications policies through the Internet.
Information about Asian information superhighway projects is also
included on the Web site.
(The Korea Herald; March 30, 1995)
IBM Showcases "Digital Libraries"
---------------------------------
IBM, trying to project a role as a leader in the information
superhighway, demonstrated its visual computer database of some of
the 150,000 manuscripts in the Vatican Library. Digital imaging is
growing at "double digit rates," and promises new and growing
markets.
(Christian Science Monitor; March 30, 1995)
Digital Superhighway Explosion in Europe
--------------------------------------
Over the next two years, Europe may have more than 500
channels of digital television. This "digital revolution" will
concentrate on new services like "video on demand" and multiplexing
of the same program.
(Financial Times, London; March 30, 1995)
British, German Telcos Expand Presence in Asia
--------------------------------------------------
Cable and Wireless (C&W) may take a stake in Satelindo, the
Indonesian satellite communications group. With a population of 190
million but served only by 3 million telephone lines, Indonesia's
13,000 islands constitute "the world's largest market" so far
opened to mobile communications based on the GSM standard. Deutsche
Telekom, also with a stake in Satelindo, hopes to play a role in
India, Vietnam and the Philippines.
(Financial Times, London; March 30, 1995)
Phone Service, Basketball Sites on the Internet
-----------------------------------------------
This week's "Cybersurfing" column includes information about
InternetPhone and basketball news. I-phone, currently somewhat like
an Internet-based walkie-talkie, can be downloaded from
http://www.vocaltec.com. CBS has been promoting its Web site for
basketball (http://www.cbs.com), but at the moment it seems to be
just "an air ball."
(Washington Post; March 30, 1995)
IBM Displays Chip for Digital Video
-----------------------------------
IBM unveiled the "first single chip" to transmit and store
digital video images. The MPEG-2 encoder and decoder chips will
help transmit video images quickly through networks.
(Bloomberg Business News; March 30, 1995)
Canadian Companies Launch Business Network, Internet Retriever
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Global Business Alliance launched a low-cost electronic
business network called IBEX (International Business Exchange) for
trade among small businesses. Fulcrum Technologies unveiled a
retrieval engine for the Internet, called "Fulcrum Surfboard."
(Toronto Globe and Mail; March 29, 1995)
Internet E-Mail Used to Coordinate Nationwide Political Activism
----------------------------------------------------------------
Campus activists are now turning to cyberspace instead of
phone chains to coordinate protests, slogans and petitions. An
Internet e-mail discussion list called CAN-RW (Campus Activists'
Network, Right-Wing Alert) now has over 600 subscribers. On March
29, a "National Day of Campus Action Against the Contract with
America" was coordinated. Electronic mail has "totally changed the
way students do political activism," according to one student.
(New York Times, March 29, 1995)
Scandinavian Telcos Dominate Emerging Cellular Technology Markets
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Although Bell first developed cellular technology in the U.S.,
Scandinavian telecommunications companies like Norway's Telenor,
Sweden's Ericsson, and Finland's Telecom have beaten the bigger
transnational telcos in the world's fastest growing markets. They
use cellular technology in combination with standard networks.
(Eurobusiness; March 1995)
French Art on the Internet
--------------------------
Exhibiting art on-line has now become a growing trend.
Digitised images of the cave paintings at Vallon-Pont-d'Arc in
France can be found at http://www.culture.fr/gvdpa.html. Net
surfers can also browse through the Louvre's artistic epochs at
http://mistral.enst.fr.
(The European; March 24-30, 1995)
Sociology of Cyberspace Reviewed
--------------------------------
The cover story of this issue of the "Utne Reader" is
"Cyberhood v/s Neighborhood." John Barlow, Howard Rheingold, Scott
Sanders and several other writers discuss whether computer networks
are "real" communities.
An article titled "Welcome to Cyberia" tries to offer a
"reality check" to the technophiles. Another article called "The
Virtual Community" claims that computer networking can "help bring
community back to the center of modern life." A special section,
"Citizens and Computers," lists resources (organisations, books,
and online resources) on using the Internet as a "tool for
community organising."
Overall, this is an excellent set of articles on the sociology
of cyberspace.
(Utne Reader; March-April, 1995)
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