Rhonda, The future of the internet . . .
is in high-bandwidth [Audio-video on demand] T is buying TCI Telecommunications [TCOMA, TCOMB, TCIVA, TCIVB, TUNE, TUNEP, LBTYA, LBTYB and major shareholder in ATHM]. Fibre-optics will be the standard data transmission method. . . T has fibre-optics, deals with FO companies. Cable companies have laid fibre-optics in same routes as "old" coaxial cable. TCI is biggest cable company.
Video and audio on demand will be the "new" television....totally digital and completely interactive.
To give you an idea of where we are with today's internet.. . .
"Viewtron" had realtime quotes, AP or UPI news up to the second on any subject using a menu driven search engine....like Yahoo, Official Airline Guide and travel agents, online auctions, chat rooms, message boards for special interest groups, email, colorful animated electronic Hallmark greeting cards, multi-user interactive online games, online encyclopedias, software to download, favorite places, electronic moving advertisements. . . sports stats, all of the local restaurant menus and movie schedules and showtimes, secure credit card e-commerce with national brand names like Florsheim Shoes as well as the pizza store or liquor store down the road that delivers,
online banking. . . pay bills electronically. . . transfer funds, send email via Western Union telegram or US Mail. . . educational programs and home computing programs, like recipes, health, first-aid or virtually anything else you could think of . . .
. . . all from the comfort of your favorite chair via a remote control alphnumeric keypad with function keys, the size of a hardback book. . . sending to a "set-top" box and viewed on your own TV set. . . and the full color graphic display painted at an average rate of 1.5 seconds. That is faster than At Home Network pages paint using a cable modem and many times faster than AOL.
WHEN is all this going to happen, you ask????
How about 1984?? No typo. . I was doing all of the above 15 years ago on a "Sceptre" terminal manufactured by . . . .
. . T . .
So, the internet is OLD news. . . very old news. . .to A.T. and T.
And the NEW internet that is being planned and designed behind the scenes by the highest-tech companies is what our future contains.
You want to hear Jewel's new record or see Garths new concert tour. . . it is sent instantly without filling in order forms. . .you fast forward. . .rewind. . .save it or dump it. . .and you only pay for what you use. Haven't seen the new "Star Trek" yet? Type in the name....hit go and watch it. . . stop it in the middle and answer your videophone ...its your mom...she is sending a live video feed of your nephews first baseball game back home....she is there now, videotaping the game and talking to you . . . you mention you like her hairdo as you watch the game together....you then conference call your sister to get her in the picture....as the nephew comes to the screen you all tell him what a nice catch he made.
Missed the big game, because you had to work? Well, the game is in progress now, but you can see a delayed broadcast whenever you are ready to start watching.. . . .
Don't feel like getting out of bed, no problem, your psych 101 class is ready to begin, your professor is looking especially happy today...must be a pop quiz. . . no problem. . . you studied online with your girlfriend til midnight last night . . between watching Leno and a playing a virtual reality 3D surround sound game with your buddies . . . all online from the comfort of your bedroom.
Wake up and grab your pre-printed newspaper off your printer with all of the news and color photos you want....and in the order you want to read them. . .your perfect cup of coffee? . . . Krups. Some things will never change.
T is skipping the present internet and are moving into the "new" internet [some call I-3], which will be entirely broadband and exciting. Everything that is laborious about today's internet will be gone. The new internet will not be limited to those with PCs or PC knowledge. The new one will be designed for ease of use, so that everyone can intuitively navigate the system wherever they are. And incorporate this system into every part of our daily lives.
Now this will change everything.
Rande Is
|
