What's Up

    I'd like to take this article to predict where computer technology
will take us in the next few years. It is unbelievable how quickly the
computer revolution is advancing.

    As with any technology, your best bet is to jump in and learn to
swim ASAP. The more you learn about it now, the more time you will
have to keep up with the newest stuff. The longer you wait, the more
catching up you'll have to do. Or, you could just pull the covers up
over your eyes...

    Computer development took a major boost when ordinary people,
in homes all over the world, started hooking up to the Internet. Before
this, most people used their computers as stand alone machines, with
no connections to anything; or maybe they got on to local BBSs
(bulletin board services) to share files and conversations with others
in the local computing community. Now, a connection to the Internet is
an essential part of any worthwhile computer system. A very big part of
the new software being developed now is directly for use with the
Internet. It's all about taking network communication protocols that
were invented 20 years ago and cramming more and more complex
information through them. Then, interpreting this information on the
other end. And, doing it in such a way that it doesn't matter what type
of computer is on either end! World wide computer networking is as
foundational to the information age as the computer itself.

    The most important part of improving what we all get from the Internet
is increasing the data bandwidth of our connections to it, and just as
importantly, within it. That is, we need to be able to send and receive
information at a much faster rate. The T1 line, you might have heard of,
carries 1.5 million bits per second. It is this type of connection
(sometimes more than 1) that exists between Internet Service Providers.
A 28.8kb modem carries 28,800 bits per second. Bandwidth is not the only
issue in the speed of your service. The topography (the way it's really
hooked up) has everything to do with it too. If you have a high bandwidth
cable running into your house, and so does everyone else, you all have to
share the line. That means that no one gets the advantage of the full capacity
--unless no one else is using it. Fat chance! Ordinary phone / modem
connections have a different topography. You get the full use of your own
connection. They are pretty fast, and a lot more cost effective for the
average home user. Then there is ISDN, usually a business type connection,
which is very fast, but again, more expensive.

    Fiber optic lines will most likely make their way into our homes within
the next 5 to 7 years. This would be many, many times faster than anything
currently available. And, because of the break up of Ma Bell, and its
consequences, you should probably have your choice of who actually
provides your world network connection.

    With super high speed connections we will be able to see each other in
real time video-phone conversations, around the globe with no long distance
charges. This already exists, but the quality is not very good right now. Also,
I think you can say good bye to your CD and video collections.         ===>