The Next Five YearsWhen did you first hear about the Internet? Today it seems that almost every TV ad ends with a "WWW.this-or-that"; yet in 1994, few people outside of the academic community had ever heard of the Internet. Now millions of people worldwide browse the World Wide Web at any given hour, 24 hours a day. And even with all these users, the explosion has barely begun! This is just the spark. You are witness to the birth of a system of communication that will change the world forever. Picture a global society where everyone has unrestricted access to a planetary computer filled with the entire knowledge base of the human race. In fact, much non-restricted information from colleges, universities and government agencies around the world is available on the Web right now. Mail deliveries, in fact the entire paper industry, is beginning to feel the effects of this electronic revolution. Product literature & user manuals, newspapers, fliers, personal and business correspondence, magazines and books are readily available on the Net. Sure, there are growing pains. Corporations must spend billions of dollars to build a communications infrastructure capable of meeting increasing demands. The industry must design software and devices that are second-nature to use. And yes, internet-based companies must face the reality of their own limits or experience the pain of more shakeouts. But despite the challenges, the delivery of information and entertainment anywhere, anytime is becoming a reality. The Internet has already become the preferred medium that many businesses use to find new customers.. Unlike the print media, where each word drives up the cost, the Internet allows businesses to reach out to prospective clients with full pages containing color, pictures, coupons and even interactive features for a reasonable monthly charge. And web pages let them make changes and corrections whenever necessary without waiting for the "next issue"! Get your message
out there! |