Accountability is key to democracy in the on-line world

Article Abstract:

The online world is far from becoming an open, democratic forum. Anonymity is a big problem, with users freely able to fabricate names or even pretend to be other people. This is a big problem with the Internet and America Online. Incivility is another problem. For example, when members of AOL, Prodigy and CompuServe gained access to the Internet in 1994, they were greeted with calumny and vituperation by long-time Internet users upset by the newcomers' infamiliarity with obscure rules or conventions. These online cursing fits would not be tolerated in a real-life setting. Censorship and intimidation is all-too acceptable in the online world. Self-appointed vigilantes delete messages they disagree with or try to sabotage the sender's mailbox. This is the moral equivalent of dictatorship, and should be much more vigorously criticized by the online community.

Internet, Online information services, Ethical aspects, Ethics, Online information service, Critique

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Interactive CDs dazzle with promise, but not performance

Article Abstract:

Philips Electronics' CD-I is an interactive compact disk player that hooks up to a television and includes a remote control unit. The unit has great promise but the reality is considerably more disappointing. CD-I retails for $800 and attaches easily to a television set. Users sit down and use a remote control unit to select programs from a menu of CD programs. One of the good points of the system is its ability to handle CD-I disks, normal music CDs and Kodak's coming Photo CDs. The biggest problem with the system is the software. There are currently only 44 titles available, and they are not terribly impressive because they support only still pictures and not full motion video. Another major problem is that CD-I does not include any method for connecting with the outside world to perform interactive tasks such as ordering products.

Household audio and video equipment, Evaluation, Product/Service Evaluation, Product information, Consumer electronics industry, Consumer electronics, Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., CD-ROM disks, CD-interactive, CD-ROM, Philips CD-I (Computer-based entertainment system)

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White House lets you turn on your PC, tune in to politics

Article Abstract:

The Clinton administration has set up computer bulletin boards and data bases on several popular online information services. Subscribers can download presidential statements and interviews and talk back via electronic mail. On CompuServe, the White House's e-mail address is '75300,3115.' Documents can be downloaded by typing 'Go Whitehouse.' The same command will giver users access to a bulletin board, where they can debate White House staffers. The e-mail address on American Online is 'Clintonpz,' while a bulletin board and White House documents are accessible via 'Whitehouse.' On MCI Mail, the e-mail address is 'White House,' while documents can be reached by typing 'View White House.' The White House's e-mail address on Internet are 'Clintonpz(at)AOL.com' and '75300.3115(at)CompuServe.com.'

Clinton, Bill, Information services, Public relations, Politics, White House, Online, Access Methods

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