Visualizing chat

Article Abstract:

The chat line long ago replaced the CB radio as the communication tool of choice for anonymous conversations. CompuServe's new CB chat line pioneered this model in 1984, changing the way people communicate forever. Layered conversations provided a means to explore new topics and talk to new people. On-line chat does begin to lose its appeal after a while, it would be more interesting if it could be three-dimensional, and permit participants to comment on things as they passed by in a more natural manner. The chat interface has not changed in nearly ten years. Although the Internet has many store-and-forward communications facilities, the World Wide Web lacks much in the way of threaded e-mail and real-time chat. However, a new free service called World Chat has appeared on the Web. It is a 3-D Web chat site that gives each user a cartoon icon, permitting them to navigate through a series of rooms and encounter other people in real-time.

Technology overview, Online information services, World Wide Web, Online information service, Technology Information

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CD-ROM market stays hot

Article Abstract:

Publishing on the World Wide Web is easy and inexpensive, unlike CD-ROM production, which is costly and difficult. Still, sales of CD-ROM are growing, with 22.6 million CD-ROM drives shipped in 1994, 172 percent more than in 1993. The tremendous growth occurred despite a shortage of quad-speed drives. A study showed a threefold increase in the total installed base of CD-ROM multimedia devices, and that Windows multimedia PC sales are growing twice as fast as Macintoshes with CDs. The market for text-based CD-ROM publishing is still growing in the corporate market. Game-playing devices had slower growth, but higher-powered games are now set to expand. However, video game devices are not expected to cut into PC sales. A third of all home computers are multimedia systems, and over half of PCs sold in 1994 were multimedia-ready. Revenues from CDs have tripled as well, with home education titles showing the greatest growth.

Forecasts and trends, Industry trend, Market trend/market analysis, CD-ROM disks, CD-ROM Technology, CD-ROM Drive, CD-ROM drives

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Micropayments: no small change

Article Abstract:

Secure micropayment systems promise to bring a boom to Internet commerce. Most micropayment technologies require buyers to purchase encrypted digital tokens, which are then used at participating Web sites. Because the digital cash has been preapproved, micropayments offer more anonymity than credit-card transactions. First Virtual Holdings' VirtualPIN and CyberCash's CyberCoin are the only micropayment systems in current commercial use, but many more are in development. Netscape plans to integrate CyberCash in future browsers as well as its LivePayment server software. The first market for micropayments is likely to be text-based business, medical and legal information. Once bandwidth increases, other likely applications include multiplayer game sites, stock quotes, online training, custom weather reports and downloadable software.

Cover Story, Internet/Web technology application, Technology application, Electronic commerce, E-commerce

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