Home-computer network criticized for limiting users

Article Abstract:

The Prodigy Services Co, which provides in-home shopping and information services, issues guidelines restricting electronic mail services. The move comes in response to criticism from users about earlier restrictions and a surcharge. The dispute centers on Prodigy's attempts to control 'a small group' of the company's customers who have been using Prodigy as a high-volume mail network, sending messages to hundreds of Prodigy subscribers at a time. Prodigy says it did not foresee such a use of its system and cannot afford to provide such a service. There is concern among groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union about First Amendment rights. Prodigy reaffirms a commitment that personal messages between users are private communications, but the company wants restrictions on communications between users and advertisers and wants to prohibit automated message-sender programs.

Computer related services, not elsewhere classified, Social aspects, Prices and rates, Telecommunications services industry, Telecommunications industry, Telecommunications systems, Electronic mail systems, Email, Science and technology policy, Information services, American Civil Liberties Union, E-Mail, Telecommunications, Cost of Communications, Prodigy Services Co.

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Can computer viruses be domesticated to serve mankind?

Article Abstract:

Computer viruses and worms, which are life-like varieties of computer programs, are usually thought of as dangerous or malicious, but some researchers believe that benevolent forms can be created. Such programs could automatically update software applications or diagnose and correct hardware problems. They could do complex searches of data banks, looking for particular kinds of information; or they could do routine clean-up tasks and garbage collection. Fred Cohen, the computer scientist who invented the term 'computer virus,' has offered a $1,000 prize in a controversial contest for useful viruses. Some scientists view Cohen's contest as an encouragement of an activity that is fundamentally dangerous. The US Army is interested in viruses and the Army's Signals Warfare Laboratory has appropriated $550,000 for research into possible military applications.

National security, Research, Computer viruses, Ethics, Biology, Virus, Artificial life, Contests, Scientific Research, United States. Army. Signals Warfare Laboratory, Cohen, Fred

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