WebDesign by Harold Carey Jr.
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Copyright ©1996 IBIC
The Internet Digest (a Magellan "3-Star" site), is a publication for Webmasters, HTML programmers, Corporate Web Page Designers, Netsurfers, and anyone interested in learning more about the internet. Internet Digest is a convenient way for you to stay informed of valuable resources on the Internet. Internet Digest Focuses on helping you with page design basics, and explaining HTML and how the Web works, and the technical aspects of running, administering, and marketing WorldWideWeb sites.
Bill Gates donated cash and software worth $1.1 million to provide the Los Angeles Public Library and Los Angeles schools with multimedia computers and a wide variety of software, training and other support.
"Through our projects in schools and libraries around the country, we're seeing the power of technology help people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly young people," Gates said. "Personal computers and the Internet have tremendous potential to improve education. This technology helps people expand their world by connecting to information as well as to one another."
An additional software grant worth $500,000 will be used by the Los Angeles County Technology for Education program in its effort to provide technology training to all 60,000 Los Angeles County teachers. The software will be used in 25 teacher training centers to assist educators in integrating technology into classroom activities.
Internet users do not have to wait for special phone lines or new modem technologies to experience live video on the World Wide Web says VXtreme Inc.. The company's new Web Theater is a complete client, server, and production package which allows nearly television-quality video to be delivered through 28.8 kilobits-per-second (Kbps) modems. The Web Theater production tool also allows Web developers to integrate video into other Web page events. Web Theater does not just let you put your video on a Web page for people to view. The production tool is capable of triggering other events on a Web page, so that you can have a complete experience. At any point in a video, you can open a Java applet or open a related graphic." Web Theater video is displayed in a window about one-eighth of a computer screen. The standard frame rate is about 10 to 15 frames-per-second (fps) "which keeps the resolution at a very good level."
On the server side, Web Theater runs on Sun Solaris, Silicon Graphics IRIX, and Windows NT. VXtreme's compression and decompression (codec) technology is capable of a 500:1 compression ratio which accounts for quality delivery through 28.8 Kbps modems and relatively easy storage requirements on a server.For interested Web designers, a Web Theater Trial Pack is available for a 30-day period. Commercially, Web Theater starter kit is available immediately at an introductory price of $1,995 and includes a five-stream server, one copy of the Web Theater Producer, and 25 licenses for the Web Theater Client. Web Theater Server is priced on a per-stream basis, which ranges from $1,495 for a five-stream version, to $16,995 for a 100-stream version. Separately, Web Theater Producer is available for $149.
A pending international copyright treaty that would update and extend international copyright law to the digital environment could significantly retard Internet commerce and communications, according to a paper released by the Ad Hoc Copyright Coalition. The coalition of online and Internet service providers, including America Online, AT&T, MCI, Netscape, and the U.S. Telephone Association, contends that the treaty would "inevitably lead to the imposition of unsustainable burdens on those who build and operate the Internet." That, according to the coalition, would put the Internet's further growth "at risk."
"We support adapting copyright law for the digital environment, but it's absolutely critical to the Internet's growth and health that it be done in a way that is sensitive to the unique technological reality of the Internet," said Timothy D. Casey, chief technology counsel for MCI Corp., Washington. "That requires balancing the rights of copyright owners with the needs of those who facilitate the distribution and transmission of electronic information. Copyright holders don't want to assume the burden of policing all these possible infringements. They want the proposed treaty to make online and Internet service providers liable for any such user infringements, as well as for the mere provision of the technology that makes the transmission of such material possible - regardless of whether the providers have knowledge of an infringement," he said.
http://townesquare.usr.com
U.S. Robotics announced Towne Square 2000(SM), an interactive online community that brings together World Wide Web users, and allows them to create their own Web presence at no charge, without any HTML programming. Offering more than 40 customizable templates, Towne Square 2000 gives users the ability to build and post their own home and resume Web pages. In addition, they can build online "launch pads," Web pages with direct links to their favorite sites.
"Towne Square 2000 makes Web page creation fun and easy, and accessible to those who may be new to the Internet," said Neil Clemmons, vice president of marketing for U.S. Robotics' Personal Communications Division. "This site provides customers with a place to gather and interact, and allows them to take an active role in creating and evolving an online community."Towne Square 2000 allows Web surfers to advertise their business, meet new people, share their interests and hobbies, find a job, or sell their car. Without any special software or knowledge of HTML, registered U.S. Robotics product owners can author up to ten pages for online resumes, small businesses, favorite links, hobbies and interests, and online classified ads. Pages can be customized by altering background colors, and text and link colors. Users who are not registered U.S. Robotics product owners can create a Web presence with up to three pages.
A new national public opinion poll released today by Sun Microsystems Inc., revealed that teachers nationwide overwhelmingly support the Internet in the classroom. Teachers believe that children should have exposure to the Internet at a young age. However, when asked to grade themselves on their knowledge of the Internet, 53% of teachers grade themselves a "C" or "D," and 19% grade themselves an "F". The poll, conducted by Belden & Russonello for Sun Microsystems Inc., asked elementary and secondary teachers a number of pointed questions to examine teachers' attitudes toward, and their use of the Internet. While large majorities of teachers are aware of the Internet and strongly favor the use of the Internet in the classroom, the survey found that only a third (34%) of the nation's elementary and secondary educators are using the Internet to assist them in their teaching -- only 11% of classrooms have Internet access.
The survey indicates that teachers believe that students should have access to the Internet at a young age. Over half of the teachers polled (52%) believe that children should start learning how to use the Internet before the fourth grade. An additional third of teachers (33%) thought students should learn before the seventh grade. Nearly two-thirds of teachers (65%) say they would use the Internet to access "hard-to-find" information and resources. Teachers also report that they would be likely to use the Internet to:, increase students' familiarity with information technology, obtain information on current events in order to update their textbooks , help develop lesson plans.
PanAmSat Corp. announced that its PAS-2 Pacific Ocean Region satellite will provide subscribers to Japan's newest Internet service with Internet access at speeds more than 20 times faster than conventional telephone lines. The DirecPC(TM) service, offered by Direct Internet Corp., will deliver Internet data directly to subscribers with small rooftop dishes. "PanAmSat's PAS-2 satellite will serve as the digital superhighway for the delivery of Internet traffic directly to Direct Internet subscribers," said David P. Berman, PanAmSat's senior vice president, broadcast sales. "PanAmSat's high-power satellite coverage of northeast Asia makes it possible for DirecPC users to download Internet images or text in much less time than it takes using standard telephone or ISDN lines."
DirecPC, which has been developed by Hughes Network Systems, enables Internet users to bypass the current speed limits that are part of a usual terrestrial-based Internet connection. Data, radio and video packages can be distributed at speeds as high as 3 megabits per second or 100 times faster than conventional modems. Files from the Internet can be downloaded at rates as high as 28 times the average speed of a 14.4 kbps modem.Direct Internet will use one-half of a transponder on the PAS-2 Ku-band Northeast Asia beam, which provides coverage of Japan and neighboring countries. Internet information will be uplinked to PAS-2 from PanAmSat's Pacific Ocean Region Teleport in Napa, Calif. Hughes Network Systems will install equipment at the Napa facility to connect Direct Internet to a major U.S. Internet backbone.
ftp://ftp.fedworld.gov/pub/tel/tel.htm
A 50-page paper released last Thursday by the Treasury. The Treasury is basically against any hasty application of federal taxes to electronic commerce. Its paper discusses the implications of the rise of global on-line transactions and the jurisdiction of national taxes. The report's executive summary states that in order to promote global commerce, tax policy makers will have to avoid double-taxing on-line commerce. Other issues discussed include how to classify income from sales of digitized information products, such as books, music, and images. Finally, the paper also explores the difficulties of tracing the virtual document trail associated with on-line transactions.
This file cannot be read on-line and has to be downloaded by clicking on the title, "Taxes & Global Electronic Commerce, Selected Tax Implications of Global Electronic Commerce." Once downloaded, it can be read using a standard word processing program.
Impulse's research claims that 61% of surveyed video-game players want to access the Internet and play on-line games on their video-game consoles, citing the attraction of a larger monitor size and the savings from not having to purchase a fully-functional computer. The survey also noted that women -- long an uptapped game market -- were more interested in playing online games than men, with 59% of women responding fa vorably to the idea, compared with 49% of men. Recently, Sega of America launched a Net-access product for its Saturn game m achines. Saturn Net Link, a $199 device, features a modem that transforms the twitch-game into a cheap, Net-worthy computer, which uses a TV-screen as a m onitor.
Four leading Internet service providers (ISPs) asked FCC to hold off changing regulatory climate for their companies until Commission reforms access charges. Letter was signed by America Online Chmn. Steve Case, CompuServe Pres. Robert Massey, Prodigy Pres. Paul DeLacey, PSINet Pres. William Schrader.
Executives criticized RHCs, which have asked for changes in access rules that ISPs argue "could result in a substantial increase in the fees that Americans pay for access to information services." Letter said that FCC should "proceed cautiously in drawing conclusions from the RBOC claims concerning the impact of Internet traffic on the public switched telephone network." Companies said there's "no evidence" to suggest that Internet providers haven't paid full costs for local business lines they use, adding that RHCs' recent earning reports show profits are being "boosted by the second lines being added at residences and small businesses to accommodate data traffic and the increase in local message units." Other sources reported that Pacific Bell, which has been leading company warning of network congestion due to Internet, is actively selling 2nd lines and using free time on telco's Internet service as incentive. FCC Chmn. Hundt had asked Network Reliability Council to monitor effects of Internet use on network. Council said it found Internet hadn't hurt network.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0%2C4%2C5707%2C00.html?nd
Have you been impressed by Peak Technologies' Peak Net.Jet, whose creators have dubbed it the "turbocharger for the Internet"? If so, keep an eye on the horizon for Datalytics' Web accelerator, Blaze, which will supposedly let users surf the Web up to five times faster than they do today. The company claims that four key weapons in Blaze's arsenal give it the edge over existing accelerators, not to mention a team of blue-chip bundling partners...
http://www.webweek.com/current/news/bigblue.html
IBM had no choice but to rush out a network computer, and its newly introduced Network Station offers a considerably broader spectrum of capabilities than NCs have had to date.
Want a Course in Site Design? Try This (If You Dare) Design critic Vincent Flanders knows a bad site when he sees one, and he's got quite a collection of examples at his "Web Pages That Suck" Web site.
A 50-foot wide Web site. And no, you don't need a 50-foot wide monitor.
But divorce is much easier if you're able to make informed decisions. Which is what Flying Solo is about - from tips on how to avoid "double-dipping" in pensions to the educational issues involved in child custody. There's also info on elder care.
A Content-Based Image and Video Search and Catalog Tool for the Web
http://www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/Hands/111896/websuite.html?dd
A new tool that can help you inject a professional flair into your sites. It's got graphical templates and even pre- built Java animations. Just the thing for the armchair publisher:
Consumer acceptance of Web as mass medium will accelerate rapidly as result of Thomson Consumer Electronics' forceful push into set-top box market, according to our informal survey of industry officials. Thomson is joining Sony and Philips in Web-surfing market in spring. Its presence, budget and savvy will hasten Web's evolution from picture- and text-based reference tool to truly mass-market entertainment medium, industry officials said. Since announcement earlier this month, Thomson officials have been fairly tight-lipped about $300 Web-surfing device, indicating details would not be forthcoming until Winter CES in Jan. However Herman Howser, chmn. of NetChannel Europe, Thomson online service provider, said goal of both Thomson and Netchannel is for consumers to consider service as another channel on their TV, one that can be used not only for Web-surfing but also for edutainment, games, other features.
Each Thomson box will come with smart cards that can be personalized for each member of household. Howser said smart card will act as "key" to turn on personalized interface. Cards will double as parental control device as child's card will block access to more mature Web sites. They also could be used on set-top boxes and other devices with Oracle subsidiary Network Computer (NCI) reference design, so that no matter what machine user is working on, use of card can activate personalized interface. Herman said early subscribers to WebTV service have praised 33.6-kbps modem that device uses as faster than that of most PCs. He also indicated many early buyers are linking box up to TVs with PIP. "When they watch NFL Football games, they have the NFL.com Web site in PIP to get background on players or upcoming schedules."
Santa Clara-based Infoseek intends to capitalize on its experience in Internet advertising by launching the Infoseek Network. Sites that generate at least 300,000 impressions per month may qualify to participate in the new network, which faces competition from other networks such as DoubleClick's. Networks are gaining in popularity as a way to allow sites to collect advertising revenue without the costs associated with ad sales, studies show.
He created, hosts and maintains over 300 WWW pages and Web sites
the latest being the:
Home Business Center.
http://www.homebusiness.com,
and the
Daily Herald Newspaper
http://www.daily-herald.com
. His site at
http://www.ibic.com get
thousands of accesses a day and email comments and questions from all
over the world.
His most popular sites are:
Netscape Enhancement Index Programming Netscape:
http://www.ibic.com/Program/NScapeHome.html
Top of the Web -
http://www.ibic.com/IBIC/TopIntro.html
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WebDesign by Harold Carey Jr.
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