In computer news this week, 02/26/2003

Another way of looking at websites ...

What's your permanent address? Someone asked me that awhile ago and I started thinking about it. Is there such a thing as a permanent address in today's fast moving business world ?

Think of all the addresses you've had in your life, from when you were a child in your parent's house, temporary addresses when you went away for summer camp, addresses you may have had when you were in college or in the service, your first apartment, your first house, all your addresses have changed over the years. I have an address today, but it might be different in a year. Every time I move, my address will change. But I realized that I do have a permanent address that won't change for the rest of my life.

That's my website - www.mtamicro.com.

I've been reading Bill Gate's newest book - Business @ the speed of thought, and one of his chapters is about "Adopting the web lifestyle", and he means both in a business and personal sense.

Gates points out that when Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, and houses were wired for electricity to power light bulbs, the only use of electricity was for lighting. Electricity and the wiring created a new infrastructure - innovative new products were invented that took advantage of this infrastructure - that noone had ever dreamed of. Refrigerators, toasters, electric blankets, coffee pots, phonographs, radios, televisions, cd players, personal computers, - inventions that have changed our lifestyles completely.

We're at a similar point with the internet today. The infrastructures are in place - electric wiring, phone wiring, cable tv, digital cable networks. Right now we think of the internet for messaging and surfing and some entertainment, but we need to realize that the internet and inventions based on it's infrastructure and technology are going to change our present lives in the same way that electric wiring did.

The American and the world economy, are already changing because of the internet. Shopping patterns are changing; new companies like Amazon.com are changing people's ways of buying books. Traditional marketers like Nordstroms are now not only successfully marketing online, but are able to market in new ways via the internet.

Individuals also need to recognize how the internet effects us personally. Anyone can have a website, for any purpose. Business, hobby, personal, anything you want, and the entire world is at your electronic doorstep. I've had my business website for several years, and I find I can use it more and more both for business and personal uses as technology advances.

When I retire, my permanent address will be my website. As I travel around the country in a camper as I plan to do, I can take digital pictures of everywhere I go and post them on my website for friends and family to see what I'm up to. All my mail will be sent to frank@mtamicro.com. I'm sure by that time I will be able to receive all bills banking statements etc via email, and pay them the same way.

I'm sure I will have some kind of personal gps device so people will know exactly geographically where I am, and I could even have my own webcam showing what's going on in my own small world at anytime, through my website, on the internet, my permanent home address. "Look, he's still playing that same old guitar.."

John Steinbeck wrote Travels with Charlie; I guess I could get an electronic internet dog for my travels; SONY has that AIBO robot dog. No, I'd rather have a real dog; batteries not included. Bowser sounds a lot better than AIBO anyway.

For Raw Bytes, This is Frank Delaney

POB 222 Spangle, Wa 99031 (509)245-3736 624-7230