May 1998

Will the Internet change you?
By Rick Johnson

A recent study reported 1 in 4 adults in the US and Canada are on the Internet as of 1998. Even with the ongoing explosive growth less than half of the population is now online. With more starting to use it for the first time, I thought back to my pre-Internet computing days. I remembered how I imagined the Internet before I was online, how I use it now, and how I've changed. 

Technological Change 
When a major technological innovation comes along it usually involves change. When we think of some of the major innovations of this century, the car, the airplane, telephone, radio, TV, they have at least one thing in common. They change time and space. Being able to get somewhere quicker and communicate across vast distances instantly changes our lives. The only problem is, changing the old is hard sometimes. We don't like to change. 

I get asked a lot, "Do I need to be on the Internet? 

I remember asking the same question. I was familiar with computers, but not the Internet. I hadn't seen much of the Internet so I really didn't comprehend what a new concept it was. Some people think the Internet's a new high tech toy like Nintendo and since everyone else is getting it they should too. Some are really against it. "I haven't got time to waste goofing around on the Internet.... I've got a business to run!" They think its like TV, all entertainment and commercials. 

Well, in a way they're right. The Internet can be a big waste of time. 

There's lots of junk, commercials and trivial entertainment. Like TV, there's some good and some bad. Like TV, it's a communications medium that will change our life. 

Getting another technology toy, we're not expecting to change time and space. What if we can send a document instantly across country without extra cost? What if we can publish one copy of a catalog for anyone in the world to see and be able to update new information without reprinting the whole thing? 

People have to try the Internet before they can start to understand how it can benefit their business and personal lives. Internet based computing goes against some of our old habits of non-networked desktop computing. 

The Network 
The network is the key to the Internet changing time and space, but it's a hard concept to get used to. 

For years we all worked with our computers isolated on our desktops. We'd assemble our favorite software and set up the computer just the way we wanted. 

It truly was a "personal computer". At work we had a network, but that was mainly to share a printer or a database within the company. 

To get information on computer products you might subscribe to a computer magazine or two. Life was good. 

Then this Internet thing came along. Change. 

Suddenly you were connected. All the information was great, but it brought up lots of other issues like security and getting email from people you didn't know. 

It's one thing to share computer resources in an office but now you can access someone's hard drive space across the country or someone can access yours. At first the concept is scary, but the implications are, of course awesome. This one concept is at the heart of the Internet revolution. 

We can save a file to an Internet server from work, open it again at home, and work on it later with a laptop from a hotel in a different city. Perhaps you want someone at the home office to work on it or put it on a public web site for all to see. By using an Internet connected disk drive we're free from the restraints of always being at one computer. 

Dick Tracy wasn't tied down. 
Remember Dick Tracy's wrist radio? With cell phones and the Internet anyone can be Dick Tracy. 

Someone asked me recently, what is your email address "at home"? She wasn't thinking in terms of the network. We're used to the idea of reaching someone at the same physical location. If I call someone on the phone, I can visualize them standing in particular spot in their house while we talk. The Internet has no physical location. We can access the Internet from anywhere can go anywhere. 

Internet Marketing
A friend told me he was finally ready to sign up for Internet service, and he was going to go with whichever one gave him Netscape. I told him the two major browsers, Netscape and Explorer, are free. "Just download the one you want." I said, "In fact, I like to use both." 

This whole idea of downloading stuff for free is confusing to the newcomer to the Internet. I don't like to get stuff for free. I feel like I'm doing something wrong, or maybe I'm the victim of some marketing scheme. "There's bound to be a catch", I think. 

The other day, I was talking to a client and asked him what version of Netscape he had. He proudly announced he went out and BOUGHT the very latest version 4 of Netscape Communicator. A couple of tech people at the office overheard. Now Internet tech types can be rather cruel to newbee's, especially when out of earshot. "Wow! Somebody actually paid for Netscape!" They really got a kick out of that. "You mean somebody actually bought it at a store...!?!?" I guess we forget that this competition between Netscape and Microsoft is great for us consumers, but these companies are in business to make a profit. 

Most of us go full circle. When we first go online, we're surprised not to be charged for more things, but after a while we're happy to get as much as we can for free. In fact we expect it. 

Marketing on the Web is continually changing and evolving as this new medium is being developed. I believe the "most things are free on the Web" concept is driven by a couple of dynamics. First, of course, entrepreneurs and businesses have a presence on the web to advertise and promote their products. That's fine. I like to get product information and free sponsor based info from the web. However, there is a second motivation for free information I'm seeing more and more; Individuals and organizations providing valuable resources purely as a public service. Whether it's for education, research, or just fun, people have a need to disseminate information they feel worthwhile. Sort of renews your faith in mankind, doesn't it? 

Old ways die hard, for sure, but these exciting new technologies will continue to develop and bring change to our lives. "Change" will bring tremendous opportunities to those who figure out new ways to improve our personal and business lives with Internet technology. 
iBiz 

Rick Johnson is a Web Developer for Vallon, Inc. in Minneapolis.  
He can be reached at rickj@vallon.com