Network

 
Published: Thursday 29 February 1996

No more illusions
A new survey conducted by the New York based market research concern, Find/SVP, estimates that the number of Internet users in the US is only 9.5 million. The survey suggests that two- thirds of the Internees users log on to the worldwide computer network only once a week. Find/SVP's survey ultimately reaches the conclusion that the population of Internet enthusiasts is far less than what was earlier assumed and that much less 'net surfing' takes place than is widely believed. Marketing gurus now doubt the Web's attractiveness as a - popular medium of advertising.

Specially for you
The US-based Oracle - Corporation is adding finishing touches to the design of the first Internet PC which may soon be commercially available. The idea behind developing the computer is that of a relatively cheap device that could cruise the Internet and. perform basic computing.

According to the company's estimates, the cost of manufacturing the Internet PC win be less than $200 This includes, US $100 for four megabytes of memory and about US $30 for an ARM 7,500, microprocessor. The rest of the cost covers the key board, mouse and network connections.

Link as you wing
A private consortium of 11 airlines will develop a global system for communications, for aircrafts in flight. This aviation, version of -Internet will operate like a celluler Phone system (Communicasions of the ACM, September 1995).

The communication system would have the capacity to locate a plane any where, on the globe and choose the best way to communicate with it by either radio or satellite fink. It could also allow passengers to plug in their laptops, into a Jack and establish connections with their I office computers, When operational, it will be 4 major step towards replacing the radar technology used today.

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