George H. Brett II <ghb@biblio.boulder.lib.co.us>

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss apparent directions that commercial ser vices are taking or at least investigating in relation to the emerging informati on infrastructure known as the Infobahn (or Information Highway).

I. Introduction

Since 1989 the author has been working with various communities using networks t o research, communicate, and publish information. The primary community, until r ecently, has been higher education. Much of the early work was done with BITNET tools and resources. Now, work is being done on the interactive Internet. Along with technical advances there have been policy and cultural changes. Perhaps the most controversial is the commercialization of the network and its services.

The author will present the full paper at the time of the conference. The paper will be published on the Internet via the Clearinghouse for Networked Informatio n Discovery and Retrieval WorldWide Web server (http://cnidr.org/welcome.html).

II. Review of Past Services

There have been various services that have been offered via networks in the past years. The author will take a look at those services as a model for looking at what may be coming in the future.

III. Current State of the Infobahn

Here the author will discuss his opinion of where the InfoBahn is: now physicall y, logically, and commercially at right now. He will present for the audience c oncrete examples to illustrate these models.

IV. Where is the InfoBahn leading?

Drawing on experiences with various organizations and Internet related organizat ions, the author will present a forecast that will include such topics as: Wha t is needed before the commercial community will use the InfoBahn. Where commerc ial services may be headed on the InfoBahn. The need for global standards for th e network and network services. Marketing and billing models that might be suita ble. Some novel uses of the network that have been suggested by members of the C ommercial Community.

V. References

(1) Brett, G. "Online Resources: Getting There from Here, "Educom Review 1990, 25, 48-53.

(2) Gilder, G. "Digital Darkhorse -- Newspapers," In Forbes ASAP; Oct 25,1993; pp 139-149.

(3) Kotkin, J. Tribes: how race, religion and identity determine success in the new global economy; Random House Publishers: Toronto, 1992.

(4) Lipnack, J.; Stamps, J. The TeamNet Factor: Bringing the power of bou ndary crossing into the heart of your business; Oliver Wright Publications: Essex Junction, VT, 1993.

(5) Naisbitt, J. Global Paradox: the bigger the world's economy, the more powerful its smallest players; William Morrow and Company: New York, 1994.< p> (6) Norman, D. A. Things that make us smart: defending human attributes i n the age of the machine; Addison Wesley Publishers: Reading, MA, 1993.

(7) Ohmae, K. The Borderless World; Harvard Business Press: Cambridge , 1990.

(8) Rheingold, H. The Virtual Community: homesteading on the electronic f rontier; Addison-Wesley Publishing Company: Reading, MA, 1993.

(9) Rushkoff, D. CYBERIA: Life in the Trenches of Hyperspace; Harper Collins Publishers: New York, 1994.

(10) Stephenson, N. Snow Crash; Bantam Books: New York, 1992.

(11) Toffler, A.; Toffler, H. Powershift: knowledge, wealth, and violence at the edge of the 21st century; Bantam Books: New York, 1990.

Author Information

George Brett serves as Director of the Clearinghouse for Networked Information D iscovery and Retrieval in the Information Technologies Division of MCNC. The Cle aringhouse is an international center for the development and support of softwar e applications for the utilization of networked resources. The work of the Clear inghouse is funded through a cooperative agreement between the National Science Foundation and MCNC, with funding from other federal agencies for special projec ts (e.g., National Library of Medicine, US Patent and Trademark Office, and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research.)

Brett has been working since 1989 on issues of networked information resource di scovery, access, and utilization with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) , the EDUCOM Educational Uses of Information Technologies (EUIT), the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), as well as other international organizations. H e has spoken on this matter to groups such as the Global Communications Seminar at the Commission of the European Community, Brussels, Belgium, The Faxon Instit ute for Advanced Studies in Scholarly and Scientific Communications, Reston, VA, and the Telecommunications in Mathematics and Science Education Workshop spons ored by the Federal Coordinating Council on Science, Engineering and Technology (FCCSET), Crystal City, VA.

He was a Citizen Delegate from North Carolina to the Second White House Conferen ce on Libraries and Information Services. Previous to his current position Brett spent 9 years managing support for all levels of academic computing for the sev enteen institutions of the University of North Carolina system. Brett is working towards his doctoral degree at the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

copyright 1994 ghb@biblio.boulder.lib.co.us

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