CompuServe Messages

Matt: I really think we need to re-focus the analysis of "fitness for the consumer." Just like any other technology, computers, CDROM drives and all are neutral, they just sit there until they are put to some good use. (And who is this elusive consumer, anyway!?) So I don't think in terms of whether the technology is ready for the consumer or not. What you haven't seen, perhaps, is a good _use_ of the technology. And this is where the real problem lies. We are facing a challenge of creativity in the use of the technology. And because the developer community, to a large extent, has not figured out how to make creative use of the technology, we find ourselves facing news stories and conference speeches saying that the "technology" can't go anywhere until we have full motion video, or whatever. Baloney! We simply haven't developed a sense of the tools yet, or figured out how to exploit the limits of those tools to create beauty, utility, and so on. There are notable exceptions, of course, but we need more. As for Liddy, from what I hear, as an undercover operative/toughguy, he makes a good talk-show host!<g> Take care — Rich Bowers