Web Superstars at COMDEX
William R. Eubank
At each computer/Internet conference that I have attended over the last
two years there seems to be one presentation (that I attended) that stands
out head and shoulders above the others. The reason that statement is qualified
is because of the sheer volume of presentations available to attendees.
At Comdex this year, Nov. 17-21, Las Vegas, Nevada, there were at least:
4 keynotes, 3 Supersessions, 5 Powerpanels, and 90 thematic sessions that
covered such topics as Comdex Infocus, Technology, IT Infrastructure Solutions
and Converging Channels. The position and quality of the presenters is
exceptional and well worth the price of admission.
Of course, there were also hundreds of worthwhile "floor presentations"
by individual exhibitors.
The session that stood out for me this time was "Web Superstars".
For this session a super star was defined as an individual representing
a company that is "integrating the Web into the everyday life of everyone
- not just the computer elite."
The superstars I had the privilege of listening to for two hours were:
Dan Okrent - Time Inc. New Media
Stephen Riggio - Chief Operating Officer, Barnes & Noble, Inc
Mark Cuban - President and Cofounder, AudioNet
Edmund Jensen - President and CEO, Visa International
These leaders and their companies will/or have effected you and millions
of other web users. Each of these gentlemen, in turn, presented their unique
contribution to the world wide web.
Mr. Okrent talked about the web as a distribution channel for information
via magazines--zines. This year, Time New Media will launch a new magazine
directed at youth through the Internet. The Time New Media site provides
a great amount of information (and articles) from its current galaxy of
print magazines, as well as articles unique to the online versions. It
seems that two goals exist at this site--advertising and sales of subscriptions
to existing magazines. There is certainly a great deal of value in the
interactive chats, value added articles and daily updates of news.
Stephen Riggio presented the Barnes and Noble concept of thousands
of mini specialized bookstores all linked together through an electronic
purchasing center supported through their commercial server. Find a book
for example about specialized futures options trading on the Consensus,
Inc. site here in Kansas City (www.USAStores.com/Consensus/) and purchase
it immediately through the Barnes and Noble commerce site. In this way,
Barnes & Noble expands its 1,000 physical stores to tens of thousands
virtual niche feeder stores available from every computerized home.
Mark Cuban - President and Cofounder of AudioNet views the world
wide web as a unique medium for the live broadcast world wide of locally
produced radio/TV programs. That is, right now, you may listen in real
time to (or view) specialized local sports/political/special interest events
that may be broadcast locally throughout a 30 to 60 mile radius via radio/TV
waves but can now be picked up any place in the world via the world wide
web provided they are being broadcast through his web site. All of a sudden
the 500 watt local station can have a national/international audience!!!
Here is a small sample (of over 300) broadcasts available on the site listed
on November 25th:
Live Today
Robertson Stephens Fund Manager Corner with Ron Elijah
- learn about the Information Age Fund and the Value + Growth Fund today at 3:30pm CT.
Dr. Tom Nelson's Pet Show - 10am CT
All of your pet questions answered
Jim Hightower - 11am CT
How to make the government and society work better for you
A Conversation with Betsy McCaughey Ross about Health Care and other Issues - 3pm CT
YouthQuake - 7:30pm CT, Thanksgiving celebration from Plymouth, MA
Live Dallas/Fort Worth Air Traffic Control, Brought to you by Simuflite
Policescanner.com, Listen to live cops on the beat
CIA Simulation of the Crash of TWA, Flight 800
Finally, there is the service that might be found on almost any commercial
web site in the near future. Mr. Edmund Jensen - President and CEO,
Visa International went to a web site and found a book to purchase. He
clicked on the order link and was immediately on the Barnes & Noble
site ready to make a purchase - offered several options - he chose to pay
by "chip card" (Visa Cash).
What is a "chip card"? A chip card is a card that looks like
a credit card. Embedded into the card is an integrated circuit chip similar
in functionality to computer chips used in personal computers. The chip
can contain information about your relationship with the institution issuing
the card - including some "stored value" (money). These chip
cards will be able to be used in a wide variety of devices as detailed
at the Visa web site: "that will include everything from today's point-of-sale
terminals, ATMs, the Internet, and touch-tone phones, to the interactive
TVs, screenphones, personal digital assistants, and cellular phones of
tomorrow."
From his wallet, Mr. Edmund Jensen took a card that looked like a credit
card - he then slid it into a special 3.5" disk which went into the
"A" drive of his computer. With the click of his mouse, $17.95
in value was taken from his card and transferred as payment for the book
to the Barnes and Noble site. When his "chip card" starts to
run low on value - he can add new value through a transfer from his bank/checking
account or he could purchase a new fixed value ($10, $20, $50, or $100)
non-reloadable card (similar to a phone card).
When I got home, I went out online to the Barnes and Nobles site and found
that the use of the chip card is not yet listed on its general site. The
demonstration given at Web Superstars was a set up - a glimpse at a possible
future payment method.
The chip card has been tested in many markets - a new test/demonstration
is underway at this time (since early October 1997) in New York City.
Take time to visit these sites - you are certain to find something of interest
to you.
TIME
World's Largest Bookseller Online
The Broadcast Network on the Internet
Visa International
William R. Eubank (Raytown High Class of 1963):
Educational experience includes teaching in Alaska, China, Hong Kong,
Texas, Mexico and Argentina as well as service on local and state
school boards. At this time he is living at the family home in Raytown,
Missouri to assist in elder care with a parent and to further his
education with computers. He is a contributor to infoZine Digital
Magazine (http://www.infozine.com/),
Associate Online Editor for Consensus National Futures And Financial
Weekly (
http://www.consensus-inc.com/) - Webmaster for Hy-Vee of Kansas
City (
http://www.Hy-Vee-Stores.com/), teacher recruiter for Rotary
InterCountry Teacher Exchange (
http://www.RITE-Teacher.com/) and Webmaster for the Santa Fe Railway
Historical & Modeling Society (
http://www.ATSFRR.com/). He has developed fifty web sites and
posted more than 14,000 pages to the World Wide Web since
December 1995.
