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Guide 2. What is the Internet?

Where is Internet technology going? Review of Guide 2 (screen 6 of 6)

Hard to tell, really. Who would have predicted ten years ago, or even five years ago, the extent of the impact of the Internet on everyone today? Who is brave enough to make some predictions about the next five years?

Easier, faster, cheaper

Accessing the Internet will become easier, faster, more reliable and cheaper in the future. Technology being developed now will make the Internet look similar to just another channel on your TV set, and as easy to tune into, although unlike a television set it will be interactive and you will be able to do business, book holidays, buy tickets to cultural events, participate in cultural events, download books, watch video, do your banking, subscribe to magazines, listen to music, download it and pay for it all in the one Internet session.

Major portals

Companies will help to organise information and services you might want on the Net through major portals and charge you for this service. The Internet will become as common a means of communication as telephones and fax machines, and telephone and fax functions may become incorporated into your computer.

Internet as a global shopping mall

The use of the Internet as a business tool will expand enormously. The numbers and range of business transactions will explode. The Net will be the basis of a global shopping mall. New types of services will become available on the Internet.

One certainty is that the impact of the Internet on our lives and the way we do business and interact with others will be enormous - many of us are already feeling its impact and trying to take advantage of the opportunities new technologies provide.

To get an idea of some of the ways the Internet is evolving, keep an eye on Wired News(1), which can also be purchased off magazine racks as Wired magazine.

Look also at other online magazines (zines to the savvy) such as ZdNet Internet magazine(2), Salon 21st magazine(3) and NetWebGuide(4).

What sort of impact will the Internet have?

It is a certainty that over the coming years increasing numbers of people will carry out an expanding variety of transactions on the Internet. They will use it as their preferred method of communicating, banking, booking holidays and accommodation, shopping, gaining education and training, and getting a job, to name just a few things.

Cultural workers and cultural organisations must get in on the action. The savvy Net user of tomorrow will want to check out your organisation on the Net before they visit it. They will find out about your opening times, and which hotels and transport are nearby. They could purchase a ticket, take a look at some virtual exhibits, browse your catalogue and purchase something from your shop, all without leaving home.

When they do visit they will be better informed than your average tourist. What is more, if you have used a good statistics package(5) to track and analyse 'hits' on your server, you will know what sorts of things they are interested in and can plan accordingly!

This is a revolution your organisation can't afford to miss out on.

Ask yourself this...

• What will be the impact on my organisation in 3-5 years if I do not put my business on the Internet?
• Will my business expand, contract, remain the same, or disappear?
• How can I use the Internet as a tool to expand my cultural activities and business?
• How will I cope with the transition to an Internet presence?
• Am I developing a strategy to help me make the transition?

Remember, on the Internet you can:

• Access Web pages.
• Send and receive email.
• Access World Wide Web newsgroups.
• Join and participate in distribution and discussion lists.
• Participate in Internet Relay Chat (IRC or Web chat).
• Access information stored on other servers using FTP protocols.
• Use your website to let people know when you are open, what facilities you have, and any special things that you do.
• Provide them with enticing information about your exhibits.
• Show them some of your exhibits.
• Find out from survey forms what they like or don't like.
• Sell tickets.
• Sell related merchandise.
• Advertise staff vacancies.
• Provide educational information about an exhibit.
• Create an electronic magazine.
• Carry out research and use it to enhance your organisation.
• Maintain membership lists.
• Expand to reach new audiences.
• Create new services.

Your organisation will benefit from utilising the Internet.  

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References

1. Wired News http://www.wired.com/
2. ZdNet Internet magazine http://www.zdnet.com/
3. Salon 21st magazine http://www.salon.com/
4. Australian NetGuide http://www.netguide.com.au/
5. Guide 4 screen 9 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g4/s9.htm

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