          Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. Today, with home computers and 
modems  becoming faster and cheaper, the home front is on the break of a new 
frontier of on line information and data processing. The Internet, the ARPANET 
(Advanced Research Programs Agency Network) spinoff is a channel of 
uninterrupted information interchange. It allows people to connect to large 
computer databases that can store valuable information on goods and services.  
The Internet is quickly becoming a tool for vast data interchange for more than 
twenty million Americans. New tools are allowing Internet presence an easier 
task.   As did the gold miners set out to  California on carriages  to stake 
their claim in the gold rush, business and entrepreneurs are rushing to stake 
their claim on the information superhighway through Gopher sites, World-Wide Web 
sites, and electronic mailing lists.  This article explains how businesses and 
entrepreneurs are setting up information services on the Internet that allows 
users to browse through picture catalogues, specification lists, and up to the 
minute reports.

          Ever since Sears Roebuck created the first pictorial  catalogue, the 
idea has fascinated US that merchandises could be selected and ordered in our 
leisure time. Like any cataloging system,  references make it easy to find what 
user seeks. Since its inception, The Internet has been refining its search 
tools. Being able to find products through many catalogues is what make the 
Internet shine  in information retrieval. This helps the consumer find 
merchandise that they might other wise probably cannot find. The World Wide Web 
allows users to find information on goods and services, pictures of products, 
samples of music (Used by record Companies), short videos showing the product or 
service, and samples of programs. Although a consumer cannot order directly from 
the Web site, the business will often give a Voice telephone number or an order 
form that costumer can print out and send out through the mail. 

          Although web sites have the magazine like appeal, storing large 
amounts of textual data is often difficult. Gopher (like go-for) is set up like 
a filing cabinet  to allow the user more flexibility in retrieval. Gopher is 
similar to the white/yellow pages in the way information is  retrieved word for 
word. They are also a lot cheaper and easier to set up which allows small 
business an easy way to set up shop. Consumers can find reviews, tech-info, and 
other bits and pieces of information.

          Each person who uses the Internet has an identification that sets them 
apart from everyone else. Often called handles (from the old short wave radio 
days).  Electronic mail addresses allow information exchange from user to user. 
Business can take advantage of this by sending current information to many 
users. A user must first subscribe to the mailing list. Then the computer adds 
them to the update list. Usually, companies will send out a monthly update. This 
informs  users of  upgrades in their products (usually software),  refinements 
(new hardware drivers, faster code, bug fixes, etc.), new products, question 
bulletins where subscribers can post questions and answers, and links 
(addresses) to sites where new company information can be found.        

Comments and Opinions

       This article pointed out the key information that anyone who is 
interested in representing their company on the Internet might find useful. It 
then went into explaining the few key elements that comprise the complete and 
ever expanding system. It was also a fair lead way for the programs that they 
explained in the next articles on software used to create web pages, E-mail 
lists, Gopher sites and FTP (similar to Gopher).  It showed the expanse at which 
the Internet was growing, and the use it could serve businesses to expand their 
user outreach.

          I have personally used these services to find business that sell hard 
to find products. Through the world wide web I have found specialty companies 
that I believe I would not have found.  The article showed essentials of web 
savvy such as the availability of video and sound (music) files. For this 
consumer I can say that I have purchased at least two compact disks after 
hearing the short sample released by the record companies.  The video clips are 
eye catching and may influence people to buy the companies products. 

           I was disappointed in the information on Gopher. It mainly showed the 
differences between it and the world wide web, instead of explaining what it is. 
It also made an irrelevant reference to UNIX (Text based operating system used 
on expert systems) books' search  and HTTP (the language that the World Wide Web 
reads) cross referencing might mislead the reader.  Gopher is a very powerful 
tool that businesses  with an on-line presence and information worth reading 
should be aware. 

          The business related information on electronic mailing lists did 
nothing other then point out a few  groups available. It briefly touched 
intelligent agents,  which are the backbone of E-mail publications. Although it 
was detailed in publications,  there was little theory of operation that a 
business looking into this route of information distribution might find of use. 
It did however explain the addressing system.

         Overall this article was decent in the overview of the business use of 
 the Internet. It pointed out the three major areas that companies are racing to 
settle. It gave many useful information on the World-Wide Web, which is 
currently the business magnet. Reading this is article is a  foot in the right 
direction for any business seeking to have an on-line presence.

