DIGITAL DIVIDE
Bush Criticized On Digital Divide
INTERNET
Consumer Broadband Prices Keep Rising
SOFTWARE
Linux Distributors Gang Up
OCLC, Olive Software Ally to Digitize Library Newspaper Archives
DIGITAL DIVIDE
BUSH CRITICIZED ON DIGITAL DIVIDE
A report sponsored by several consumer groups stated that nearly two-thirds
of Americans now have access to the Internet, but that less affluent
households risk missing out on the digital economy as they are less likely
to have online access. According to the report, 45 percent of Americans
still do not have Internet access and a second-tier divide is emerging as
richer Americans access high-speed Internet. The consumer groups argue that
the administration is misinterpreting a recent study (released by the
Commerce Department in February)by looking at Internet access in work and
schools, rather than in homes. "Rather than misdefine the problem of the
digital divide, the Bush administration would like to misinterpret it out of
existence," said Chris Murray of the Consumers Union.
[SOURCE: CNET; AUTHOR: Reuters]
(http://news.com.com/2100-1023-928431.html?tag=cd_mh)
See also:
REPORT: "DIGITAL DIVIDE" STILL AN ISSUE
[SOURCE: Washington Post; AUTHOR: D. Ian Hopper, AP Technolgy Writer]
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31922-2002May30.html)
INTERNET
CONSUMER BROADBAND PRICES KEEP RISING
California-based market research firm ARS reports that the average monthly
price for broadband Internet service increased 4 percent during the first
quarter of 2002. ARS said that 91 percent of broadband companies in business
since 2001 have raised their rates. The firm added that consolidation of
service providers is leading to fewer choices and higher prices for
consumers. ARS analyst Mark Kersey said in a statement, "We expect that this
trend of increasing prices will hamper the widespread adoption of broadband
services and that the vast majority of users will continue to access the
Internet via dial-up connections for the foreseeable future." Kersey added
that prices will probably not rise much more this year since high-speed
Internet service providers have already pushed prices to the limit.
[SOURCE: CNET; AUTHOR: Sam Ames]
(http://news.com.com/2100-1033-928200.html?tag=cd_mh)
SOFTWARE
LINUX DISTRIBUTORS GANG UP
Ending several days of speculation, Linux distributors Caldera, SuSE,
Turbolinux and Conectiva confirmed on Thursday that they will band together
under the UnitedLinux banner. UnitedLinux was formed to create a
standardized distribution of the Linux operating system aimed at wooing more
businesses to the open-source operating system. Under terms of the
agreement, the four companies will collaborate on the development of one
common Linux operating environment, which will be called UnitedLinux
software. Nearly every major software and hardware vendor has expressed
support for UnitedLinux, including systems and software vendors AMD, Borland
Software Corporation, Computer Associates, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, IBM,
Intel, NEC, Progress Software and SAP.
[SOURCE: Wired, AUTHOR: Michelle Delio]
(http://www.wired.com/news/linux/0,1411,52864,00.html)
OCLC, OLIVE SOFTWARE ALLY TO DIGITIZE LIBRARY NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES
Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC) and Preservation Resources have
singed an agreement with Olive Software to digitize libraries' archives of
newspaper content and put that content online. Libraries can use Olive
Software to build an electronic archive, including index, of newspaper
content.Once the collections have been digitized, libraries can host them on
their own servers or on OCLC's server. Libraries maintain control of the
content and its distribution, and OCLC will offer a premium service where
users can pay for access to the full text of some content. "Newspapers are
valuable research sources for scholars," said said Meg Bellinger, vice
president of OCLC Digital and Preservation Resources. "The Olive/OCLC
alliance represents a major advance in making these materials more
accessible and more user-friendly. Users will be able to pore over
libraries' collections at their convenience. Digitized fragile materials
will no longer require white-glove treatment. These materials are literally
being unchained from special collections rooms and microfilm readers and
will be available to users when and where they need them."
[SOURCE: InfoDay, AUTHOR: Barbara Quint]
(http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb020528-1.htm)
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