Appeared in Ability Network, November 4, 1997
It is cold and snowy outside. You're probably feeling rather isolated not be able to get out and explore; therefore, I thought I would warm your spirits with some enlightenment of the future. This article will focus on new technologies that may assist persons with disabilities to become effective entrepreneurs.
Within a recent article in the New York Times, I discovered that Intel has designed a new generation of memory chips capable of storing not one but two bits of information on each transistor, effectively doubling the storage capacity of each chip. In addition, Intel engineers think that in the future they may be able to build chips holding four or more bits on each transistor. The new chips will use "multilevel cell flash memory," which is able to go beyond binary (zero-or-one) readings and sense four distinct states -- equivalent to two bits of data.
Are you pondering what I am pondering? This will revolutionize the ability of your typical PC. It would appear that the potential is limitless. Most operating systems such as Windows NT or UNIX emphasize multitasking and graphic enhancements should now be phenomenal. Remember, it was only a few years ago that 64k of memory was the standard. This is amazing!
Another article published in Internet Week, confirmed that the virtual postage start-up E-Stamp has inked a deal with Microsoft and AT&T wherein each take a 10% stake in E-Stamp, giving them entry into the digital postal market. Later this year, E-Stamp will beta test a system that allows users to order and securely download virtual postage over the Internet. The postage is stored on their PCs, which can print out a 2-D bar code that substitutes for stamps or postage meter markings on letters or packages. E-Stamp is creating an Internet Post Office Web site to manage downloads and customer relations. Although the company won't take a cut on all the postage it sells, it plans to make its money off the hardware and software it sells, as well as a transaction fee on each postage purchase. The company is also considering marketing a "certified e-mail" service that would guarantee peer-to-peer delivery of secure e-mail.
If this becomes reality, Internet services will change forever. For example, the Internet was predicted as a trillion dollar industry. Commerce will start taking place on the Internet without impediment or fear of theft. Persons with disabilities can literally shop at home, bringing the world to them. Therefore the trillion dollar prediction should come true. The down side is that there will be a premium for each correspondence, similar to regular postage or the premium you pay for long distance calls.
So there you have it, information on two new developments that should warm your toes on this cold winter day.
