David Orth, Editor

Holiday Greetings, ya'all!

I just recently came from the exciting, trendy area of the country known as "Silicon Valley", the very object of so much of this webzine's sarcastic humor, and I have to say, I was quite impressed. I saw .com this, and .com that, and all sorts of innovative, amazing things, like the pay toilet and the moving stairs! "But what does all of this mean to us, in Ohio, on the other side of the digital divide?" I thought to myself.

Readers in the midwest who have read this site and scoured breathlessly through the numerous tales of wealth and technology, envious of what California has that we don't, take heed! The day is coming when this technology is headed our way. 2000 will usher in a new era of technology to the Midwest as well, as we finally begin to reap some of the rewards others have so unfairly hoarded. "But what kind of things?" you ask? Just take a look at the things to come to Ohio in the year 2000. As you read the list, imagine it being read by Orson Wells, who pauses after each item and raises his eyes incrediously.

Direct Deposit
No longer will those employed by Ohio companies have to bother with receiving cash at the end of the pay period, then running off to the bank to deposit it. Computers, and "networks", that is, groupings of computers, will allow your money to be moved "over the phone lines" into your bank account without you having to lift a finger! I would be skeptical myself, if I hadn't seen it in action in California. Ohio banks feel this system could be ready for a trial run as early as May of 2000. Those who receive payment in live poultry or shares of crops, however, won't be eligible for this feature.

The 56k Modem
You read this right: Upgrades to local ISP services and the upgrades made to our communications infastructure will make it possible to move data across phone and telegraph wires at a blistering 56,000 kps. "You'll be able to do what we call "real-time browsing". Stock quotes, for example, that once took 45-55 minutes to modulate and demodulate will now take only 3 to 4 minutes, and will be viewable on a real time "browser" instead of via seperate file stored in an FTP site. Theoroetically, this is as fast as data can possibly travel.

Calculators You Can Wear On Your Wristwatch.
Move over, James Bond! Ohio Radio Shacks have announced the limited availability of calculators so small, that they actually fit on a wristwatch! I would call it science fiction if I hadn't seen it myself. These puppies are *smooth*. They add, subtract, multiply, and divide for up to 4 hours on 2 "D" cel batteries.

The Amiga ??? Amiga, long the choice computer among serious Ohio computer buffs (Sorry, Tandy coco, you've become little more than a game machine/recipe holder) may unveil a *new* model in 2000, this, just 9 years after coming out with the wildly popular Amiga 1200. Some doubt whether Ohioians will doll out the cash for yet *another* Amiga this soon, but others feel it's time to keep moving forwards and support new Amiga products.

As you can see, Ohio is *not* getting left out of the so called "Digital Divide" at all. Rather, we've found our place in it, and found our niche.

Happy 2000 to all!

-David Orth
Editor, Silicon Valley Outsider.