Forty seven per cent of Irish adults will never use the Internet, a survey published last week has suggested. However, the number of Irish people online is expected to rise steadily over the next few years despite the large number who have vowed to ignore it, according to the survey by technology consultants Amβrach. "The Internet is failing to take-off among the over 50s and among a majority of those in C2DE (lower income) households. The digital divide is not receding," Bettina MacCarvill, senior consultant at Amβrach says.
The survey forecasts that by 2003, 43 per cent or 1.2 million Irish adults will be accessing the Internet on a regular basis. However, the high levels of growth observed over the last two years are unlikely to be replicated. According to MacCarvill, Internet use at work has almost reached saturation levels. "In addition, many people continue to see the Internet as having no relevance to them and they are simply not interested in using it. Our research found that an estimated 47 per cent of Ireland's adult population say they will never go online."
MS SETBACK: A US federal appeals court has rejected Microsoft's request to re-examine part of its ruling in the long running antitrust case and also declined to speed the case back to a lower court, a move sought by the government. The decision leaves the case on schedule to have a portion reheard in US District Court no earlier than mid-August. Microsoft had asked the Court of Appeals to re-hear a portion of the ruling that found it illegally "co-mingled" computer code of its Internet Explorer browser and the Windows operating system to protect its monopoly.
ICANN NAME IT: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has announced a key step forward towards a new top level domain that will make it easier for individuals to register their names as personal domains. ICANN has signed an agreement with Global Name Registry for the introduction of a new Internet top-level domain designated as .name. The registration process is expected to begin later this month.
DIGITAL WATCH: A monthly email newsletter, Digital Media News, has been created by Web consultancy firm, Hi-Touch, to provide an overview of the digital media industry in Ireland. The newsletter aims "to look beyond the hype" to the real developments in the sector, "from the steps (forwards and backwards) being made in the broadband and wireless arenas, to innovations in software and games development, interactive television, academia and all aspects of the digital media pallette". Anyone interested in subscribing can do so at www.hitouch.com.
MONEY MEN: They may have kept their heads under the parapets as the technology bubble burst last year, but venture capitalists are starting to look again at the Irish tech market, according to IBI Corporate Finance. Commenting on the current state of the private equity market for Irish firms, IBI director Tom Godfrey said international venture capitalists had "become increasingly active in the Irish market, reflecting a renewed interest in the Irish technology sector".
CODE RED ALERT PASSES: The dreaded Code Red computer virus left the Net largely unscathed with some experts congratulating themselves on catching the worm before it turned and others dismissing it as a false alarm. Experts saw no immediate effect from the worm that was expected to begin winding its way through Web servers from the stroke of August 1st, but they cautioned that more time was needed to assess its full impact. It also became increasingly evident last week that the virus did not originate in China as had been suggested by "unnamed security sources" in the Pentagon.
SIRCAM DOESN'T: While Code Red grabs headlines, it is Sircam that has been wreaking havoc, infecting PCs and sending out potentially sensitive files. Sircam, is responsible for secret documents being leaked from the administration of Ukrainian president last week to a news website. A computer at the FBI National Infrastructure Protection Centre also fell victim to the virus and sent some private, though not classified, FBI documents out in emails as a result. The virus, which has been rated high risk, was the top-ranking virus in July, with over 38 per cent of the share of virus infections.
LINUX DROPPED: Citing slow demand for the operating system on client PCs over the last several quarters, a Dell spokesman has said the PC maker is to stop preinstalling Red Hat Linux on desktop and notebook models. The move was not unexpected. Dell executives have suggested that the operating system has more potential for workstations and servers.
SURF SHOCKER: Children would rather surf the Internet than watch television, a new UK-based survey has declared. Although some children watch more than 10 hours of TV a week (17 per cent), young Net users have spent up to 70 hours a week online. The survey of 3,000 families, carried out by the Family Assurance Group, found that while 38 per cent of families watch TV together, very few use the Internet together. Hmm, that was money well spent.