
Roadkill on the Information Highway
by Ray Koziel

It seems like wherever you turn lately one of the key topics is the
information highway.  Even this fine publication focused on the
information highway in the March issue's editorial section.  In light
of all this I find myself with a case of "information highway
overload" and looking for the nearest rest stop.  Now don't get me
wrong; I'm not saying that this is a bad thing.  On the contrary, I
feel the evolution of our current networks, such as Internet, into a
more unified, standardized "infostructure" is vital for our country's
future.  What does bother me are certain issues that exist but are,
in my opinion, hidden by all the hype and hoopla. 

The first of these is the fact that this is being called a "highway."
I don't know about anybody else, but when I think of highways I think
of traffic jams, idiotic drivers, tolls, and some other items which
do not convey positive images.  Also, highways make me think of our
current infrastructure, which happens to be in pretty bad shape.
Besides, "highway" is such an outdated (for lack of a better word)
term anyway, especially when used to characterize a computer network.
This is the 90s after all and I am sure a better term can be found or
made up, something like "Meganetwork" or "Dataway."

This leads to the next item of discontent.  Even though it is called
an "information highway", what will actually be flowing through those
marvelous little fiber optic cables is pure data.  Data becomes
information at the personal level when someone processes the data and
finds some use in it or adds it to his or her knowledge base.  Now on
the economic spectrum I am a subscriber to the "supply side" theory
of economics, or supply creating its own demand.  However, when it
comes to the information highway, I am afraid this may not be true.
I mean, how many channels of Julia Child and Bob Villa do we need?  I
don't see how it can be called an information highway if this
information is repetitive, redundant, or not informative at all but
just plain noise.  Besides, there is talk about many types of
services such as movies on demand, travel, finance, and others which
do not really fall in the genre of information but are going to be
riding the information highway anyway.  Thus it may be necessary to
make another term to incapsulate this "merger" of information and
entertainment.  This is the English language, after all, and it is
quite adaptable and capable of coming up with some snappy terms,
something like "Infotainment."

Last but certainly not least is what is the toll going to be for
riding this highway?  Cable, telephone and related companies want to
keep the costs down as much as possible to remain competitive but
they need to make a profit as well.  Some people are lucky to afford
electricity and, at most, cable.  We already have the so-called
"health care crisis" and "welfare crisis," so maybe our wonderful
politicians will declare an "information crisis."  Won't that be fun?

In summary, I am not trying to roadblock the information highway.  As
I said in the beginning, it is necessary for the country as economy, 
society, and politics become more and more global.  But, there are
some things to be considered but have been hidden by the flash and
dazzle of what it is going to provide.  So you may ride the informa-
tion highway but I'll stick to my infotainment meganetwork.     {RAH} 
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Ray Koziel is a systems programmer/analyst for a consulting firm in
Atlanta.  Since Ray started contributing to RAH, his wife is more at
ease now that he has a new target for his weird sense of humor. 

