UniForum '96 Preview: The Internet and The Web

Two Tracks Explore Latest Developments

A wealth of information will be available at the Internet track sessions presented by UniForum '96 Feb. 12-16 at Moscone Center in San Francisco.

Because the Internet is the fastest growing area in IT communications today, UniForum '96 has doubled the number of Internet tracks from one at last year's convention to two. A total of 20 sessions will provide a comprehensive overview, lectures, and hands-on classes.

Internet tracks are headed this year by Jim Sha, vice president and general manager at Netscape Communications and Mike Azzara, publisher of Communications Week. This year's sessions will cover the various aspects of Internet technology as well as the business issues of designing, promoting, and running a successful business on the Internet.

Beginning With Basics

Introductory sessions offer a basic road map to the Internet: what's there, how it's structured and how to get to it. Sessions will explore the various levels of connectivity to the Net--from simple gateways and shell accounts suited for individual users to the more sophisticated SLIP/PPP and dedicated lines used by businesses and large organizations.

Differences between on-line services, the Internet, and the World-Wide Web will be explained, plus exactly what technology is required to get the most out of these various areas.

The Advanced Internet sessions will cover the Hypertext Transmission Protocol (HTTP) used to communicate throughout the Internet and the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) used to create links between documents. Participants will also learn how HTML is used to develop a home page.

There will even be a session on Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML) which makes virtual reality a possibility on the Net through interactive, 3D representations.

Minding The Virtual Store

A home page on the Web can be accessed by literally hundreds of thousands of people in a single day. The financial possibilities are staggering, but so are the potential pitfalls and problems involving customer orders, credit and security.

Discussions will include setting up a home page, the best ways to market and advertise goods and services, proper "netiquette" for a business, and how to protect sales and accounting information.

An important highlight will be publishing, currently the biggest market potential on the Net. By its very nature, Internet technology lends itself to information distribution. At the same time, suppliers of this information are vulnerable to piracy and fraud. Sessions will examine the hottest technologies available for electronic publishing, as well as new products for copyright protection and information metering.

E-Commerce And E-Cash

As more businesses establish themselves on the Internet, electronic commerce will become more important. Sessions will explore credit applications, credit approval, and credit card administration. The new virtual banking will also be discussed, including its long-term effects on the economy.

On-line payment systems will be covered in detail. On-line payment is especially important for its ability to increase sales by extending credit capabilities. Also covered will be electronic or digital cash. This session explores the advantages and concerns of using electronic cash.

Highway Robbery

With on-line access comes the threat of on-line theft and vandalism. Security will be a major topic at the Internet track sessions. Special attention will be paid to electronic commerce and the following areas: Other topics will include system-level security, protection from hackers, and new ways to protect your data if security is compromised.

Net Gains

Internet track sessions will help participants stay on top of Internet technology. For instance, the Web has created a resurgence in research tools. Sessions will examine how the right tools can make all the difference in navigating the often bewildering maze of information available on the Net.

Also discussed will be the new generation of scripting languages such as common gateway interface (CGI) and Phantom, plus Sun Microsystems' Java. Browsing and authoring tools will be examined, including Acrobat, Envoy, Macromind and others.

Another Internet session will talk about adding voice, image and--in the near future--video to today's keyboard chat forums. In all, UniForum '96 Internet track sessions promise to be as lively, entertaining, and enriching as the Internet itself.