Rising from the ashes of the tech crash....

What's the future of ecommerce and the internet?

I just read the following fascinating passage.... (I'll explain why it's fascinating below.)

See what you think.... Here it is....

The revolutionary product took the world by storm. The industry responded to the feeding frenzy. New industries grew up. Entrepreneurs rocketed to millionaire status. VCs funded anything that seemed remotely related to the revolution.

Then came the bust. Stock prices halved. The technological flowering was over. Becoming a millionaire was hard again.

Does that description sound kind of familiar? Now read on....

But it was in the ensuing decade that the revolution really entered the mainstream of business, long after acquiring the new technology had ceased to be a major corporate event.

The above words come from an article in Infoworld magazine, published in February, 1985. These words are about an earlier bubble, the "business-computing" market crash of 1969-70.

However, despite this market crash, as we know it didn't mean the end of "business-computing." You might say that out of the ashes of this crash, arose many of the major companies we know today, such as Intel, Microsoft, Compaq, and Apple.

Certainly at least two of these (Microsoft and Apple) were started by beginners in what they were doing.... As we know, Apple really started out of a garage. Microsoft was started by two university dropouts....

Now, we've seen the "internet tech crash" of 2000-2001. Many have fled the scene and want nothing to do with it. But what do you think the chances are that history could repeat itself?

Who knows what the future might bring with this technology.... Which companies will be the new Microsofts, Apples, Intels, and Compaqs to arise out of this crash?

Just some food for thought....

Dien Rice

Lately, I've also been reading about something called VoiceXML....

In plain English, that's about trying to create a voice-enabled internet. Essentially, it's about creating web sites designed for people to talk to, and which will respond by voice as well to you....

So far, I haven't found any working applications for VoiceXML (it's quite a new development), but I just wanted to alert you to this possible future development on the internet....

I've linked to an article below if you'd like to read more about these new developments....

So in the future, when you scream insults at your computer, you'll have to be careful because it might scream back! :)

- Dien


An Introduction to Speech Recognition (on the web)....

I have this belief that ecommerce is here to stay, and that people who pay attention to sound business practices will prosper. It's very easy to get sidetracked and lose the main focus of your business efforts on the net - especially if you enjoy reading and you suddenly find you've read the equivalent of a 3 volume epic during the course of surfing!!

I'd just love to come up with the 'new apple pie' product.

Margaret

Just chuggin' along the Clyde!

Hi Margaret,

> I have this belief that ecommerce is here to
> stay, and that people who pay attention to
> sound business practices will prosper. It's
> very easy to get sidetracked and lose the
> main focus of your business efforts on the
> net - especially if you enjoy reading and
> you suddenly find you've read the equivalent
> of a 3 volume epic during the course of
> surfing!!

Heheh, I can agree completely.... :) Gosh, it's SO easy to get sidetracked chasing up this or that on the 'net.... Though sometimes you do find things which can help you later on (at least I've found that to be so)....

I also agree with you 100% about sound business practices.... I still find it kind of stunning that a year ago some taught that profits were not important.... It seems kind of stunning now, and a year ago I kind of felt like a round peg in a square hole for not agreeing with everyone.... At least now I do feel a little bit vindicated in my own thinking.... :)

Certainly this was known by many "real world" businesses which then expanded online (as you seem to have done).... I think those who got caught out were mostly the "online only" type businesses which may not have had much real world business experience to start with....

I think real world business experience is very very important....

> I'd just love to come up with the 'new apple
> pie' product.

Yes, it would be nice.... :) I wish I knew a formula.... I know how to create profits, but I'm still working on getting that mega-block-buster business hit.... I'm sure it will come eventually though with enough experimentation and persistence! :)

> Margaret

> Just chuggin' along the Clyde!

Wow, it looks like you're in a nice part of the world! (Thanks for sharing the pic!) :)

Margaret, I hope one day I can make it to your cafe.... Are you in the UK? Do you mind if I ask roughly where....?

I am a big cafe connoisseur, there's nothing I enjoy more than heading for a cafe and chatting with friends over a hot cup of coffee or chocolate (or an ice cold drink in the summer), with a little snack if I'm feeling peckish.... :)

Cheers :)

Dien

Dien - the cup of hot chocolate and the home-made shortbread ............. ! getting hungry at the very thought!

Guess where I'm heading now!!

LOL

Margaret