Internet Showcase Special (2000): Part 1

Computer Chronicles visited Palm Springs, California to bring you Upside's "Internet Showcase". The conference provided a look at lots of exciting new Internet products and services as well as plenty of fresh ideas for how to use the Internet. [Episode #1722, First broadcast: 2/15/2000] Information Appliances: Expert City A "tech support mart" where you can shop for experts, review their ratings and their cost, Expert City allows you to hook up with a live person who will solve your computer problem in real time. The site's technology allows the expert to actually take remote control of your computer, so they don't just tell you how to fix the problem...they really do fix it. Image ID Image ID can come up with a clever approach to marketing photos with their Smart Picture Technology which essentially bar codes you with an image ID sticker. So that when you go to a theme park, you get a color wheel which uniquely identifies you and your family. As you move about the park, employees photograph you on various rides. Supersig Supersig's software lets you create mini web pages in the form of banners in an email. The supersigs act just like web pages and can hold dynamically created content and links. Aladn Aladn from Sage Systems lets you use the Web to control appliance in your house. From any web browser, you can turn the lights on, or off, read utility meters, or eventually, program your VCR. Zone Labs With always-on Internet connections becoming more common, Zone Alarm offers a way to protect your privacy. The software lets you build a virtual firewall to keep hackers from getting information off your computer. V-You A clever site that lets you protect intellectual property on your web site so that people can't steal your words, your graphics, or your pictures. Smart Pen It has Gyro Electronics inside which measure the pressure, force and acceleration when you sign your name. Once you've written your signature, no one else can forge it