There Is No Escaping The Internet
The Internet has become so ingrained in the lifestyle of some Americans that they don’t want to be offline, even while vacationing.
Not to worry. One change that travelers are likely to notice this summer is the increasing number of public Internet access terminals scattered along major highways and at other places where travelers congregate.
More and more travelers are using such terminals to surf the Web, retrieve and write e-mail messages, shop, conduct business and play games, according to Larry M. James, chief executive officer of NetNearU, a major player in the public Internet access market.
“The demand for providing Internet access to the business traveler or to those on vacation is growing extremely fast,” James says.
About 2,000 terminals are currently installed nationwide, he says, and by the end of 2002 that number is estimated to jump to 200,000.
The most likely places to find terminals are airports, truck stops, restaurants, hotels and convenience stores. Most accept credit cards, cash or prepaid cards.
Whether signing in from home, work or on the road, here are a few new, entertaining or useful Web sites to explore:
* Fun ‘n’ games: Students with time on their hands, or adults in the same situation, can turn to this Web site, which offers lots to do in front of the computer screen (word games, riddles, jokes) as well as ideas for offline projects (instructions on how to make a rock pet, an indoor rainbow and a tornado in a bottle).
The Abracadabra page provides instructions on performing simple magic tricks, including how to turn a wooden pencil into a wobbly “rubber” pencil or make a one-sided piece of paper.
http://www.funology.com
* Fresh look: If you haven’t checked out the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce’s Web site lately, now’s a good time for a return visit.
Previously little more than a bulletin board, the redesigned site now boasts several new features. They include “Your Opinion Counts!” which allows visitors to provide input on hot business topics and gives the chamber feedback on its programs and activities.
Other features are reports on the week’s City Council and County Commission meetings, found in the “Featured Articles” section of the home page, and a “What’s New” section that provides information on key regional economic development initiatives.
http://www.spokanechamber.org