Reading Between The Lines
The following stories appear in more detail at www.spokesmanreview.com/technology
Electronic books may be curiosity pieces today, but they’re destined to become a major form of reading material, experts agree.
What’s less certain, they say, is the technology that will come to dominate the industry. Options range from special e-readers to Palm-style devices and ordinary personal computers.
Also undetermined: When will the switch away from printed books begin in earnest, and will the cost be more or less for readers?
Knight Ridder
* Going fiberless: Buildings in some urban settings may soon feature high-capacity Internet connections, minus the expensive fiber-optic lines commonly required.
A system being developed by a Seattle-based start-up avoids cables by sending signals more than a mile through the air, using a proprietary combination of laser and telescopic technology.
Some authorities call the concept revolutionary — capable of reshaping the communications industry.
Knight Ridder