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V/+WILLIT

This website contains an archive of files for the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Acorn Archimedes, Commodore 16 and Commodore 64 computers, which Dominic Ford has rescued from his private collection of floppy disks and cassettes.

Some of these files were originally commercial releases in the 1980s and 1990s, but they are now widely available online. I assume that copyright over them is no longer being asserted. If you own the copyright and would like files to be removed, please contact me.

Tape/disk: Home » Personal collection » Acorn ADFS disks » Electron_User_Group » EUG_56.ADF
Filename: V/+WILLIT
Read OK: ✔
File size: 1427 bytes
Load address: 2B204556
Exec address: 4C4C4957
Duplicates

There are 2 duplicate copies of this file in the archive:

File contents
                      WILL 'IT' CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

THERE'S an article on the website for the channel BBC NEWS [No, nothing
to do with any of the BBC machines themselves! - Ed] which, if we are to
believe its prose, predicates a life-changing development (possibly in
the computer industry) within the next two or years. It has been repro-
duced here for the benefit of EUG readers, although the original is be-
ing regularly updated with feedback from internet surfers stumbling 
across it at:
      http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1113000/1113537.stm

As you'll begin to appreciate as you read it, it may simply be someone's
weird idea of a joke - yet its origin would seem to counter that kind of
assumption. If it IS more than rumour and speculation, then something
intriguing is just hiding beyond the horizon in the U.S. If not, then
the gossipers have even managed to invade your EUG...!

Will "IT" change your life?
===========================
"IT" is a top secret new invention, backed by some of the biggest names
in the American business world. IT is billed as being more important 
than the internet. But what is IT?
   The web - always an incubator for rumour and speculation - is abuzz
with talk of IT. So what is fuelling this furious debate? A secret in-
vention which, its creator claims, will "sweep over the world and change
lives".
   Some are quick to shout "Hype!", but IT inventor Dean Kamen is no
latterday Heath Robinson or Rube Goldberg. The 49-year-old American was
responsible for the $100m IBOT stair-climbing wheelchair, which was 
picked up by corporate giant Johnson & Johnson. President-elect George
Bush is said to be among the bigwigs to have climbed the hill to Mr 
Kamen's hexagonal mansion.
   IT - or Ginger as his latest gadget is known - boasts some equally
august backers. Top Silicon Valley venture capitalist John Doerr, who
helped launch Netscape, is on board.
   Jeff Bezos, boss at dot.com bookseller Amazon, and Apple Mac guru 
Steve Jobs, have both given IT the thumbs-up - though are not letting on
much more than that.
   No lesser authority than the Harvard Business School Press has also
reportedly stumped up $250,000 for a book about IT, despite not being
told exactly what IT is.
   So why the secrecy? Mr Kamen - a recent winner of the prestigious
National Medal of Technology - says he's staying tight-lipped for fear
some jealous corporation will steal or "block" his brainchild. But al-
though he is vowing not to lift the lid on his invention until 2002, he
has given the world some tantalising clues as to what the dickens IT is.
   IT is said to be "so revolutionary, you'll have no problem selling 
it". Investors Credit Suisse First Boston reckon it could make Mr Kamen
richer than Bill Gates.
   Could IT be low-tech? It doesn't have to be rocket science to make
you rich. The humble, yet ubiquitous, Tetrapak milk carton made Hans 
and Gad Rausing into multi-billionaires.
   Mr Kamen thinks IT is a great idea, but he fears others will take a
more alarmist view. "The question is, are people going to be allowed to
use it? [The product is] likely to run afoul of existing regulations,"
he has said.
   So could IT be dangerous? Not much of a clue. After all, the United 
States is regularly lampooned for embracing laws which frown on public
smoking, but encourage people to tote guns.
   "It will be an alternative to products that are dirty, expensive,
sometimes dangerous and often frustrating."
   Could IT be a robot dog? Real life mutts are all of the above. Even
Japan's mighty Sony corporation - inventors of the CD - are pumping 
money into developing robot animals. Those already in the shops proved a
Christmas money-spinner.
   IT "will profoundly affect our environment and the way people live
worldwide".
   Could IT be food online? One internet wag has already suggested IT is
a way of delivering food direct to surfers. Though fanciful, such an
invention would certainly change our lives and please those netheads who
hate interacting with anyone in real time, even pizza delivery riders.
   IT is said to have had Amazon's Jeff Bezos "honking" with laughter. 
So it must be fun, right?
   Could IT be a games console? With pulses still raised by the recent
launch of the Playstation 2 and the unveiling of Bill Gates' X-Box, many
net speculators are praying for another world-beating games machine.
   IT is predicted to change the way our cities are built and force the
existing built environment to be "retro-fitted" to accomodate the 
product.
   Could IT be a 21st century C5? The smart money is on IT being a new
mode of transport, a theory strengthened by Mr Kamen's work on the IBOT
and his penchant for commuting by helicopter.
   Suggestions range from James Bond-style personal jetpacks to Star 
Trek transporters. IT may even be a Blade Runneresque hover car. All are
a far cry from Sir Clive Sinclair's hapless C5 electric cart of the 
1980s.
   Of course, IT could always turn out to be nothing. Couldn't it? Send
your email suggestions to use at newsonline.features@bbc.co.uk.
                                                                 EUG #56

00000000  20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  |                |
00000010  20 20 20 20 20 20 57 49  4c 4c 20 27 49 54 27 20  |      WILL 'IT' |
00000020  43 48 41 4e 47 45 20 59  4f 55 52 20 4c 49 46 45  |CHANGE YOUR LIFE|
00000030  3f 0d 0d 54 48 45 52 45  27 53 20 61 6e 20 61 72  |?..THERE'S an ar|
00000040  74 69 63 6c 65 20 6f 6e  20 74 68 65 20 77 65 62  |ticle on the web|
00000050  73 69 74 65 20 66 6f 72  20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61  |site for the cha|
00000060  6e 6e 65 6c 20 42 42 43  20 4e 45 57 53 20 5b 4e  |nnel BBC NEWS [N|
00000070  6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 68 69  6e 67 0d 74 6f 20 64 6f  |o, nothing.to do|
00000080  20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e  79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  | with any of the|
00000090  20 42 42 43 20 6d 61 63  68 69 6e 65 73 20 74 68  | BBC machines th|
000000a0  65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73  21 20 2d 20 45 64 5d 20  |emselves! - Ed] |
000000b0  77 68 69 63 68 2c 20 69  66 20 77 65 20 61 72 65  |which, if we are|
000000c0  20 74 6f 0d 62 65 6c 69  65 76 65 20 69 74 73 20  | to.believe its |
000000d0  70 72 6f 73 65 2c 20 70  72 65 64 69 63 61 74 65  |prose, predicate|
000000e0  73 20 61 20 6c 69 66 65  2d 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e  |s a life-changin|
000000f0  67 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f  70 6d 65 6e 74 20 28 70  |g development (p|
00000100  6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20  69 6e 0d 74 68 65 20 63  |ossibly in.the c|
00000110  6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20  69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 79  |omputer industry|
00000120  29 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e  20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78  |) within the nex|
00000130  74 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 72  20 79 65 61 72 73 2e 20  |t two or years. |
00000140  49 74 20 68 61 73 20 62  65 65 6e 20 72 65 70 72  |It has been repr|
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000001d0  66 65 72 73 20 73 74 75  6d 62 6c 69 6e 67 20 0d  |fers stumbling .|
000001e0  61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 69  74 20 61 74 3a 0d 20 20  |across it at:.  |
000001f0  20 20 20 20 68 74 74 70  3a 2f 2f 6e 65 77 73 2e  |    http://news.|
00000200  62 62 63 2e 63 6f 2e 75  6b 2f 68 69 2f 65 6e 67  |bbc.co.uk/hi/eng|
00000210  6c 69 73 68 2f 75 6b 2f  6e 65 77 73 69 64 5f 31  |lish/uk/newsid_1|
00000220  31 31 33 30 30 30 2f 31  31 31 33 35 33 37 2e 73  |113000/1113537.s|
00000230  74 6d 0d 0d 41 73 20 79  6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 62 65  |tm..As you'll be|
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000002d0  2e 20 49 66 20 69 74 20  49 53 20 6d 6f 72 65 20  |. If it IS more |
000002e0  74 68 61 6e 20 72 75 6d  6f 75 72 20 61 6e 64 20  |than rumour and |
000002f0  73 70 65 63 75 6c 61 74  69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65  |speculation, the|
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00000350  6e 0d 74 68 65 20 67 6f  73 73 69 70 65 72 73 20  |n.the gossipers |
00000360  68 61 76 65 20 65 76 65  6e 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65  |have even manage|
00000370  64 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 76  61 64 65 20 79 6f 75 72  |d to invade your|
00000380  20 45 55 47 2e 2e 2e 21  0d 0d 57 69 6c 6c 20 22  | EUG...!..Will "|
00000390  49 54 22 20 63 68 61 6e  67 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20  |IT" change your |
000003a0  6c 69 66 65 3f 0d 3d 3d  3d 3d 3d 3d 3d 3d 3d 3d  |life?.==========|
000003b0  3d 3d 3d 3d 3d 3d 3d 3d  3d 3d 3d 3d 3d 3d 3d 3d  |================|
000003c0  3d 0d 22 49 54 22 20 69  73 20 61 20 74 6f 70 20  |=."IT" is a top |
000003d0  73 65 63 72 65 74 20 6e  65 77 20 69 6e 76 65 6e  |secret new inven|
000003e0  74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 61  63 6b 65 64 20 62 79 20  |tion, backed by |
000003f0  73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20  74 68 65 20 62 69 67 67  |some of the bigg|
00000400  65 73 74 20 6e 61 6d 65  73 0d 69 6e 20 74 68 65  |est names.in the|
00000410  20 41 6d 65 72 69 63 61  6e 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65  | American busine|
00000420  73 73 20 77 6f 72 6c 64  2e 20 49 54 20 69 73 20  |ss world. IT is |
00000430  62 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 61  73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20  |billed as being |
00000440  6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 70  6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 0d  |more important .|
00000450  74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65  20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65  |than the interne|
00000460  74 2e 20 42 75 74 20 77  68 61 74 20 69 73 20 49  |t. But what is I|
00000470  54 3f 0d 20 20 20 54 68  65 20 77 65 62 20 2d 20  |T?.   The web - |
00000480  61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 61  6e 20 69 6e 63 75 62 61  |always an incuba|
00000490  74 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 20  72 75 6d 6f 75 72 20 61  |tor for rumour a|
000004a0  6e 64 20 73 70 65 63 75  6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 2d  |nd speculation -|
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000004c0  61 6c 6b 20 6f 66 20 49  54 2e 20 53 6f 20 77 68  |alk of IT. So wh|
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000004e0  68 69 73 20 66 75 72 69  6f 75 73 20 64 65 62 61  |his furious deba|
000004f0  74 65 3f 20 41 20 73 65  63 72 65 74 20 69 6e 2d  |te? A secret in-|
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00000510  69 74 73 20 63 72 65 61  74 6f 72 20 63 6c 61 69  |its creator clai|
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00000530  6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65  20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 61  |over the world a|
00000540  6e 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67  65 0d 6c 69 76 65 73 22  |nd change.lives"|
00000550  2e 0d 20 20 20 53 6f 6d  65 20 61 72 65 20 71 75  |..   Some are qu|
00000560  69 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 73  68 6f 75 74 20 22 48 79  |ick to shout "Hy|
00000570  70 65 21 22 2c 20 62 75  74 20 49 54 20 69 6e 76  |pe!", but IT inv|
00000580  65 6e 74 6f 72 20 44 65  61 6e 20 4b 61 6d 65 6e  |entor Dean Kamen|
00000590  20 69 73 20 6e 6f 0d 6c  61 74 74 65 72 64 61 79  | is no.latterday|
000005a0  20 48 65 61 74 68 20 52  6f 62 69 6e 73 6f 6e 20  | Heath Robinson |
000005b0  6f 72 20 52 75 62 65 20  47 6f 6c 64 62 65 72 67  |or Rube Goldberg|
000005c0  2e 20 54 68 65 20 34 39  2d 79 65 61 72 2d 6f 6c  |. The 49-year-ol|
000005d0  64 20 41 6d 65 72 69 63  61 6e 20 77 61 73 0d 72  |d American was.r|
000005e0  65 73 70 6f 6e 73 69 62  6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74  |esponsible for t|
000005f0  68 65 20 24 31 30 30 6d  20 49 42 4f 54 20 73 74  |he $100m IBOT st|
00000600  61 69 72 2d 63 6c 69 6d  62 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65  |air-climbing whe|
00000610  65 6c 63 68 61 69 72 2c  20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77  |elchair, which w|
00000620  61 73 20 0d 70 69 63 6b  65 64 20 75 70 20 62 79  |as .picked up by|
00000630  20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61  74 65 20 67 69 61 6e 74  | corporate giant|
00000640  20 4a 6f 68 6e 73 6f 6e  20 26 20 4a 6f 68 6e 73  | Johnson & Johns|
00000650  6f 6e 2e 20 50 72 65 73  69 64 65 6e 74 2d 65 6c  |on. President-el|
00000660  65 63 74 20 47 65 6f 72  67 65 0d 42 75 73 68 20  |ect George.Bush |
00000670  69 73 20 73 61 69 64 20  74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 6d  |is said to be am|
00000680  6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20  62 69 67 77 69 67 73 20  |ong the bigwigs |
00000690  74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20  63 6c 69 6d 62 65 64 20  |to have climbed |
000006a0  74 68 65 20 68 69 6c 6c  20 74 6f 20 4d 72 20 0d  |the hill to Mr .|
000006b0  4b 61 6d 65 6e 27 73 20  68 65 78 61 67 6f 6e 61  |Kamen's hexagona|
000006c0  6c 20 6d 61 6e 73 69 6f  6e 2e 0d 20 20 20 49 54  |l mansion..   IT|
000006d0  20 2d 20 6f 72 20 47 69  6e 67 65 72 20 61 73 20  | - or Ginger as |
000006e0  68 69 73 20 6c 61 74 65  73 74 20 67 61 64 67 65  |his latest gadge|
000006f0  74 20 69 73 20 6b 6e 6f  77 6e 20 2d 20 62 6f 61  |t is known - boa|
00000700  73 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65  20 65 71 75 61 6c 6c 79  |sts some equally|
00000710  0d 61 75 67 75 73 74 20  62 61 63 6b 65 72 73 2e  |.august backers.|
00000720  20 54 6f 70 20 53 69 6c  69 63 6f 6e 20 56 61 6c  | Top Silicon Val|
00000730  6c 65 79 20 76 65 6e 74  75 72 65 20 63 61 70 69  |ley venture capi|
00000740  74 61 6c 69 73 74 20 4a  6f 68 6e 20 44 6f 65 72  |talist John Doer|
00000750  72 2c 20 77 68 6f 0d 68  65 6c 70 65 64 20 6c 61  |r, who.helped la|
00000760  75 6e 63 68 20 4e 65 74  73 63 61 70 65 2c 20 69  |unch Netscape, i|
00000770  73 20 6f 6e 20 62 6f 61  72 64 2e 0d 20 20 20 4a  |s on board..   J|
00000780  65 66 66 20 42 65 7a 6f  73 2c 20 62 6f 73 73 20  |eff Bezos, boss |
00000790  61 74 20 64 6f 74 2e 63  6f 6d 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73  |at dot.com books|
000007a0  65 6c 6c 65 72 20 41 6d  61 7a 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e  |eller Amazon, an|
000007b0  64 20 41 70 70 6c 65 20  4d 61 63 20 67 75 72 75  |d Apple Mac guru|
000007c0  20 0d 53 74 65 76 65 20  4a 6f 62 73 2c 20 68 61  | .Steve Jobs, ha|
000007d0  76 65 20 62 6f 74 68 20  67 69 76 65 6e 20 49 54  |ve both given IT|
000007e0  20 74 68 65 20 74 68 75  6d 62 73 2d 75 70 20 2d  | the thumbs-up -|
000007f0  20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20  61 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20  | though are not |
00000800  6c 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20  6f 6e 0d 6d 75 63 68 20  |letting on.much |
00000810  6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61  6e 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0d  |more than that..|
00000820  20 20 20 4e 6f 20 6c 65  73 73 65 72 20 61 75 74  |   No lesser aut|
00000830  68 6f 72 69 74 79 20 74  68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20  |hority than the |
00000840  48 61 72 76 61 72 64 20  42 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73  |Harvard Business|
00000850  20 53 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20  50 72 65 73 73 20 68 61  | School Press ha|
00000860  73 20 61 6c 73 6f 0d 72  65 70 6f 72 74 65 64 6c  |s also.reportedl|
00000870  79 20 73 74 75 6d 70 65  64 20 75 70 20 24 32 35  |y stumped up $25|
00000880  30 2c 30 30 30 20 66 6f  72 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b  |0,000 for a book|
00000890  20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 49  54 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69  | about IT, despi|
000008a0  74 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 62  65 69 6e 67 0d 74 6f 6c  |te not being.tol|
000008b0  64 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c  79 20 77 68 61 74 20 49  |d exactly what I|
000008c0  54 20 69 73 2e 0d 20 20  20 53 6f 20 77 68 79 20  |T is..   So why |
000008d0  74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72  65 63 79 3f 20 4d 72 20  |the secrecy? Mr |
000008e0  4b 61 6d 65 6e 20 2d 20  61 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74  |Kamen - a recent|
000008f0  20 77 69 6e 6e 65 72 20  6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70  | winner of the p|
00000900  72 65 73 74 69 67 69 6f  75 73 0d 4e 61 74 69 6f  |restigious.Natio|
00000910  6e 61 6c 20 4d 65 64 61  6c 20 6f 66 20 54 65 63  |nal Medal of Tec|
00000920  68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20  2d 20 73 61 79 73 20 68  |hnology - says h|
00000930  65 27 73 20 73 74 61 79  69 6e 67 20 74 69 67 68  |e's staying tigh|
00000940  74 2d 6c 69 70 70 65 64  20 66 6f 72 20 66 65 61  |t-lipped for fea|
00000950  72 0d 73 6f 6d 65 20 6a  65 61 6c 6f 75 73 20 63  |r.some jealous c|
00000960  6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69  6f 6e 20 77 69 6c 6c 20  |orporation will |
00000970  73 74 65 61 6c 20 6f 72  20 22 62 6c 6f 63 6b 22  |steal or "block"|
00000980  20 68 69 73 20 62 72 61  69 6e 63 68 69 6c 64 2e  | his brainchild.|
00000990  20 42 75 74 20 61 6c 2d  0d 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20  | But al-.though |
000009a0  68 65 20 69 73 20 76 6f  77 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 74  |he is vowing not|
000009b0  20 74 6f 20 6c 69 66 74  20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 64  | to lift the lid|
000009c0  20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20  69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6f  | on his inventio|
000009d0  6e 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20  32 30 30 32 2c 20 68 65  |n until 2002, he|
000009e0  0d 68 61 73 20 67 69 76  65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77  |.has given the w|
000009f0  6f 72 6c 64 20 73 6f 6d  65 20 74 61 6e 74 61 6c  |orld some tantal|
00000a00  69 73 69 6e 67 20 63 6c  75 65 73 20 61 73 20 74  |ising clues as t|
00000a10  6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 74  68 65 20 64 69 63 6b 65  |o what the dicke|
00000a20  6e 73 20 49 54 20 69 73  2e 0d 20 20 20 49 54 20  |ns IT is..   IT |
00000a30  69 73 20 73 61 69 64 20  74 6f 20 62 65 20 22 73  |is said to be "s|
00000a40  6f 20 72 65 76 6f 6c 75  74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 2c  |o revolutionary,|
00000a50  20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20  68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 20  | you'll have no |
00000a60  70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20  73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20  |problem selling |
00000a70  0d 69 74 22 2e 20 49 6e  76 65 73 74 6f 72 73 20  |.it". Investors |
00000a80  43 72 65 64 69 74 20 53  75 69 73 73 65 20 46 69  |Credit Suisse Fi|
00000a90  72 73 74 20 42 6f 73 74  6f 6e 20 72 65 63 6b 6f  |rst Boston recko|
00000aa0  6e 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75  6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20  |n it could make |
00000ab0  4d 72 20 4b 61 6d 65 6e  0d 72 69 63 68 65 72 20  |Mr Kamen.richer |
00000ac0  74 68 61 6e 20 42 69 6c  6c 20 47 61 74 65 73 2e  |than Bill Gates.|
00000ad0  0d 20 20 20 43 6f 75 6c  64 20 49 54 20 62 65 20  |.   Could IT be |
00000ae0  6c 6f 77 2d 74 65 63 68  3f 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65  |low-tech? It doe|
00000af0  73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76  65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20  |sn't have to be |
00000b00  72 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 73  63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 74  |rocket science t|
00000b10  6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 0d 79  6f 75 20 72 69 63 68 2e  |o make.you rich.|
00000b20  20 54 68 65 20 68 75 6d  62 6c 65 2c 20 79 65 74  | The humble, yet|
00000b30  20 75 62 69 71 75 69 74  6f 75 73 2c 20 54 65 74  | ubiquitous, Tet|
00000b40  72 61 70 61 6b 20 6d 69  6c 6b 20 63 61 72 74 6f  |rapak milk carto|
00000b50  6e 20 6d 61 64 65 20 48  61 6e 73 20 0d 61 6e 64  |n made Hans .and|
00000b60  20 47 61 64 20 52 61 75  73 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74  | Gad Rausing int|
00000b70  6f 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 2d  62 69 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 61  |o multi-billiona|
00000b80  69 72 65 73 2e 0d 20 20  20 4d 72 20 4b 61 6d 65  |ires..   Mr Kame|
00000b90  6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73  20 49 54 20 69 73 20 61  |n thinks IT is a|
00000ba0  20 67 72 65 61 74 20 69  64 65 61 2c 20 62 75 74  | great idea, but|
00000bb0  20 68 65 20 66 65 61 72  73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73  | he fears others|
00000bc0  20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 61  6b 65 20 61 0d 6d 6f 72  | will take a.mor|
00000bd0  65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 69  73 74 20 76 69 65 77 2e  |e alarmist view.|
00000be0  20 22 54 68 65 20 71 75  65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 69  | "The question i|
00000bf0  73 2c 20 61 72 65 20 70  65 6f 70 6c 65 20 67 6f  |s, are people go|
00000c00  69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62  65 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65  |ing to be allowe|
00000c10  64 20 74 6f 0d 75 73 65  20 69 74 3f 20 5b 54 68  |d to.use it? [Th|
00000c20  65 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63  74 20 69 73 5d 20 6c 69  |e product is] li|
00000c30  6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20  72 75 6e 20 61 66 6f 75  |kely to run afou|
00000c40  6c 20 6f 66 20 65 78 69  73 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65  |l of existing re|
00000c50  67 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e  73 2c 22 0d 68 65 20 68  |gulations,".he h|
00000c60  61 73 20 73 61 69 64 2e  0d 20 20 20 53 6f 20 63  |as said..   So c|
00000c70  6f 75 6c 64 20 49 54 20  62 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65  |ould IT be dange|
00000c80  72 6f 75 73 3f 20 4e 6f  74 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6f  |rous? Not much o|
00000c90  66 20 61 20 63 6c 75 65  2e 20 41 66 74 65 72 20  |f a clue. After |
00000ca0  61 6c 6c 2c 20 74 68 65  20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20  |all, the United |
00000cb0  0d 53 74 61 74 65 73 20  69 73 20 72 65 67 75 6c  |.States is regul|
00000cc0  61 72 6c 79 20 6c 61 6d  70 6f 6f 6e 65 64 20 66  |arly lampooned f|
00000cd0  6f 72 20 65 6d 62 72 61  63 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 77  |or embracing law|
00000ce0  73 20 77 68 69 63 68 20  66 72 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e  |s which frown on|
00000cf0  20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 0d  73 6d 6f 6b 69 6e 67 2c  | public.smoking,|
00000d00  20 62 75 74 20 65 6e 63  6f 75 72 61 67 65 20 70  | but encourage p|
00000d10  65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f  20 74 6f 74 65 20 67 75  |eople to tote gu|
00000d20  6e 73 2e 0d 20 20 20 22  49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20  |ns..   "It will |
00000d30  62 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6c  74 65 72 6e 61 74 69 76  |be an alternativ|
00000d40  65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f  64 75 63 74 73 20 74 68  |e to products th|
00000d50  61 74 20 61 72 65 20 64  69 72 74 79 2c 20 65 78  |at are dirty, ex|
00000d60  70 65 6e 73 69 76 65 2c  0d 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d  |pensive,.sometim|
00000d70  65 73 20 64 61 6e 67 65  72 6f 75 73 20 61 6e 64  |es dangerous and|
00000d80  20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 66  72 75 73 74 72 61 74 69  | often frustrati|
00000d90  6e 67 2e 22 0d 20 20 20  43 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 54  |ng.".   Could IT|
00000da0  20 62 65 20 61 20 72 6f  62 6f 74 20 64 6f 67 3f  | be a robot dog?|
00000db0  20 52 65 61 6c 20 6c 69  66 65 20 6d 75 74 74 73  | Real life mutts|
00000dc0  20 61 72 65 20 61 6c 6c  20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20  | are all of the |
00000dd0  61 62 6f 76 65 2e 20 45  76 65 6e 0d 4a 61 70 61  |above. Even.Japa|
00000de0  6e 27 73 20 6d 69 67 68  74 79 20 53 6f 6e 79 20  |n's mighty Sony |
00000df0  63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74  69 6f 6e 20 2d 20 69 6e  |corporation - in|
00000e00  76 65 6e 74 6f 72 73 20  6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 43  |ventors of the C|
00000e10  44 20 2d 20 61 72 65 20  70 75 6d 70 69 6e 67 20  |D - are pumping |
00000e20  0d 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 69  6e 74 6f 20 64 65 76 65  |.money into deve|
00000e30  6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 72  6f 62 6f 74 20 61 6e 69  |loping robot ani|
00000e40  6d 61 6c 73 2e 20 54 68  6f 73 65 20 61 6c 72 65  |mals. Those alre|
00000e50  61 64 79 20 69 6e 20 74  68 65 20 73 68 6f 70 73  |ady in the shops|
00000e60  20 70 72 6f 76 65 64 20  61 0d 43 68 72 69 73 74  | proved a.Christ|
00000e70  6d 61 73 20 6d 6f 6e 65  79 2d 73 70 69 6e 6e 65  |mas money-spinne|
00000e80  72 2e 0d 20 20 20 49 54  20 22 77 69 6c 6c 20 70  |r..   IT "will p|
00000e90  72 6f 66 6f 75 6e 64 6c  79 20 61 66 66 65 63 74  |rofoundly affect|
00000ea0  20 6f 75 72 20 65 6e 76  69 72 6f 6e 6d 65 6e 74  | our environment|
00000eb0  20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65  20 77 61 79 20 70 65 6f  | and the way peo|
00000ec0  70 6c 65 20 6c 69 76 65  0d 77 6f 72 6c 64 77 69  |ple live.worldwi|
00000ed0  64 65 22 2e 0d 20 20 20  43 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 54  |de"..   Could IT|
00000ee0  20 62 65 20 66 6f 6f 64  20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 3f  | be food online?|
00000ef0  20 4f 6e 65 20 69 6e 74  65 72 6e 65 74 20 77 61  | One internet wa|
00000f00  67 20 68 61 73 20 61 6c  72 65 61 64 79 20 73 75  |g has already su|
00000f10  67 67 65 73 74 65 64 20  49 54 20 69 73 0d 61 20  |ggested IT is.a |
00000f20  77 61 79 20 6f 66 20 64  65 6c 69 76 65 72 69 6e  |way of deliverin|
00000f30  67 20 66 6f 6f 64 20 64  69 72 65 63 74 20 74 6f  |g food direct to|
00000f40  20 73 75 72 66 65 72 73  2e 20 54 68 6f 75 67 68  | surfers. Though|
00000f50  20 66 61 6e 63 69 66 75  6c 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20  | fanciful, such |
00000f60  61 6e 0d 69 6e 76 65 6e  74 69 6f 6e 20 77 6f 75  |an.invention wou|
00000f70  6c 64 20 63 65 72 74 61  69 6e 6c 79 20 63 68 61  |ld certainly cha|
00000f80  6e 67 65 20 6f 75 72 20  6c 69 76 65 73 20 61 6e  |nge our lives an|
00000f90  64 20 70 6c 65 61 73 65  20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6e  |d please those n|
00000fa0  65 74 68 65 61 64 73 20  77 68 6f 0d 68 61 74 65  |etheads who.hate|
00000fb0  20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63  74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74  | interacting wit|
00000fc0  68 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65  20 69 6e 20 72 65 61 6c  |h anyone in real|
00000fd0  20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 65  76 65 6e 20 70 69 7a 7a  | time, even pizz|
00000fe0  61 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65  72 79 20 72 69 64 65 72  |a delivery rider|
00000ff0  73 2e 0d 20 20 20 49 54  20 69 73 20 73 61 69 64  |s..   IT is said|
00001000  20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65  20 68 61 64 20 41 6d 61  | to have had Ama|
00001010  7a 6f 6e 27 73 20 4a 65  66 66 20 42 65 7a 6f 73  |zon's Jeff Bezos|
00001020  20 22 68 6f 6e 6b 69 6e  67 22 20 77 69 74 68 20  | "honking" with |
00001030  6c 61 75 67 68 74 65 72  2e 20 0d 53 6f 20 69 74  |laughter. .So it|
00001040  20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65  20 66 75 6e 2c 20 72 69  | must be fun, ri|
00001050  67 68 74 3f 0d 20 20 20  43 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 54  |ght?.   Could IT|
00001060  20 62 65 20 61 20 67 61  6d 65 73 20 63 6f 6e 73  | be a games cons|
00001070  6f 6c 65 3f 20 57 69 74  68 20 70 75 6c 73 65 73  |ole? With pulses|
00001080  20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72  61 69 73 65 64 20 62 79  | still raised by|
00001090  20 74 68 65 20 72 65 63  65 6e 74 0d 6c 61 75 6e  | the recent.laun|
000010a0  63 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68  65 20 50 6c 61 79 73 74  |ch of the Playst|
000010b0  61 74 69 6f 6e 20 32 20  61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20  |ation 2 and the |
000010c0  75 6e 76 65 69 6c 69 6e  67 20 6f 66 20 42 69 6c  |unveiling of Bil|
000010d0  6c 20 47 61 74 65 73 27  20 58 2d 42 6f 78 2c 20  |l Gates' X-Box, |
000010e0  6d 61 6e 79 0d 6e 65 74  20 73 70 65 63 75 6c 61  |many.net specula|
000010f0  74 6f 72 73 20 61 72 65  20 70 72 61 79 69 6e 67  |tors are praying|
00001100  20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f  74 68 65 72 20 77 6f 72  | for another wor|
00001110  6c 64 2d 62 65 61 74 69  6e 67 20 67 61 6d 65 73  |ld-beating games|
00001120  20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65  2e 0d 20 20 20 49 54 20  | machine..   IT |
00001130  69 73 20 70 72 65 64 69  63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20  |is predicted to |
00001140  63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74  68 65 20 77 61 79 20 6f  |change the way o|
00001150  75 72 20 63 69 74 69 65  73 20 61 72 65 20 62 75  |ur cities are bu|
00001160  69 6c 74 20 61 6e 64 20  66 6f 72 63 65 20 74 68  |ilt and force th|
00001170  65 0d 65 78 69 73 74 69  6e 67 20 62 75 69 6c 74  |e.existing built|
00001180  20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e  6d 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20  | environment to |
00001190  62 65 20 22 72 65 74 72  6f 2d 66 69 74 74 65 64  |be "retro-fitted|
000011a0  22 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63  6f 6d 6f 64 61 74 65 20  |" to accomodate |
000011b0  74 68 65 20 0d 70 72 6f  64 75 63 74 2e 0d 20 20  |the .product..  |
000011c0  20 43 6f 75 6c 64 20 49  54 20 62 65 20 61 20 32  | Could IT be a 2|
000011d0  31 73 74 20 63 65 6e 74  75 72 79 20 43 35 3f 20  |1st century C5? |
000011e0  54 68 65 20 73 6d 61 72  74 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20  |The smart money |
000011f0  69 73 20 6f 6e 20 49 54  20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61  |is on IT being a|
00001200  20 6e 65 77 0d 6d 6f 64  65 20 6f 66 20 74 72 61  | new.mode of tra|
00001210  6e 73 70 6f 72 74 2c 20  61 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79  |nsport, a theory|
00001220  20 73 74 72 65 6e 67 74  68 65 6e 65 64 20 62 79  | strengthened by|
00001230  20 4d 72 20 4b 61 6d 65  6e 27 73 20 77 6f 72 6b  | Mr Kamen's work|
00001240  20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20  49 42 4f 54 0d 61 6e 64  | on the IBOT.and|
00001250  20 68 69 73 20 70 65 6e  63 68 61 6e 74 20 66 6f  | his penchant fo|
00001260  72 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 74  69 6e 67 20 62 79 20 68  |r commuting by h|
00001270  65 6c 69 63 6f 70 74 65  72 2e 0d 20 20 20 53 75  |elicopter..   Su|
00001280  67 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e  73 20 72 61 6e 67 65 20  |ggestions range |
00001290  66 72 6f 6d 20 4a 61 6d  65 73 20 42 6f 6e 64 2d  |from James Bond-|
000012a0  73 74 79 6c 65 20 70 65  72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 6a  |style personal j|
000012b0  65 74 70 61 63 6b 73 20  74 6f 20 53 74 61 72 20  |etpacks to Star |
000012c0  0d 54 72 65 6b 20 74 72  61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 65  |.Trek transporte|
000012d0  72 73 2e 20 49 54 20 6d  61 79 20 65 76 65 6e 20  |rs. IT may even |
000012e0  62 65 20 61 20 42 6c 61  64 65 20 52 75 6e 6e 65  |be a Blade Runne|
000012f0  72 65 73 71 75 65 20 68  6f 76 65 72 20 63 61 72  |resque hover car|
00001300  2e 20 41 6c 6c 20 61 72  65 0d 61 20 66 61 72 20  |. All are.a far |
00001310  63 72 79 20 66 72 6f 6d  20 53 69 72 20 43 6c 69  |cry from Sir Cli|
00001320  76 65 20 53 69 6e 63 6c  61 69 72 27 73 20 68 61  |ve Sinclair's ha|
00001330  70 6c 65 73 73 20 43 35  20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69  |pless C5 electri|
00001340  63 20 63 61 72 74 20 6f  66 20 74 68 65 20 0d 31  |c cart of the .1|
00001350  39 38 30 73 2e 0d 20 20  20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72  |980s..   Of cour|
00001360  73 65 2c 20 49 54 20 63  6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 77  |se, IT could alw|
00001370  61 79 73 20 74 75 72 6e  20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20  |ays turn out to |
00001380  62 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69  6e 67 2e 20 43 6f 75 6c  |be nothing. Coul|
00001390  64 6e 27 74 20 69 74 3f  20 53 65 6e 64 0d 79 6f  |dn't it? Send.yo|
000013a0  75 72 20 65 6d 61 69 6c  20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74  |ur email suggest|
000013b0  69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20  75 73 65 20 61 74 20 6e  |ions to use at n|
000013c0  65 77 73 6f 6e 6c 69 6e  65 2e 66 65 61 74 75 72  |ewsonline.featur|
000013d0  65 73 40 62 62 63 2e 63  6f 2e 75 6b 2e 0d 20 20  |es@bbc.co.uk..  |
000013e0  20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  |                |
*
00001410  20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  20 20 20 20 20 20 20 45  |               E|
00001420  55 47 20 23 35 36 0d                              |UG #56.|
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