TOP Picks For The Year 2000:

TouchPass Identifiers
In the never ending quest for security, the latest technology to hit the market is the use of biometrics.   In the October 11, 1999 issue of PC Week, we are re-introduced to the concept of a password free environment.  By doing finger print or hand print scans the uniqueness of the individuals prints become a password.   Cost for the server software runs $2000 with an additional $200 for each interface with a n interface capacity of 500 units.  Additional information may obtained at the company's web site. http://www.nectech.com/afi/pid 

Cameras, Cameras and More Camera
With the digital revolution, the digital camera has come into its own.  Prices have fallen and quality has greatly improved.  Prices which previously ran in the two thousand dollar range and now at a comparable price range of a regular thirty-five millimeter camera.  One of the for-runner in the digital revolution is Sony who have added the ingenious concept of using the existing media (floppy disk) to save the pictures in the "jpeg" format.  Additionally the ability to make small video clips makes is definite asset. While the Sony camera highlighted there are may manufactures out there making comparable price and quality digital equipment.  Sharp's Internet ViewCam which recently went on sale in Japan will be hitting the rest of the world soon.  The camera will be able to take video clips of up  to 17 minutes in length at 160 by 120 resolution along with the ability to take still photos on it 4MB memory card..  

 TOP Picks For The Year 1999

Microsoft owned WebTV has unveiled a system which delivers Web Pages, video and other data within the video signal itself thus making it possible for blending traditional television content with Web based hyperlinked text and multimedia.

Worldview Systems Corporation
One of the leading publishers of interactive and online destination information.

Geo Interactive Media Group Ltd.
The Emblaze technology enables the delivery of CD ROM-like, real-time interactive multimedia over the Internet. It allows you to embed all types of media: still images, bitmap, vector, animation, sound, video, interwoven with cross-platform interactive programming. Emblaze requires no server application and on the client side you get a "painless injection" of a 50K Java Applet - the Emblaze
Player.

Live Picture Corp.
Live Picture enables your site to offer high-resolution imaging and panoramic viewing for increased levels of detail and broader visual scope. On the Web, your product begins with a picture. And to sell your product you want to present the most compelling and informative view of it possible. Your images need to do more than look good; they need to communicate and invite user participation. Live Picture products present more of any image you want to see on the Net. Quickly. Their imaging solutions deliver high-bandwidth experiences over low-bandwidth configurations.

• Images you can zoom into for minute details.
• Images you can pick up and rotate to see the front, the back, even the fine print.
• Images that sweep you away to beautiful places.
• Images that put you in center view for the complete picture.

Net2Phone
Net2Phone is a new technology which makes it possible to place domestic and international calls from a personal computer to any telephone in the world.

EZMail
ASP EZMail - Never again boot-up and log-onto the Internet just to check for email. Don't miss that timely email because you can't be at the office. With ASP's EZMail, you now have an answering machine linked to the Internet.

iCam
Perceptual Robotics, Inc. (PRI) develops and markets leading edge software and systems for live visual telepresence - the next best thing to being there. PRI's products, including iCam and iDirector, provide the premier live interactive video experience on the Internet. iCam gives web users the power to remotely control and zoom a camera to view people, events, or products with unprecedented clarity.

Netopia Virtual Office
Farallon's Netopia Virtual Office is the revolutionary new way to communicate and collaborate with anyone who has a Web browser! Netopia Virtual Office instantly transforms your PC into a collaborative Web office where you can work with others in real-time and exchange information. Your very own World Wide Web address gives visitors a universal way to meet you over the Internet or your corporate Intranet.

FaxStorm
FaxStorm is a powerful suite of services offered by NetCentric or your Internet Service Provider which allow you to send and receive faxes using your Internet connection.

• Point-to-Point Faxing - Send faxes to single recipients anywhere in the world from your Internet-connected PC.

• Broadcast Faxing - Use FaxStorm 2.0 to orchestrate your own broadcasts to dozens, hundreds, or thousands of recipients.

• FaxStorm Inbox - Receive faxes 24 hours a day, anywhere, anytime with just a web browser. It's as easy as picking up your email.