Here Are the Ideas; Where’s the Technology?
I spend most of my working hours thinking about computer technology. Once in awhile I get an idea for a new product or service, but because I’m a journalist and not an entrepreneur, I can’t really do much with the ideas. So, I’ve decided to start the 1990s by sharing some ideas. If anyone can do something with them, go for it. If it turns out that someone already has, enlighten me.
One of my gripes, now that we’re in the second decade of the information age, is that most institutions continue to deal with us as if paper and pencil are our only analytical tools. Take the phone bill. Every month, Pacific Bell and Cellular One (my car phone carrier) send me several pages of long-distance and message-unit calls organized chronologically. For it to be useful, I need that information sorted by phone number. If I could get my bill on a disk (or via modem), I could easily transfer it into a spreadsheet or database program to do my own sorting and accounting. It’s now possible to get your bank statement on line (using home banking services from a few enlightened institutions), but what about our bills? And I’m not just talking phone companies. I’d like them all in “machine readable” format: utilities, credit cards, you name it.
On the Road
Today’s cars have lots of electronic components. Most even have diagnostic computers under the hood and some have “electronic dashboards.” But the car’s data isn’t easily retrieved. Why not build a car with an optional floppy disk or serial port and maybe even a simple keyboard or touch pad? That way you could record mileage on business trips, keep track of the car’s performance and fuel usage. The Internal Revenue Service would be impressed and so would I.
And, instead of taking time off work to drive to the repair shop whenever there is a problem, you could insert the disk in your PC to upload the data and, in some situations, get an instant analysis of your problem and estimate of repair costs. Before the National Safety Council gets on my back, let me suggest that the keyboard be operational only while the car is standing still.
Why limit the concept to cars? Let’s put disk drives or serial ports on other devices. Like most Americans, I have a VCR. I actually know how to program mine, but it’s often not worth the hassle. First I have to look in the newspaper or TV Guide to see what’s on, then I have to go through an elaborate programming feat to get the information into the VCR. Sometimes I’ll make a mistake and tape the wrong program. Some VCR companies are building wands into their VCRs that can program the machines based on “universal product codes.” That would be a step in the right direction if the codes were published anywhere, but as far as I know, they’re not generally available.
Another solution would be for TV stations and cable companies to transmit their schedules as a constant flow of data. That could be done using a sideband, an unused area of the broadcast signal that is now used to carry such information as closed captions for the hearing impaired. If your VCR was attached to a computer, you could download a week’s worth of TV schedules to analyze any way you want. You could look for specific programs, programs that feature your favorite actor, or a type of program, such as news, situation comedy or full-length movie.
Your TV screen could then display a menu of programs that meet the criteria you entered. You would then use a keyboard, mouse or other pointing device to select the program you want to record.
In the short term, any of the on-line services such as CompuServe, GENIE or Prodigy could begin offering TV listings that, at the very least, could be loaded into a personal data base. That way, instead of reading the TV section cover to cover, you could use your computer to search for the shows you want to watch.
Backing Up Is Hard to Do
Everyone knows that it’s important to back up your files on a regular basis, but few people actually do it. Those who do typically copy files from their hard disk to floppies or some other media and store the copies in the same room as their computer. That’s fine if your hard disk crashes but what happens in the event of a fire, a major earthquake or a visit by a very thorough burglar? What I want is an on-line service that I call “Data Vault.” Using a high-speed modem and some compression techniques, it would be possible to create software that would automatically back up your hard disk to a central computer system located in some underground facility many miles from your home or office.
That facility, in turn, could back up its files to another computer--located in a different part of the world. Then, if there were a disaster, your files would be safe and easily retrieved. The software could be programmed to copy only data files that were changed since the last backup and the transmission could take place in the middle of the night, when phone rates are low. A service such as this could be made available to anyone--companies and individuals--for a reasonable fee but only if someone decides to take the plunge.
What are your suggestions? Although I’m not able to answer all my mail, I do read it for article ideas. So send me some. Unless of course you’d rather file them with the U.S. Patent Office.
For the record: Two weeks ago, I inadvertently wrote that all new Macintoshes can read and write 3 1/2-inch IBM diskettes. That’s not true for the bottom-of-the-line Macintosh Plus.
