By Alissa Arford-Leyl
Shop Site of the Month
Great Plains Auto Body - Omaha, Neb.
www.greatplainsautobody.com
This site has a unique design and is easy to navigate through the
comprehensive sections.
Web Wise
Mobile Communications Systems
Laptops and Palm Pilots are considered normal mobile communication systems, but the newest technology may soon allow you to connect to the Internet via in-car communication systems using wireless application protocol (WAP).
You may have seen commercials for the latest digital phones that connect to the Internet using WAP. You may have also wondered, How can you surf the Web using a screen that's only a few inches wide? Devices that use WAP are only able to access Web sites that offer information in wireless markup language (WML) formats. WML, previously called handheld devices markup language (HDML), is a text-only format. For WAP to really catch on, content providers would have to maintain their Web sites in both the normal hypertext markup language (HTML) format and the new WAP format so all users can access their information.
As it is now, WAP technology is designed to allow you to check weather reports, stock quotes and other basic information while you're away from your primary computer. Special features include voice activation and voice recorders.
Proposed in-car communication systems would be more intricate, enabling you to send e-mail and faxes, get traffic reports and directions or other travel-related information directly from your car. Aside from gathering and sending information, entertainment features could include the ability to play videos, music and games. The screen may be smaller than a normal 15-inch monitor and the connection speed slower, but it would give you access to the information you need while you're on the road.
Predictions are that this technology will be standard equipment in vehicles within the next decade. If the technology progresses as planned, in-car communication systems will be sold to car manufacturers and the automotive aftermarket in the next few years.
Net Numbers
Seven million Internet users will make their first online purchases this year.
More than 17 million households will be shopping online by the end of 1999.
Source: Forrester Research, September 1999
( http://www.forrester.com )
ASA Web Ways
AutoInc.'s NACE Online Daily News Becomes Official
This year the fourth annual NACE Online Daily News will be the official online publication of the 1999 International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE). Daily stories about speakers, attendees, classes and all exhibition events will be published at the new AutoInc. Web site (http://www.autoinc.org).
AutoInc. will be reporting live from the exhibition floor each day, so be sure to stop by the ASA booth (No. 1810) to play the daily contests and to pick up your official NACE '99 pin. If you won't be attending NACE you can still take part in the contests and read about what's happening in Atlanta at the World's Largest Collision Repair Event!
You can also access the NACE Online Daily News via the ASA Web site (http://www.asashop.org) and the NACE Web site (http://www.NACE-99.com). Pre-show coverage is online now.
Note: Web sites listed in Net Worth do not serve as endorsements of the sites themselves or of any companies or products associated with these sites. In addition, ASA does not verify the factual accuracy and does not necessarily share the opinions expressed by those within these other sites.
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