That's nothing for Microsoft - recall a little more than ten years ago they spent $300 million to trumpet the arrival of Windows 95 - creating a media blitz to make sure EVERYONE knew it was coming. And consider this: Microsoft XP cost more than twice what Windows 95 did, and it's likely more computers will be using Vista. The end result if this is ALL they are spending: more bang for their buck.
They are less relying on trying to make Microsoft a household name and more push the newer product in contrast to ten years ago when they were still trying to bring Microsoft mainstream.
The point is -
It's not only you putting your own name on websites YOU control, it's everyone else who mentions your name on their website -
Employers, friends, enemies, yellow or white pages, clubs and organizations you may belong to, forums, chatrooms, IRC logs, blogs, blog comments, guestbooks...
The point is that restricting others' access to information about you is only possible to a certain degree.
The best way to control it isn't to give your real name out on the internet if you don't have to and be aware of where your name is. Certain organizations publish member lists; if your name appears on a web-accessible membership list and you don't want it there the best way is to notify the webmaster of that site.
I, as I know other webmasters were, tried doing this in the 90s. Because of the lesser availability of broadband technology back then, however, it didn't really take off.
Now that broadband technology is here, my opinion remains the same as it was back then: voice is inappropriate in many situations. There is that new company that I have come across many times touting a flash app that puts a talking head on your site. To most webmasters, it's just another useless tool to add something to their site for the sake of adding one because "it's easy." However, it can easily become an annoyance much like animated gifs were in the early days of the Internet (I admit it; I used them!)
It has its place - but it should be used sparingly and in only very appropriate situations.
I am a big supporter of technology in our school systems - it only makes sense to acquaint kids - to some degree- with what technology is available.
However, as per useless technology like this: the focus needs to be taken AWAY from trying to substitute real teaching with toys like this.
Plus it's expensive and I wouldn't want my kid taking a $99 pen to school - When I was that age it was hard to keep track of a pencil.
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That's nothing for Microsoft - recall a little more than ten years ago they spent $300 million to trumpet the arrival of Windows 95 - creating a media blitz to make sure EVERYONE knew it was coming. And consider this: Microsoft XP cost more than twice what Windows 95 did, and it's likely more computers will be using Vista. The end result if this is ALL they are spending: more bang for their buck.
They are less relying on trying to make Microsoft a household name and more push the newer product in contrast to ten years ago when they were still trying to bring Microsoft mainstream.
The point is - It's not only you putting your own name on websites YOU control, it's everyone else who mentions your name on their website - Employers, friends, enemies, yellow or white pages, clubs and organizations you may belong to, forums, chatrooms, IRC logs, blogs, blog comments, guestbooks... The point is that restricting others' access to information about you is only possible to a certain degree. The best way to control it isn't to give your real name out on the internet if you don't have to and be aware of where your name is. Certain organizations publish member lists; if your name appears on a web-accessible membership list and you don't want it there the best way is to notify the webmaster of that site.
I agree. This isn't a new idea -
I, as I know other webmasters were, tried doing this in the 90s. Because of the lesser availability of broadband technology back then, however, it didn't really take off.
Now that broadband technology is here, my opinion remains the same as it was back then: voice is inappropriate in many situations. There is that new company that I have come across many times touting a flash app that puts a talking head on your site. To most webmasters, it's just another useless tool to add something to their site for the sake of adding one because "it's easy." However, it can easily become an annoyance much like animated gifs were in the early days of the Internet (I admit it; I used them!)
It has its place - but it should be used sparingly and in only very appropriate situations.
I am a big supporter of technology in our school systems - it only makes sense to acquaint kids - to some degree- with what technology is available. However, as per useless technology like this: the focus needs to be taken AWAY from trying to substitute real teaching with toys like this. Plus it's expensive and I wouldn't want my kid taking a $99 pen to school - When I was that age it was hard to keep track of a pencil.