The information superhighway and private households

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The rapid developments in information technology (IT) are expected to continue, with new application areas emerging. Historically, IT usage has focused on business and public administration; however, future advancements will increasingly target private households. This shift indicates a significant market dynamic, as forecasts suggest that by 1996, private households will surpass business and public administration in sales potential for home computers. Despite the widespread presence of PCs in homes, the significance of IT in private households has been underestimated by both business and academia. Some projects within the ESPRIT framework have explored home networks, and various experiments with interactive television are underway in Asia, Europe, and America. Additionally, the growth of the Internet and commercial online services highlights the rising importance of IT applications in the private sector. This burgeoning area, attracting more business interest, necessitates dedicated research efforts to explore its potential fully.