what I want.

*Interview of August 30, 2000

= What has happened since our last interview?

The explosion of mobile technology. The mobile phone has become for many people,
including me, the personal communicator which allows you to be anywhere anytime
and still be reachable. But the mobile Internet is still a dream. The new
services on mobile (GSM) phones are extremely primitive and expensive (WAP =
Wait and Pay). See my article about Finland (in French).

= How do you see the growth of a multilingual Web?

Multilingualism has expanded greatly. Many e-commerce websites are multilingual
now and there are companies that sell products which make localization possible
(adaptation of websites to national markets).

= What do you think about e-books?

I have a hard time believing people would want to read from a screen. I much
prefer myself to read and touch a real book.

= What is your definition of cyberspace?

Our virtual space. The area of digital information (bits, not atoms). It is a
limited space when you think of the spectrum. It has to be administered well so
all the earth's people can use it and benefit from it (eliminate the digital
divide).

= And your definition of the information society?

The people who already use cyberspace in their daily lives to such an extent
that it is hard to imagine living without it (the other side of the divide).

*Interview of July 8, 2001

= What has happened since our last interview?

All I can come up with is the tremendous change I am experiencing with having a
"broadband" connection at home. To be connected at all times is so completelely
different from dial-up.

I now receive e-mail as soon as it arrives, I can listen to my favorite radio
stations wherever they are. I can listen to the news when I want to. Get the
music I like all the time.

Today for instance, I heared the comments and saw the score board of Wimbledon
tennis in real time. The only thing which is missing is good quality real time
video. The bandwidth is too low for that.

I now have a wired and a wireless LAN (local area network) in my home. I can use
my laptop anywhere in the house and outside, even at the neighbors and still
being connected. With the same technology I am now able to use my wireless LAN
card in my computer when I travel. For instance during my recent visit to
Stockholm there was connectivity in the Hotel, the Conference center, the
airport and even in the Irish Pub!

MU