Last updated:Tuesday, March 11, 1997, 8:30 a.m.
Frames:Disable | Enable

You don't have to be old to work in the tech industry. A teenager, working out of his bedroom, came up with new microchip printing technique and scored a $40,000 scholarship.

You don't have to wear a pocket protector, either. Hedy Lamarr, for instance, the "most beautiful girl in the world," has a pretty brilliant mind. She was the idea person behind the technology that underlies cell phones.

If you build it, you have to maintain it. There's a lot of digital debris on the web at the moment, as people abandon sites they built in a rush of enthusiasm.

'Fess up: You've wasted many an hour surfing the Net on your employer's dime. You thought that would go on forever? Not. Companies are starting to monitor Net use at work. (Hint: Avoid those porn sites.)

Cambodia gets ready for its first digital mobile cell phone services with a ceremony Tuesday.

Vietnam is edging into cyberspace. It's begun to set up some rules for how Internet access will be controlled.

More than 80 percent of AOL's users chose the $19.95 plan, documents from a lawsuit in Florida reveal.

What to expect from next year's Net? Try rich, active content. Secure, authenticated mail. Controlled discussion. Active lookup features. Open scheduling.

NC compatibility is the aim of Sun, Oracle, IBM and Netscape as they today announce plans to make sure NCs from one vendor will work with software and systems from the other.

Don't take that road-warrior mentality too seriously. An insurance industry report says that laptop damages are on the rise. Laptops are also seven times more likely to be stolen than desktop PCs.

Push technology players will see a tightening up of the market in the coming year, IDC research says. Keys to success include a business (not consumer) focus, competency in software distribution, and quick access to capital.

Explorers should be early, and Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 is, but it looks like Windows 97 may turn into Win 97 1/2.

Direct swipe from our cyber-columnist David Plotnikoff: This may be old hat for old hands on the Net, but it's still a kick to check into how fast the Net's moving at any given time. Go ahead -- wow your co-workers with the latest report.