"Push this!", "Push that!" has been filling the media recently and if you haven't noticed then WAKE UP!

Here at j-dom we've noticed and we're worried. Companies such as PointCast are already getting widespread use and they've just signed a deal with Microsoft for the inclusion of their software in Active Desktop. Other companies such as Castanet's Marimba are using similar paradigms. Even Wired has gone push mad!

So what is push media? Basically you download a client program which acts like a screensaver. You say what interests you have and then you are sent news and information from a server as and when it arrives down the satellite feed. Also it usually updates when your computer isn't being actively used. What you are actually sent is a non-interactive broadcast of old-style Reuters news formatted in a restrictive way (the screen saver client restricts layout) which can have hyperlinks.

If you think this sounds awfully like TV then you're right! That's because all PointCast and its competitors are really doing is putting cable news onto the Net. Can you imagine Joe Bloggs leaving his computer connected to the Net via a 28.8 modem so that information can trickle down when his isn't in? And think of the phone bill! Why not just switch on Sky News or CNN? Or just listen to the radio?

But wait, there's more. See Part 2.

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