MIS
Most people think of Management Information System or Manager of Information Systems  when they see MIS.  According to a recent survey, a better definition might be "Manager of Increasing Stress."  A study conducted for Sequent Computer Systems, asked 500 information systems managers from the U.S. and U.K. how stress from their job affected their personal life.  65% reported that the rising stress at work is having a negative impact on their life.  The respondents listed the rapid pace of change, inability to find qualified employees and failing projects as major sources of stress.  The future doesn't look any better.  95% said that they expect their department's data volume to double in the near future. (Sources:  Computerworld, 12/15/97; InfoWorld 1/5/98 and PC Week 1/12/98.)

FCC
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is considering whether or not to reclassify internet service providers (ISP) as telecommunication carriers. This change in classification would require ISPs to pay a share of the costs currently paid by phone companies for supplying universal telecommunication services throughout the country.  The regional phone companies have argued that the ISPs should share the costs of maintaining the local public telephone network given the burden that the internet traffic has placed on the phone system.  The FCC is expected report to Congress on this issue by April 10.  More information can be found at: www.fcc.gov (Source:  InfoWorld, 1/19/98.)

PERSONAL COMPUTER SALES
The market for personal computers in the U.S. increased 19% in 1997 according to the research firm International Data Corporation.  Compaq, Hewlett Packard and Dell continued to increase their share of the market at the expense of Packard-Bell and Apple.  Apple's market share dropped to 3% in the fourth quarter of 1997.  One segment of the market that saw significant growth was the PCs costing under US$1000.  These low cost PCs now account for 40% of the PCs sold for the home market.  (Source:  Wall Street Journal, 1/26/98.)

WEB SITE OF THE MONTH
Interested in learned more about a specific virus--a computer virus that is?  If so, Symantec has the site for you.  Symantec, the maker of Norton Anti-virus, has an on-line directory of over 10,000 viruses and a description for each one.  The site also includes information about the virus hoaxes going around the Web.  The site is located at: www.symantec.com/avcenter/vinfodb.html (Source:  Computerworld, 12/15/97).
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Technology Tidbits is published monthly by Jerry Price, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
© 1998 Jerry W. Price

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