Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!TAURUS.BITNET!zifrony From: zifrony@TAURUS.BITNET Newsgroups: comp.society.futures Subject: Re: National Computer Net: Request for Information Message-ID: <8904280956.AA19352@s4.Tau.Ac.IL> Date: 28 Apr 89 09:56:29 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Reply-To: Organization: The Internet Lines: 38 I am sorry, I cannot contribute any references on this subject. However, as the poster requested the opinion of people belonging to this mailing list, I contribute mine. I am all in favour of wide-spread electronic mail, reaching any home in the world, or at least in the more developed nations. I think the network should be international, and it should link all the countries ready for it techno- logically wise. These include, at lease, north america, western europe, east asia and the middle east. Of course, regular mail will still exist. One still have to send checques, parcels, newspapers, magazines, etc. I think the mass usage of electronic mail, this way, will decrease its usage price, so it could be not higher than, and even lower than regular mail price. I think the postal service will reduce, and the saved costs will reduce the price of electronic mail. As a user of electronic mail, I feel much better using this mailing scheme. It is much faster and efficient than regular mail. You don't have to go to the post office to buy stamps, and you are fairly sure that what you have sent is received. Of course, there is yet no provission for registered mail, although it could be supplied. Special delivery (or express) will not be needed any more, as the regular electronic mail is fast enough. However, one must take the security issue into consideration. I think most people will feel reluctant to use electronic mail for private and confidentail mail, as it is more vulnerable to attacks by people wishing to intercept it. -- Doron Zifrony E-mail: BITNET: zifrony@taurus.bitnet Msc. Student INTERNET: zifrony@Math.Tau.Ac.IL Dept. of CS ARPA: zifrony%taurus.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu Tel Aviv Univ. UUCP: ...!uunet!mcvax!humus!taurus!zifrony Israel CSNET: zifrony%taurus.bitnet%cunyvm.cuny.edu@ csnet-relay -- Disclaimer: I DON'T represent Tel Aviv University. The opinions hereby expressed are solely my own.