How important is the Internet in our personal lives?

This column does not have a single author, but is submitted by a number of experts that contribute regularly to our news source.  Some are in Canada, some in the UK and one is in the far east

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Lots of people are not just email receivers and senders, they use the Internet Internationally to do work or study.  Any interruption in service is a serious problem for serious users.

Yes, they understand storms and power outages, but they don't understand service breaks due to lack of technical support.  The support should be 24/7.

The Saugeen and Kincardine area are ahead of the game with multiple sources for high speed internet service.  It's not just important for people who work out of their home, it's vital to attract high technology business to the area. 

Recently we've visited some very sophisticated small companies whose business is based totally upon the Internet to support them.

More and more people are able to work from their homes.  This means that they rarely have to appear in person.

To attract High Technology business, you have to have four things:

• Access to international transportation
• Pleasant surroundings
• Reliable high speed Internet
• Good schools and cultural events.

Our area has good transportation to an International Airport even though it is quite a way away.

We certainly have pleasant surroundings with all kinds of recreational opportunities.

08/11/2009 06:32 PM

We are moving toward having good high speed internet connections that are reliable and well serviced.  Service outages due to lack service people 24/7 needs to be overcome.

We have great cultural events with something to do almost every night.  Our schools need some attention.  Parents buy homes in areas with good schools.   Business owners set up in areas that they feel their employees will like.

We can never compete with areas that have large universities nearby, but with distance education becoming  more available, we can do quite well.  Distance education is based upon the Internet.  You can now take University degrees via the Internet from as far away as England.

The big change in our area has been the introduction of home wireless.  It's way ahead of business use.  More and more people are expecting wireless service in places where they eat or do business.  They especially want good service in public buildings.  Bruce County needs to take heed of this.

If you go to high technology areas, you will find that wireless is pervasive.  Airports are full of wireless access points.

If you do any traveling, you will note that hotels have Internet access.  They cannot attract customers without it.

New homes should be constructed with the high speed connection leading to a hub as high as possible so that wireless can be broadcast in a 'cone'

If you work from your home or do volunteer work, you'll acknowledge that you cannot do without the Internet anymore.  Friends who do not have it are a strain on organized communication.

Children need access more and more now due to the way subjects are taught in our schools.  Without a home computer and the Internet, children are severally handicapped.