Information Superhighway

If you think the phrase "gopher with Veronica" sounds a little weird, consider the source: it's computer-nerd terminology. For the common man, woman, and child, learning how to operate a computer or run a program is the easy part. The hard part is reading the instructions, which are invariably written in computerese--a quasi-language that sounds more like Star Trek dialogue than the King's English. Now that we've finally gotten the hang of bits, bytes, DOS, Windows, and CD-ROM, along comes the Internet with its TCP/IP, FTP, Telnet, Gopher, and...the nightmare begins again. Some reassurance can be had by watching Information Superhighway, a new program which introduces viewers to the larger freeways and four-leaf clover interchanges along the Internet. Viewers will learn about the main services available on the "net": e-mail, world wide research capabilities, serious philosophical discussions about Madonna's bellybutton, and more. Aimed at the PC novice, the video explains in simple layperson's terms the various connect options, and interviews people who use the Internet for business, pleasure and homework. It was the 5th-grader Connor Philips doing his homework by accessing databases in remote lands that finally did it for me. If Connor can do it, then by jeepers so can I (unless, of course, the tape left out vital info, like maybe Connor has an I.Q. of 194). Information Superhighway could have been more comprehensive, but as an intro it's solid and sure to be popular. Recommended. (R. Pitman)