This Week's Herman Trend Alert Purpose Emerging as Important Driver of Engagement

The Herman Trend Alert February 24,1999 Geo-Cyber Communities Over the years, we've lost much of the sense of community in our neighbor- hoods. After people have worked long hours on their jobs, they yearn for the quiet of their homes . . . their fortresses. Planners, architects, and developers have created environments where people can enjoy their privacy, but often at the expense of neighborliness. And now that so many of us have developed close relationships with our televisions and computers, there's even less communication with other families who happen to live nearby. A new concept, exemplified by the recently-announced planned mega- community under development in James City County, Virginia. The new community, named Stonehouse, has established an alliance with Cox Communications to link residents and businesses with a multi-faceted network that will foster a sort of cyber-community within the geographic community. Cox will outfit every new home in the development with high-bandwidth cable systems. The hope is that the connections will allow residents to tap into the latest and greatest technology, helping to create an "esprit de corps" within the town as well. If residents choose to buy all of Cox's high-bandwidth service, they will have access to a bevy of services: more than 200 cable TV and digital music stations, toll-free local phone service from Richmond to Virginia Beach, internet service via cable modem, which offers much faster connections than dial-up modems. Moreover, the service will make the homes ready to become "smart houses" —where even appliances can be connected to the Internet for remote diagnosis of problems. You keep an eye on your child using a high-speed Internet connection with a camera set up at the neighborhood day-care center. Play the latest computer game with a friend on the other side of town, who also has a speedy Net connection. And from your home, you can reserve a book at the local library, or order a pizza. Cox will establish Stonehouse Neighborhood News Network, or SNNN—an intranet, closed off to the outside by a "firewall." SNNN will have bulletin boards, community news, video conferencing, games and anything else residents dream up. Technology will enable greater "community." © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." WHO SENDS OUT YOUR NEWSLETTERS? We are convinced there is no better choice than ours! We have happily used DataBack Systems to deliver The Herman Trend Alert for over 10 years and. Visit their website (http://www.databack.com) or call Byron directly at 503.941.0427. You'll be glad you did. IS YOUR EMPLOYER AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE®? Our effective, onsite seminars, workshops, and consulting can help you get there. We offer 1-, 2-, 3-hour, and full-day programs to help you communicate what it takes to become an Employer of Choice® and inspire your folks to get it done. In the future, being an Employer of Choice® will not be optional. Call Carol at 336-210-3547 to arrange a no-obligation conference call. Or order the electronic version of the Employer of Choice book on your desktop for only $17.80 @ http://hermangroup.com/store/books_all.html#2. STRUGGLING TO FIND THE PEOPLE YOU NEED? VETJOBS CAN HELP! Recently, hundreds of thousands of jobs remain unfilled due to a lack of capable people. If you are looking for qualified candidates, you need to hire a veteran using VFW-sponsored VetJobs, the largest military employment site on the Internet. Thousands of returning veterans are looking for good jobs now. Mention this ad in The Herman Trend Alert and receive a 10% discount on job postings. Call Ted Daywalt at 877-838-5627 or inquire at info@VetJobs.com. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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