BOTTLENECK BUSTER

The finish line is in sight in the decade-long marathon for technology's Holy Grail, -- Fast Data Access.

How would you like to receive your Web images 30 times faster than you do today? And how would you like to receive them on the same phone line as your voice calls? A consortium of industry big names says it will be possible by the end of this year. The computer industry's Big Three -- Microsoft, Intel, and Compaq Computer -- plus most of the major USA telephone companies, say they can. According to an article in the New York Times, the consortium plans to distribute a new chip developed by a research firm, Aware, of Bedford, Ma.

Slow modem speed has always been the primary bottleneck for Web and Internet users. If the high speed modem works, we can expect photobuyers to start using their computers to view and edit your photos. You'd send your photo submissions not by FedEx, not by US Mail, not via your Web site, but by videophone. Incidentally, the video phone was invented in 1942, but because of slow telephone speed, hasn't until now been considered a practical tool. -RE