The prodigious use of the Internet for leisure activities is attendant on the ability of internet appliances to combine content, commerce and advertising with applications while delivering both internet and intranet access to the consumer.
This is the view of Alan Levin, Executive, Product Research and Development for Intekom, leading information communications technology specialist.
"Market research conducted in the US has shown that internet appliances promise to widen access to the Internet including the PC illiterate, and broaden its scope for leisure activities" Levin said.
The catalyst for this growth is the emergence of devices such as hand held PCs and TV to Web connection boxes and smart phones.
"TV and portable access will increase the availability of the Internet and will mean more than one device per household. Web on TV for kids and the elderly, for example, will also stimulate demand for entertainment over the internet.
Games are a major source of leisure activity on the internet and online gaming extends from backgammon to Quake, and like any other social interaction, the internet is built for interactivity.
"One no longer needs a PC or a partner to play on the internet," Levin said.
"Game consoles such as Sony Play-Station and Nintendo 64`s connect to the internet and are forecasted to be one of the main growth areas of internet devices. If users don`t have a computer, they can now buy a thin client (a box that connects to a TV) and use the internet via the TV set.
Mobile devices such as palmtop computers may also be used to access all the online information required- or to send emails.
"Although screen-phones (telephones with screens) are not seen to account for major growth, they too are already available in South Africa," Levin added.
While these devices are making it easier and easier to connect to the net. South Africa has its own particular dynamics. Recent figures announced by Media Africa indicate that the number of dial-ups users had increased from 154 000 last year- mainly consumers using the Internet from home - to 240 000 by March this year. Including corporate users, the total in South Africa is 600 000 that access the web, say the researchers.
"The Department of Communications' efforts to stimulate the growth of the internet then need to be sustained by banks, shops, sports publishers and broadcasters to move it from gimmick status to a part of everyday life," Levin said.
Internationally sites are gearing up to appeal to the interests of the leisure user. Yahoo, for example, was one of the first search engines - a place that people use to find things on the internet. What began in April 94 as an academic project, was converted a few months later as a serious source of public information receiving around five requests per second. Today Yahoo! is the preferred place where internet users start their Web experience. To remain this, it has transformed itself into what is called a portal.
The portals offer much more than just a search window. Their offerings include a customised page, which has everything that you want to know about current stock prices (and your personal portfolio), news - be it general or sports, weather, top box office movies, music, new releases, lottery results, horoscopes, shopping tips, currency converters and web site trackers and more.
In South Africa the most successful leisure sites are those focused at travel and other unique local strengths. For example the Enchanted Guest House in Bantry Bay now receives at least two new guests per month solely through their Web site (http://enchanted.co.za). This has also caused a stream of start-up `web site companies` that charge hotels and other accommodation venues without delivering any associated value.
Other leisure and entertainment - oriented companies, such as SARFU merchandising and One World CDs, have benefited from this international network. They sell their South African unique products to international customers that cannot buy them locally through the African online shopping mall.
Through the African online shopping mall - http://www.twooceans.co.za, one can also find an abundance of African products including books and jewellery.
"We have entered the information age and we are only starting to explore its vast mindscape," Levin said.
Share
Editorial contacts