ANNOTATION

The new age of information society in Latvia has started with new, quite practical implementations of e-commerce, e-government, e-banking. Hopefully the e-document law could be accepted by the Parliament in autumn. Recently IT branch has been conferred a status of state priority. It means lowered taxis for IT companies, priority for IT education and even a cybercity in Valmiera. Recently the first international Internet conference has taken place in Riga and quite soon the exciting events of the great spring exhibition Baltic IT&T will start. Latvia is ready for e-age.

No doubt that recently one of the most significant IT events in Latvia is the so-called e-Saldus project. It is quite unique for Latvia as it is the first attempt to build a local area network for voice and data transmission connecting municipality of Saldus district with schools, libraries, museums, hospitals, ambulances and other municipality institutions. In all these objects a permanent/constant access to Internet, data interchanging, high quality fax and voice transmission are provided, but in the first place - there is now a unique possibility to build a common information system of the district. At present only the first stage of the project has been completed connecting 9 municipality institutions in the network. Till the end of the year the amount of connections will increase to 81.
This project serves very well also for the local inhabitants. There are several information centres and the so-called one-stop-agency opened, but in Brocēni library there is a possibility for every local inhabitant to work in Internet for a quite symbolic cost - just 15 santimes for an hour. There will also be a possibility to educate local computer professionals and network administrators in Saldus technical school since September.

According to the data collected by Latvian Internet Association there were 7,8 per cent Internet users in last year and among them just a bit more than 1 per cent of private persons using Internet at home, the others - in office. These results depend both on ability (or inability) to pay for an Internet service as well as on amount and spreading of computers in Latvia. According to the data of Internet Association last year computer density in Latvia was about 10-12 per cent, but due to consequent lowering of Internet service prices this amount is constantly and quite quickly growing.

To answer this question one must know more about the competitor of traditional TV - video via Internet or Internet TV. The advantages of Internet TV are: extremely rich content, interactivity as well as much bigger flexibility in choosing the most comfortable place for watching video. One of the most convincing interactivity solutions is the so-called Clickable video that can provide the most dynamic and thrilling real time interactivity with any Internet programme. One can choose any personalised and preferable piece of news or any other content (to watch it at once or save for any other time) as well as click on display to take active part in an real time game, auction etc.
Though there are some special programmes, favourite TV faces or other preferences of traditional TV, the best solution could be joining the forces and taking the best features from both - traditional and Internet TV. Neither traditional TV nor Internet TV cannot do without computer processing, various special video effects and other necessary things provided by AVID Xpress DV system.

Lattelekom has recently started to offer a new service - a specially arranged computer centre. It is a good opportunity for those business customers which have to keep their servers in a remote and extremely safe place. Special security conditions are guaranteed both by physical safety (reliable construction of the building, metallic boxes for keeping servers, armed guards) as well as electronic security systems and individual electronic keys for every customer. Access to the computer centre is remotely controlled round the clock by Network Management Centre of Lattelekom. There are also optimal air and temperature conditions in the computer centre and especially safe uninterruptible power supply guaranteed by several power supply systems.

One of tendencies of the present time is to turn traditional things upside down in order to change or modernise their very essence. One of very contemporary means to do it is holography. German engineers have developed a special screen with integrated thin holographic film HoloPro that creates a very real, three-dimensional effect that can be used in movies. The holographic screen is quite transparent - like a window glass, therefore, when the projector is activated, it might seem that a tiger from the movie is really a few metres from you and you have to protect yourself from being torn into pieces. Quite similar effect may be reached in holographic video conference with your business partner when after a successful deal you want to shake hands with him.