🚀 go-pugleaf

I've talked with Jon York (President of Columbus Area Chamber of
Commerce, with Jeff Ritter (Columbus attorney most responsible for
bringing info-port to Columbus; thank you, Jeff), and with a bunch of
other people, and I've read the press packet from the original press
conference; I don't have much more idea of what info-port is than from
just reading the Dispatch articles (which I'd posted here).  

But I think there is a good reason for this vagueness.  Basically,
info-port is a 2-year franchise (Jon's phrase).  We in Columbus (and
the 13 other franchises) get to make of it what we can.  This is a
fantastic opportunity. My own feeling is that we can probably come up
with some nifty ideas, ideas that wouldn't be what the UN or some
other trade people might have come up with.  Darn, that's why they
picked this city!! (I hope.)  Maybe, we're not supposed to figure out
what *they* want; we're supposed to tell them what an info-port should
be.  (Whoever they and them are.)

So what do you think we should make of info-port?

Before you read the rest of my posting, spin out some ideas, build
some scenarios, think what would help your company grow, etc., etc.
Freewheel, brainstorm, whatever. Let me suggest we try to use the
usual rules for brainstorming -- no idea or suggestion is too crazy;
**no comments are to be made evaluating anyone else's proposal yet**
(evaluating postivitely or negatively) -- this is a very important
rule of brainstorming since it allows everyone to be creative. Sure,
some of the ideas won't stand up to close scrutiny; that's OK.  Use
your imagination and encourage others to do the same.  Spin off new
variations of my suggestions (below) and those of other people;
combine ideas, etc., etc.

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I envision info-port as including the following.  

Businesses that have products to sell or that wish to buy products
could connect via modem to a central computer and then use info files
and bulletin boards to make business connections.  Indeed, there might
be brokers on line who will serve as match-makers.  Bids and offers
might be anonymous or public.  There could also be sections supporting
sharing of information and expertise, much like Usenet. Once a match
is made there would be on-line support for formalizing the contract,
for locating a bank to handle currency exchange, for handling
invoicing, etc. (the kinds of things now labeled as Electronic Data
Interchange).  We'd need to link Columbus to existing international
business networks, such as DAS Net, etc. -- or Internet.

I also envision info-port as experimenting with integrated video,
data, and voice.

I also envision info-port as having at least some associated projects
that fail.  If there aren't some failures, we haven't been inventive
enough.

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OK.  Get crazy.