Push channel
Push technology was a prominent technology in 1997 since it was suggested that this would revolutionise the way people accessed the Internet. In fact, push tools have not superseded the ‘pull’ method of accessing information.
The idea behind ‘push’, is that rather than users having to search the web to find what they want, users can subscribe to specialist services that broadcast content they have indicated as being relevant to them. Options are available to personalise information to the individual (e.g. www.myyahoo.com). In practice, this process occurs in a similar manner to a conventional TV broadcast with a subscriber choosing from a number of channels. The content is hosted on a server acting as a transmitter which broadcasts information at intervals. Information is collected from the users computer, when they are not using it for other purposes; when a screensaver would normally be used. One of the leaders in Push tools is Pointcast (www.pointcast.com).