Although businesses are often reluctant to acknowledge it, much of today's computer technology — including microcomputers themselves — originated as products designed for non-business uses. The earliest mass-produced microcomputers, such as Tandy's TRS-80 (affectionately known to its fans as the "Trash" 80), Commodore's Vic 20 and Texas Instruments' TI 99/4A, were created as playthings for electronic hobbyists. Even the Internet, which has managed to insinuate itself into nearly every aspect of business life, was originally considered little more than an ambitious scientific bulletin board system cross-wired to survive an atomic attack.

In fact, far from "trickling down" from business applications to consumer uses, most of the significant technological advances in microcomputing have trickled up. Take the matter of online communication. Businesses are beginning to realize the potential of Instant Messaging and Web cams — applications consumers have used for years.

Whether devoted to motorcycles or Mozart, it is rare to find a special interest Web site these days that doesn't allow subscribers to join in "chat" sessions. In a "chat room," participants type messages in real time that simultaneously appear on the monitors of the other chat room members, thus establishing a dialogue. In fact, online chat rooms have become so popular that some are getting gridlocked as large numbers of participants attempt to express their views simultaneously.

However, companies are discovering that if you limit the number of participants to a manageable level and add industrial-strength security, chat groups — re-named "Instant Messaging" by corporate users — are a useful tool. Unlike teleconferencing, which can run up exorbitant telephone charges if members are scattered over a wide geographic area, IM requires nothing more than access to a modem and a computer plus the Internet, an Intranet or LAN. Properly utilized, IM is ideally suited for such niches as enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management. IM software of the future is expected to incorporate audio, and possibly even video.

Web cams have adorned the desktops of the computer literate for years. In fact, unless you're a newcomer to "surfing" the Web you have undoubtedly encountered Web cams displaying everything from traffic conditions in downtown Wichita to the soft drink dispenser on the campus at MIT. Although companies have used broadcast-quality videoconferencing for decades, its stratospheric price has limited corporate use to epic productions such as new product introductions, press conferences and shareholder meetings.

Still, companies are discovering that Web cams costing less than $100 apiece can permit "face-to-face" meetings between individuals located around the world. Depending upon the bandwidth of the connection being used, image quality varies enormously. At worst, images resemble the pictures beamed back to earth of Neil Armstrong's first walk on the moon. At best they can approximate amateur video. Regardless of image quality, the visual impact of seeing the person on the other end of the wire is a decided advantage, particularly when "virtual meetings" form a vital link in a company's marketing and customer relations efforts.

But even if you don't have IM or a Web cam, you can still send your comments and/or suggestions to harper.d@att.net.