Computer technology, electronic business, or at least talk about electronic commerce -- has gone mainstream. Interest in the Internet, in computers, and in electronic commerce has created a demand for more information.

In response, the media is attempting to cater to the growing demand for information about computer technology with special sections and features geared for ordinary folk. Of course the media is also attempting to cash in by attracting the advertising that goes with these pages. The recent effort is a somewhat belated effort as editors began realising that stories about computer technology and the Internet were swamping the business sections.

The business pages of newspapers are full about stories of electronic commerce entrepreneurs. Advice on how to transform your business comes easy. The Dallas Morning News, for example, has a weekly section called "Personal Technology'' devoted to all things about computers, and inevitably the Internet and business on the Internet.

USA Today ran a feature two weeks ago on the experiences of reporter Lorrie Grant who "has lived on line since March 8'', using the Internet for shopping, working, banking and other activities. She was chosen for the job because she had not used the Internet before so had to go through a steep learning curve.

"So what about the possibility of living on line?'', Ms Grant asked at the end of her initial article. "The answer, at this time, is not fully. While the Internet can fulfil many needs, it is not yet a part of every facet of life.'' After her initial report Ms Grant is now spending the rest of her time answering readers' questions, which are printed in the technology department of the newspaper's "Money'' section.

Ultimately, the exercise was a bit of fakery. The premise should not have been whether one can fully live online. No one expected the telephone to replace daily living and interaction. The premise of the article should have been whether the Internet -- and computers -- provides a convenient service which improves the quality of life. In my case the answer is an emphatic "Yes''.

The Internet has vastly expanded the range of choices we have. The computer network gives one an alternative means of shopping and communication. It has also brought a vast amount of information to the desktop.

Another example of the attempt to cash in on the demand for technology information is the launch by BusinessWeek on March 22 of a quarterly supplement called "e.biz'' devoted entirely to electronic commerce. The magazine promoted the supplement with the feature entitled "E-business: What Every CEO Needs to Know''.

I don't think the supplement got the tone quite right. "Shocking! Few CEOs are Web-Literate'' was the revelation the supplement claimed to reveal to the world in a tone reminiscent of the National Enquirer and its ilk.

"For our debut issue, the Business Week team interviewed more than 275 experts on the front lines of E-business,'' managing editor Kathy Rebello stated. "The result is a Top 10 Must-dos for any CEO -- or CEO wannabe -- who wants to thrive in the Internet Era.'' The magazine advises executives they'll have to reengineer the company (yet again), "throw out the old business model'' (I hear a consultant), cater to the buyer (the provide service mantra), provide service (the provide service mantra), outsource jobs, build a good web site, provide an interactive site (build a good web site), follow the money (keep an eye on the competition), be a nerd and "log on boss'' (get on the Internet).

This is the stuff a reputable business magazine is pandering these days. In all a poor first showing by a supplement that is attempting to find its audience.

I suspect Business Week is eventually looking to eventually build the supplement into a separate publication. In conjunction with the supplement the magazine has launched a Web site at ebiz.businessweek.com, a free area with regular features on doing business on the Internet.

And then there's "Selling Online for Dummies,'' (IDG Books, $24.99), written by Leslie Lundquist. The author has already conceded that new versions of software for creating Web pages has already made the book "slightly'' out of date.

"But information on getting a domain name, setting up a Web server, creating content and accepting payments is current,'' according to a news release.

Ms Lundquist is now thinking of setting up a central clearing house to tell small- and medium-size businesses how to conduct business on the Web. She also suggests other information sources such as E-Business Advisor magazine (www.advisor.com), Internet World (www. internetworld.com), CommerceNet (www.commerce.net), and the Centre for Software Development in San Jose (www.

center.org).

An American Management Association survey shows more firms are snooping on their employees' E-mail, computer files and phone calls. Electronic monitoring rose to 45 percent from 35 percent in 1997 of firms in the survey. Of the firms that survey employees, only 85 percent inform their workers.

PC Data has reported that sales of virus-detection software rose 67 percent during the week of the Melissa computer virus scare.

Tech Tattle is about issues in technology. Contact Ahmed at 295-5881 ext. 248, or 238-3854, or techtattle ygazette.newsmedia.bm.