Posted by Pat Weiler on February 28, 1999 at 17:29:16:
Jerry: Your statements are not only valid, I feel that they are even very conservative. I would like to see real-time ICOC presentations over the internet, with pictures, of course. And ACOR-internet links.
1) Buying from home. Technology is not at the point where a discerning buyer can see accurate colors over the internet. I bought a baluch bag face that is much moodier in person than the internet pictures suggested. (I like it, but the interior decorator might throw a fit.
2) Hazara has the best rug web site for viewing virtually all the rugs in the store. I like e-bay because of the dynamic aspect of changing prices, rapid turnover and variety. (And originality in terminology, from "eyebrush" for abrash to describing the provenance of a rug as being "Afghan Turkish Persian prayer rug" It was Caucasian.)
3) Study of rugs is supplemented considerably by the web, but a good book with good color printing is going to be hard to duplicate.
The soon-to-be-available "plastic book" may change all this. It will be a flexible plastic computer screen that can be programmed to show up to 100 books, or be connected to the internet.
The next decade will change commerce, culture and computers beyond anything we can imagine.
See you in the future!
Pat Weiler