CDROM: hypes and hopes for the rest of the century Available to Purchase

The CDROM industry is surrounded by hype. Many believe that it will be the panacea for information storage and delivery. Others predict that it will disappear as online systems and services become increasingly prevalent. The most‐likely scenario — at least for the rest of the century — is peaceful co‐existence and some convergence of the two technologies. CDROM technology and applications will strive for years to come. This keynote address reviews the most current and the likely future developments in the areas of CDROM database contents, software, hardware and marketing.