Gambling Is Just As Addictive As Many Other Vices
German researchers say that gambling is just as addictive as narcotic drugs, smoking and drinking, according to a recent issue of "Biological Psychiatry." Basing their claim on a study of hormonal levels in men playing blackjack, the researchers say there is a physical link to gambling addiction. Researchers at the University of Bremen brought in 10 gamblers and, after having them play blackjack using money and for points, compared their heart rates and the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in their saliva. During real money play, the researchers found, the gamblers had higher heart rates and cortisol concentrations. The German researchers remain cautious, but believe these results indicate that gambling is truly addictive, and cite gamblers' admissions to feeling "euphoric" or "thrilled" while playing -- indicating an increased presence of dopamine in their brain. "The theory behind addiction is that if you consume an addictive
substance, more dopamine is released than normal, and this is what happens when people consume drugs or alcohol," a researcher told New Scientist magazine. "When people gamble, they say they feel this euphoria through a behavioral surrogate. Cortisol may contribute to such mood alterations."
WAP - Big or Not?
Considered one of the biggest tools on the horizon, WAP (wireless application protocol) may not be quite the wonder product many proclaimed. In Financial Times last week, it was reported that less than one in 50
adults in the U.K. actually use their wireless phones to access the Internet - despite the avalanche of advertising encouraging the users online. "The operators have hyped up expectations beyond what their
networks and content can deliver," Steve Ives, CEO of 3G Lab told FT. "Use of WAP is becoming almost an illicit activity." One technology research company, EMC, added that, except for text messaging, only 4 percent to 6 percent of mobile phones worldwide have been used for data. An EMC researcher explained, "People are buying WAP phones but not using them. With the exception of Orange, the network operators seem to have the idea that technology itself sells. It doesn't. Marketing does."
Digital Right Management Apps Destined to Grow
Within the next two years, more than 60 percent of e-commerce sites will use content security tools or services, such as digital rights management (DRM). Enterprise strategies, for example, promote DRM because they want applications focused on one secure content solution. DRM provides for the persistent protection of digital information over an intranet, extranet or on the Internet, while users are granted only the privileges provided by the media sender. "Until the advent of DRM technology, many content distributors viewed the Web as only offering what they most feared: uncontrolled access to valuable content," explained one Gartner official. "With DRM technology, the Web becomes a channel that allows all types of electronic content to be distributed and protected in a controlled manner."
$1.1 Trillion in Sales for B2C Vendors
"Real Numbers Behind Online B-to-C Vendors 2000", a new report out from ActivMedia Research, estimates that online sales this year will hit $56 billion, a 103 percent increase over last year's figures. By 2010, that figure should jump to $1.1 trillion. B-to-C companies were the first sector to achieve significant sales volume from online sales, but their dominance is expected to fade as other business sectors grow online. Currently, the B-to-C sector accounts for nearly half (47 percent) of total Web revenues,
dropping to less than a third of all sales by 2010. "While stratospheric growth at the Web's leading sites is likely to stall this year, with only double-digit improvements to an already large sales base, market forces
continue to surge for mid-level websites who benefit from an influx of new online shoppers worldwide. Reduced competition from failed pure-play dot-coms with loss-leading lowball prices and unsustainable business strategies will result in healthier future online markets capable of sustaining profitability and growth," an ActivMedia researcher said.