Smithsonian Collects Net Stuff

Housed in the Permanent Research Collection on Information Technology at the National Museum of American History, the collection contributes "significantly to the museum's ongoing effort to chronicle the information age," said Spencer Crew, the museum's director. The Innovation Network offers researchers access to an archive of more than 2,800 case studies of outstanding uses of information technology, as well as oral history transcripts, proceedings of symposia, and other research materials. For the second straight year, 2Way Corporation, a small Seattle company, is among those being recognized by the Smithsonian for its innovation. The company helps businesses develop interactive Web-based communication with their customers. Now in its 12th year, the Computerworld Smithsonian Awards Program highlights technology deemed to have made positive changes in society, education, and the economy. The collection is available at the museum in Washington and through the museum's Innovation Network. Among the year's recipients are Federal Express, Levi's, Johns Hopkins Health Systems, Amazon.com, MammaMedia, Advanced Weather Interactive Process Systems, Exide Electronics, Rhinowatch, and the South Florida Water Management District. The awards are officially announced and presented each year at a gala ceremony in Washington on June 5.