ABSTRACT
for those who have been in the technology field for some time, the phrase “everything old is new again” is particularly meaningful today. One of the current hot concepts for managing information resources is that of the ASP (application service providers). This notion hearkens back literally to the early 1970s, when it was known as “time sharing.” In those days, computers were expensive, and the expertise required to program and maintain them was scarce. Also, companies were not as dependent on computers as they are today. They might only have needed the computer to run month-end payrolls or inventory reports. So, rather than purchase an entire configuration, they purchased part of one. Much like the borrower who does not need a vacation home at the beach all year-round, but rather for two weeks in July, and decides on a time-share, so too could companies purchase just the computer power they needed when they needed it.
