Almost as broad as the artwork around which they are constructed, a wide range of Web sites has been created to expand the public's awareness and knowledge of art.

The National Museums Liverpool's Web site offers an interactive portrait section and a variety of different online games. Some of these are based on the music of the Beatles (www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk). Fiercely aware of their unique location and cultural heritage, the Liverpool museums are using their Web site to attempt to collect 800 real-life stories that capture the experiences, hopes and aspirations of the people of Merseyside in the last 60 years. All the stories and objects will be added to the museum social history collections as a resource to be used in future exhibitions, events and research.

With the introduction of high-definition scans using technology developed in the museum's own scientific and photographic departments, visitors to London's National Gallery Web site (www.nationalgallery.org.uk) can zoom into different areas of artwork to explore details not ordinarily visible. Currently, nearly 300 works are available to explore online, including paintings by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Rembrandt. Over time, every significant painting in the National Gallery's permanent collection will be available.

The Louvre offers an online program called "A Closer Look," which allows users to zoom in and study details of famous works of art. Naturally, its most famous piece - the "Mona Lisa" - is one of the works included in this program.

MOMA' s "Red Studio" Web site explores issues raised by teens about modern art, today's working artists and what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

And for those looking for a unique gift for the person who has everything, most museum Web sites include an online store.

(International Herald Tribune, April 8-9, 2006)

Almost as broad as the artwork around which they are constructed, a wide range of Web sites has been created to expand the public's awareness and knowledge of art.

The National Museums Liverpool's Web site offers an interactive portrait section and a variety of different online games. Some of these are based on the music of the Beatles (www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk). Fiercely aware of their unique location and cultural heritage, the Liverpool museums are using their Web site to attempt to collect 800 real-life stories that capture the experiences, hopes and aspirations of the people of Merseyside in the last 60 years. All the stories and objects will be added to the museum social history collections as a resource to be used in future exhibitions, events and research.

With the introduction of high-definition scans using technology developed in the museum's own scientific and photographic departments, visitors to London's National Gallery Web site (www.nationalgallery.org.uk) can zoom into different areas of artwork to explore details not ordinarily visible. Currently, nearly 300 works are available to explore online, including paintings by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Rembrandt. Over time, every significant painting in the National Gallery's permanent collection will be available.

The Louvre offers an online program called "A Closer Look," which allows users to zoom in and study details of famous works of art. Naturally, its most famous piece - the "Mona Lisa" - is one of the works included in this program.

MOMA' s "Red Studio" Web site explores issues raised by teens about modern art, today's working artists and what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

And for those looking for a unique gift for the person who has everything, most museum Web sites include an online store.

(International Herald Tribune, April 8-9, 2006)

Almost as broad as the artwork around which they are constructed, a wide range of Web sites has been created to expand the public's awareness and knowledge of art.

The National Museums Liverpool's Web site offers an interactive portrait section and a variety of different online games. Some of these are based on the music of the Beatles (www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk). Fiercely aware of their unique location and cultural heritage, the Liverpool museums are using their Web site to attempt to collect 800 real-life stories that capture the experiences, hopes and aspirations of the people of Merseyside in the last 60 years. All the stories and objects will be added to the museum social history collections as a resource to be used in future exhibitions, events and research.

With the introduction of high-definition scans using technology developed in the museum's own scientific and photographic departments, visitors to London's National Gallery Web site (www.nationalgallery.org.uk) can zoom into different areas of artwork to explore details not ordinarily visible. Currently, nearly 300 works are available to explore online, including paintings by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Rembrandt. Over time, every significant painting in the National Gallery's permanent collection will be available.

The Louvre offers an online program called "A Closer Look," which allows users to zoom in and study details of famous works of art. Naturally, its most famous piece - the "Mona Lisa" - is one of the works included in this program.

MOMA' s "Red Studio" Web site explores issues raised by teens about modern art, today's working artists and what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

And for those looking for a unique gift for the person who has everything, most museum Web sites include an online store.

(International Herald Tribune, April 8-9, 2006)

Almost as broad as the artwork around which they are constructed, a wide range of Web sites has been created to expand the public's awareness and knowledge of art.

The National Museums Liverpool's Web site offers an interactive portrait section and a variety of different online games. Some of these are based on the music of the Beatles (www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk). Fiercely aware of their unique location and cultural heritage, the Liverpool museums are using their Web site to attempt to collect 800 real-life stories that capture the experiences, hopes and aspirations of the people of Merseyside in the last 60 years. All the stories and objects will be added to the museum social history collections as a resource to be used in future exhibitions, events and research.

With the introduction of high-definition scans using technology developed in the museum's own scientific and photographic departments, visitors to London's National Gallery Web site (www.nationalgallery.org.uk) can zoom into different areas of artwork to explore details not ordinarily visible. Currently, nearly 300 works are available to explore online, including paintings by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Rembrandt. Over time, every significant painting in the National Gallery's permanent collection will be available.

The Louvre offers an online program called "A Closer Look," which allows users to zoom in and study details of famous works of art. Naturally, its most famous piece - the "Mona Lisa" - is one of the works included in this program.

MOMA' s "Red Studio" Web site explores issues raised by teens about modern art, today's working artists and what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

And for those looking for a unique gift for the person who has everything, most museum Web sites include an online store.

(International Herald Tribune, April 8-9, 2006)

Almost as broad as the artwork around which they are constructed, a wide range of Web sites has been created to expand the public's awareness and knowledge of art.

The National Museums Liverpool's Web site offers an interactive portrait section and a variety of different online games. Some of these are based on the music of the Beatles (www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk). Fiercely aware of their unique location and cultural heritage, the Liverpool museums are using their Web site to attempt to collect 800 real-life stories that capture the experiences, hopes and aspirations of the people of Merseyside in the last 60 years. All the stories and objects will be added to the museum social history collections as a resource to be used in future exhibitions, events and research.

With the introduction of high-definition scans using technology developed in the museum's own scientific and photographic departments, visitors to London's National Gallery Web site (www.nationalgallery.org.uk) can zoom into different areas of artwork to explore details not ordinarily visible. Currently, nearly 300 works are available to explore online, including paintings by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Rembrandt. Over time, every significant painting in the National Gallery's permanent collection will be available.

The Louvre offers an online program called "A Closer Look," which allows users to zoom in and study details of famous works of art. Naturally, its most famous piece - the "Mona Lisa" - is one of the works included in this program.

MOMA' s "Red Studio" Web site explores issues raised by teens about modern art, today's working artists and what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

And for those looking for a unique gift for the person who has everything, most museum Web sites include an online store.

(International Herald Tribune, April 8-9, 2006)

Almost as broad as the artwork around which they are constructed, a wide range of Web sites has been created to expand the public's awareness and knowledge of art.

The National Museums Liverpool's Web site offers an interactive portrait section and a variety of different online games. Some of these are based on the music of the Beatles (www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk). Fiercely aware of their unique location and cultural heritage, the Liverpool museums are using their Web site to attempt to collect 800 real-life stories that capture the experiences, hopes and aspirations of the people of Merseyside in the last 60 years. All the stories and objects will be added to the museum social history collections as a resource to be used in future exhibitions, events and research.

With the introduction of high-definition scans using technology developed in the museum's own scientific and photographic departments, visitors to London's National Gallery Web site (www.nationalgallery.org.uk) can zoom into different areas of artwork to explore details not ordinarily visible. Currently, nearly 300 works are available to explore online, including paintings by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Rembrandt. Over time, every significant painting in the National Gallery's permanent collection will be available.

The Louvre offers an online program called "A Closer Look," which allows users to zoom in and study details of famous works of art. Naturally, its most famous piece - the "Mona Lisa" - is one of the works included in this program.

MOMA' s "Red Studio" Web site explores issues raised by teens about modern art, today's working artists and what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

And for those looking for a unique gift for the person who has everything, most museum Web sites include an online store.

(International Herald Tribune, April 8-9, 2006)

Almost as broad as the artwork around which they are constructed, a wide range of Web sites has been created to expand the public's awareness and knowledge of art.

The National Museums Liverpool's Web site offers an interactive portrait section and a variety of different online games. Some of these are based on the music of the Beatles (www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk). Fiercely aware of their unique location and cultural heritage, the Liverpool museums are using their Web site to attempt to collect 800 real-life stories that capture the experiences, hopes and aspirations of the people of Merseyside in the last 60 years. All the stories and objects will be added to the museum social history collections as a resource to be used in future exhibitions, events and research.

With the introduction of high-definition scans using technology developed in the museum's own scientific and photographic departments, visitors to London's National Gallery Web site (www.nationalgallery.org.uk) can zoom into different areas of artwork to explore details not ordinarily visible. Currently, nearly 300 works are available to explore online, including paintings by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Rembrandt. Over time, every significant painting in the National Gallery's permanent collection will be available.

The Louvre offers an online program called "A Closer Look," which allows users to zoom in and study details of famous works of art. Naturally, its most famous piece - the "Mona Lisa" - is one of the works included in this program.

MOMA' s "Red Studio" Web site explores issues raised by teens about modern art, today's working artists and what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

And for those looking for a unique gift for the person who has everything, most museum Web sites include an online store.

(International Herald Tribune, April 8-9, 2006)

Almost as broad as the artwork around which they are constructed^(a), a wide range of Web sites has been created^(b) to expand the public's awareness and knowledge of art.

The National Museums Liverpool's Web site offers an interactive portrait section and a variety of different online games. Some of these are based on the music of the Beatles (www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk). Fiercely aware of their unique location and cultural heritage, the Liverpool museums are using^(c) their Web site to attempt to collect 800 real-life stories that capture the experiences, hopes and aspirations of the people of Merseyside in the last 60 years. All the stories and objects will be added^(d) to the museum social history collections as a resource to be used(e) in future exhibitions, events and research.

With the introduction of high-definition scans using technology developed in the museum's own scientific and photographic departments, visitors to London's National Gallery Web site (www.nationalgallery.org.uk) can zoom into different areas of artwork to explore details not ordinarily visible. Currently, nearly 300 works are available to explore online, including paintings by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Rembrandt. Over time, every significant painting in the National Gallery's permanent collection will be available.

The Louvre offers an online program called "A Closer Look," which allows users to zoom in and study details of famous works of art. Naturally, its most famous piece - the "Mona Lisa" - is one of the works included in this program.

MOMA' s "Red Studio" Web site explores issues raised by teens about modern art, today's working artists and what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

And for those looking for a unique gift for the person who has everything, most museum Web sites include an online store.

(International Herald Tribune, April 8-9, 2006)

Almost as broad as the artwork around which they are constructed, a wide range of Web sites has been created to expand the public's awareness and knowledge of art.

The National Museums Liverpool's Web site offers an interactive portrait section and a variety of different online games. Some of these are based on the music of the Beatles (www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk). Fiercely aware of their unique location and cultural heritage, the Liverpool museums are using their Web site to attempt to collect 800 real-life stories that capture the experiences, hopes and aspirations of the people of Merseyside in the last 60 years. All the stories and objects will be added to the museum social history collections as a resource to be used in future exhibitions, events and research.

With the introduction of high-definition scans using technology developed in the museum's own scientific and photographic departments, visitors to London's National Gallery Web site (www.nationalgallery.org.uk) can zoom into different areas of artwork to explore details not ordinarily visible. Currently, nearly 300 works are available to explore online, including paintings by Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Rembrandt. Over time, every significant painting in the National Gallery's permanent collection will be available.

The Louvre offers an online program called "A Closer Look," which allows users to zoom in and study details of famous works of art. Naturally, its most famous piece - the "Mona Lisa" - is one of the works included in this program.

MOMA' s "Red Studio" Web site explores issues raised by teens about modern art, today's working artists and what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

And for those looking for a unique gift for the person who has everything, most museum Web sites include an online store.

(International Herald Tribune, April 8-9, 2006)

Google as well as Yahoo, Microsoft and AOL among others are gearing up to keep a much closer eye on all of us, so that within five years these and other firms will routinely track our movements, friends, interests, purchases and correspondence - then make money by helping marketers take advantage of the information.

These companies' brash plans are pushing us toward a thorny choice that will determine the future of computing. Google and other Web-oriented, information-service giants are determined to build a breathtaking array of services based on your personal information, and they're betting you'll be willing to share it with them in order for you to reap the benefits. But if we cooperate and let them in on the details of our lives, we'll lose much of our privacy, and possibly a lot more.

A privacy backlash, however, would stifle these potentially revolutionary services before they get off the ground - and leave the computer industry's biggest plans for growth in tatters. That may be just what some people want. The U.S. Congress is considering four bills that would make it illegal to collect and share information online or through cell phones about people without clearer warning and permission. These sorts of restrictions are already in effect throughout much of Europe, thanks in part to European Union directives on privacy and electronic communications passed in 2002 and 2003.

The good news is that there's no reason to choose between technology and privacy. New technologies are emerging that can doctor our data so that companies know just enough about us to ply us with customized services, while preventing them from getting a clear picture of our private lives. The question is again one of trust: in this case, whether people will come to trust the companies that are trying to build these new technologies.

(abridged from Next Frontiers in Newsweek, April 3, 2006)