Internet/Computer Advisory Committee Report
based on Committee Meeting, July 25, 1999, at the San Antonio summer NABC

Committee Members:                                                    
Robert Blanchard
Kent Burghard, representing management
Fred Gitelman
Al Levy, chair
Chip Martel
Gary Schneider, representing Matt Clegg

some preliminary comments...

The Internet is changing the way companies do business and organizations service their members. For example, just a couple of years ago Barnes and Nobles sold books at local stores and through telephone orders.  Now, in order to compete with Amazon.com, they sell books on the Internet (bn.com).  In addition, their books are changing, from paper books to electron books (e-books), eliminating the need for paper and over or under producing copies, and offering a whole new reading experience. Meanwhile, Amazon.com is not standing still.  The world's biggest Internet retailer will rent space to other merchants and create an online shopping mall with more than 500,000 products.  Electron commerce (e-commerce) is so widespread that many major Universities now offer e-commerce degree programs.

The Internet is changing the way we conduct our lives, including personal finances, shopping, and amusement.  The fastest growing area of change is online shopping, everything from flowers to landscaping to cars to houses to stockbrokers, etc.  We also have online bridge (and many other games)…one can play 24 hours a day with friends and new acquaintances from around the world.

The Internet is the future!  As an organization we need to take hold of that media in an aggressive manner. The ACBL has a good start in this area: an Internet Home Page; selling its products on the Internet; member services, such as viewing personal detailed masterpoint holdings, and real-time and delayed time Viewgraphs shows of some bridge events.

In light of these comments, the committee makes the following recommendations.

1. Internet exposure and Public Relations

A strong recommendation is made to seek Internet exposure through (1)major Internet providers such as AOL, Yahoo, and Microsoft, and (2) through gaming sites such as OKbridge, Microsoft Gaming Zone, and AOL. These sites offer exposure to the general public (good PR) as well as to game players (possible converts to bridge). The goal is to broadcast/advertise bridge to potential new players, through banner ads and server links, and to promote bridge to the general public. The ACBL has much to offer Internet providers in exchange for advertising space. For example, AOL can offer its members free bridge software by making a connection to the ACBL Home Page. This serves to create a public exposure to bridge and the ACBL. Links from other Web sites are extremely important. Other Web sites that should be of interest to the ACBL are those from schools (private and public), those geared to seniors (AARP, seniornet, etc.), and those that have game sites. All this is independent of online bridge.

2. ACBL Home Page for new players

If we are successful in attracting new players to our Home Page we need a separate new-player page, one geared to people with little or no bridge exposure. The current Home Page, while excellent for current ACBL members, is of limited interest to non-bridge players. This new Web Page should be the one that is hit from some of our 'partners,' such as AOL, if the site is thought to attract non-bridge players. Also, we might want to give this new Page address to schools around the country, as well as sites that are geared to seniors. [Kent has reported management's progress in this area. A new look should appear online early next year that will include a major new section for new players.]

3. Online Interactive Publication…bridgebulletin.com

Another future online activity should be an online interactive publication, bridgebulletin.com. This could have interactive bridge articles as well as links to other sources of interest and information.

4. New teaching software…giveaway from ACBL Home Page

An excellent idea by management to give away teaching software.  This gives the ACBL Web site more value.  All the more reason for servers and other Web sites, including AOL, gaming sites, AARP, etc. to establish a link.  

There have been comments teachers that the mention of 15-17 no trumps and 25 points needed for game, as opposed to 16-18 no trumps and 26 points needed for game, is a minor problem.  It is felt that there should be uniformity in what is taught to new players, at least from ACBL sponsored teachers. If students use this software they will see contradictions to what they are learning.  In response, management reports that the intent is to teach current duplicate practices to the new players so that they can easily blend in when they venture into the duplicate world.  [Possibly, the usual ACBL teaching series should also be updated. AL]

5. Online bridge activities…OKbridge, Microsoft Gaming Zone, AOL, Yahoo, special events, masterpoints

The committee encourages online bridge activities, and masterpoint awards.  More special events are encouraged.  The committee has not reviewed the Laws and procedures for online play, as these are still developing.  Management has developed a set of regulations and the C&C and Laws commission will address these issues.

6. ACBL owned online club

The argument for an ACBL owned online club is that it could publicize our face-to-face clubs, teachers, ACBL local, Regional and NABC tournaments, etc.  The committee is not in favor of an ACBL owned online club.  It would only lead to the ACBL being in competition with itself. The ACBL doesn't own a brick and mortar bridge club in each local area.  Also, the initial expenses for software, hardware, and personnel needed to be successful, might be considerable.  Even if there was little expense, say by renting space with an online provider, an ACBL run 'online club' game would be a threat to other online providers...and possibly force them to separate there activities from those of the ACBL.  Instead, we should work with current online servers.  In effect, we should interact with online clubs the same way we interact with face-to-face bridge clubs.  An ACBL partnership with online servers, real or implied, is suggested.

An ACBL tournament might be run online, through an arrangement with current online providers.  Possibly, one ACBL online tournament a year should be run. This ACBL North American Bridge Online Tournament (NABOT), might be run over a 10-day period, making sure that it doesn't interfere with local Sectionals and Regionals.

7. Computer Bridge play

The committee encourages these activities as they are entertaining and have potential PR value. The next championships will take place in January 2000 as part of the Orbis World Bridge Championships (officially called the Orbis World Computer Bridge Championships). Next year a championship may take place as part of the Mind Sports Olympiad, August 21-25.

8. Other topics

Terminal play at Regionals

An attempt should be made to play a section of a Regional event on terminals. This is contingent on purchasing inexpensive terminals. At first terminals will replace bidding boxes. Terminals could be used to play barometer-scoring games. Terminal play will be the equivalent of face-to-face online bridge. (Ultimately, all things merge. AL)

Play records

Play records of major NABC+ events should be made available on our Web site. This activity is already taking place for certain events, including international trials, World Junior Championships, etc. In addition, we should allow free use of the play records to be part of other sites' content. We should encourage as much publicity as possible.