The Irish online equivalent of the Oscars is coming around again with the judging of the best Irish websites at the Golden Spider Awards next Friday night.
In advance of the event, Network 2's Tech TV series is reviewing some of the shortlist contenders on Tuesday evening. There will be an opportunity for viewers to participate via the Tech TV website by casting their own vote for favourite finalists.
Of the 10 primary categories, four will be featured in the programme including information excellence, best community site, young person's award and best business application of the Internet. This is the second year of the awards organised by dot.ie magazine in association with PostGEM.
Tuesday's Tech TV will also feature a timely update on the Ennis Information Age Town project, where one year ago Telecom Eireann pledged £15 million to transform Ennis into a cybertown.
Preliminary reports suggest that while most families are now online, a number of logistical and political obstacles have impeded progress towards the high-tech standards originally envisaged.
The emerging phenomenon of paperless trials will also be explored in the programme. Technology is helping to cut trial lengths by 75 per cent, though there has been a swell of opposition to the validity of scanned-in documents.
Other items featured will include advances in foetal scanning during pregnancy, and building and buying your own computer online through Gateway 2000's online shop.
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