HIA/Virtual Village is a small company organized in January 1995 with the goal of providing web site design and advertising services, focusing on the real estate industry. Rapid evolution of web-based technologies and relatively low barriers to entry dramatically altered marketing and pricing models and profit projections, hence the basic business structure.
This talk will focus on ways in which small companies can and should maneuver in an environment in which the only constant is change, both rapid and fundamental. We will explore a variety of web sites, noting their (r)evolutionary progress over the past year and how this likely has affected their business models. Finally, the presentation will demonstrate the variety of currently available technologies, including database applications, real-time audio and video communication and broadcast, and next-generation interactive multi-user virtual environments, that are being incorporated into web sites to enhance the sites' usefulness and appeal.