The `Information Superhighway' was a useful metaphor for the beginnings of the Internet, though it is now becoming restrictive in its vision of where the Internet can go, and how we can use it. We need to look at more useful metaphors, perhaps linked more closely to the tasks that we wish the Internet to enable us to carry out, here are a few of the metaphors suggested by Stefik (1997):

* The Digital Library cataloguing resources and documents for efficient retrieval;

* The Electronic Post Office providing efficient delivery of mail and information;

* The Electronic Marketplace facilitating efficient, secure buying and selling; and

* The Digital World creating new spaces and places to develop community and society.

Perhaps these will be the dominant metaphors the 21st. century, perhaps others will be more useful. Or perhaps these are are all too limiting, and we will need to think more freely and creatively about this transforming technology.