- The ubiquity of the Internet, the rise of .com companies and the consumer use of the Web creates the illusion that Web applications appear like magic on to the landscape.
- Gartner Group: the Web infrastructure will be the primary source for the provisioning and maintenance of software.
- The Web transfers previously-provided enterprise-level support of desktops directly to the end user.
- Most public health IT infrastructure, traditionally under funded, remains in the technology backwaters of proprietary mainframe software and pre-Windows PC technology
- Web-based applications may appeal to Public Health as the magic bullet to
- Modernize their own infrastructure
- Improve the performance of public health functions
- Promote public health awareness more effectively in the community
- Public health must make the decisions to Web based on the right reasons and the most effective technology choices.