Student’s National On-line Experiment Introduces Others To Web Page Purchasing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 1999
Joe Wills
530-898-4143
Student’s National On-line Experiment Introduces Others To Web Page Purchasing
California State University, Chico senior Alanna Blanco’s participation in a national on-line buying experiment gets real this week with the launching of her “Feed Alanna” Web page.
Her Web page, which will feature her efforts to do all her consumer purchasing via the Internet, is linked to the Shop Chico Web site and her scheduled live chats on the Levi Strauss & Co. Web site.
The Chico State E-Commerce Society in conjunction with Matson & Isom Computer Consulting Services have created an on-line shopping mall to help Blanco access local stores and to encourage other businesses in the area to join the information age. Celestino’s Pizza, S&S Produce and Speedy Burrito have already joined in, and other Chico businesses are expected to follow.
Blanco’s on-line chat has been scheduled for Sundays, 6 p.m. at www.levi.com. At this site others will be able to view a running tab of her purchases, read about how her rabbit, Kashmir, is doing and send her fan mail.
Blanco was one of three students chosen to participate in the Levi Strauss & Co.-sponsored Semester On-line. Each student receives $500 a week and must do all purchasing on-line for the entire spring ‘99 semester.
Blanco, an Internet-savvy student majoring in management information systems, found the contest while surfing the Internet. She had already been purchasing furniture and groceries on-line and thought this contest would be an interesting challenge.
The two other students participating in the experiment are Tomiko Jones from the University of Pennsylvania and Scott Raymond from the University of Kansas. The Levi Strauss & Co. Web site gives biographical and whimsical information about each student involved.
Blanco has received help and support from fellow students and professors. Kent Sandoe, CSU, Chico professor of management information systems, helped set up the “Feed Alanna” link along with help from local businesses. “Feed Alanna” is designed to help Blanco access local restaurants via the Internet.
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