05/05/97 A VIRTUAL MEDIC FOR I-WAY MISHAPS

A VIRTUAL MEDIC FOR I-WAY MISHAPS

IT EVENTUALLY HAPPENS TO everyone on the World Wide Web: Online sessions inexplicably turn into a frustrating ''world wide wait.'' Now, there's software to help Net surfers pinpoint the online holdups and get help.
The $50 computer program, Net.Medic--developed by VitalSigns Software Inc. in Santa Clara, Calif.--puts a ''dashboard'' on top of any popular Web browser. Each ''gauge'' measures a different aspect of the online session and immediately warns when and where something goes wrong.
Net.Medic's AutoCure feature can cure some common local problems, such as resetting the modem to a correct compression and speed setting. For snags that originate beyond the PC--a slow Web server or a faulty modem on the Internet service provider's dial-in network--Net.Medic will dispatch an E-mail message to the appropriate party detailing the problems. VitalSigns offers a free 30-day version that can be downloaded from www. vitalsigns.com.
EDITED BY IRA SAGER
Paul Eng