DotComGuy Emerges From Confinement

DALLAS (AP) â€” DotComGuy, who legally changed his name to reflect his online life, has emerged from his Dallas town house after a year of self-confinement. <br><br>His plans include changing his name

Wednesday, January 3rd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) â€” DotComGuy, who legally changed his name to reflect his online life, has emerged from his Dallas town house after a year of self-confinement.

His plans include changing his name back to Mitch Maddox. The computer systems manager also intends to wed Crystalyn Anne Holubeck, whom he met in a chatroom on DotComGuy's Web site, Dallas television station KDFW reported. No date has been set.

DotComGuy, who never ventured past his tiny backyard for a year, bought all his necessities online. His daily life was recorded by 20 cameras that broadcast to the world at http://www.DotComGuy.com.

DotComGuy said Monday he was bored at times, but that the year passed quickly as he answered e-mails and questions from reporters.

Corporate sponsors hoped DotComGuy's stunt â€” and his dependence on the Internet â€” would encourage others to use cyberspace for transactions normally reserved for the storefront.

He moved into the then-empty house on Jan. 1, 2000.

As the clock struck midnight Sunday, DotComGuy said goodbye to Web viewers, walked outside and drove away on a small motorized scooter.