The heavily promoted information infrastructure addresses few social needs or business concerns. At the same time, it directly threatens precious parts of our society, including schools, libraries and social institutions. No birds sing.
Predictor: Stoll, Clifford
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 article for The Buffalo News, Mike Vogel writes about Clifford Stoll, author of the book “Silicon Snake Oil,” a cautionary look at the impact of computers and the Internet. Vogel quotes Stoll saying: ”There is no easy, complete access to information. Never was. Never will be … The heavily promoted information infrastructure addresses few social needs or business concerns. At the same time, it directly threatens precious parts of our society, including schools, libraries and social institutions. No birds sing.”
Biography:Clifford Stoll was an astrophysicist who also wrote the influential books “Silicon Snake Oil” (1995) and “The Cuckoo’s Egg.” A long-time network user, Stoll made “Silicon Snake Oil” his platform for finding fault with the Internet hype of the early 1990s. He pointed out the pitfalls of a completely networked society and offered arguments in opposition to the hype. (Author/Editor/Journalist.)
Date of prediction: April 26, 1995
Topic of prediction: General, Overarching Remarks
Subtopic: General
Name of publication: Buffalo News
Title, headline, chapter name: Time to Exit the Information Superhighway?
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=a8f697544f4699066e71296b43a40f99&_docnum=6&wchp=dGLbVlb-lSlAl&_md5=b2b7e254c903c3260303213ebb6dcd45
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Tencer, Elizabeth L.