The prediction, in brief:

I’m not against the Internet. I just want people to be more skeptical about it. People are skeptical about nuclear power and genetic engineering and a lot of other areas but they blindly accept the Internet. We techies should be more honest about what computers can do and what they cannot do, or else we are setting ourselves up for a big pie in the face.

Predictor: Stoll, Clifford

Prediction, in context:

In a 1995 article for The Financial Times in London, Max Wilkinson writes about Clifford Stoll, author of the book “Silicon Snake Oil,” a cautionary look at the impact of computers and the Internet. Wilkinson writes:”[Stoll] fears that telecomputing will seduce the next generation into a world of unreality and illusion. He finds that second-rate information is crowding out the good, and believes that free and universal access will clog the lines and prevent the system from being an efficient tool for professionals … ‘I’m not against the Internet. I just want people to be more skeptical about it. People are skeptical about nuclear power and genetic engineering and a lot of other areas but they blindly accept the Internet. We techies should be more honest about what computers can do and what they cannot do, or else we are setting ourselves up for a big pie in the face.'”

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: September 1, 1995

Topic of prediction: General, Overarching Remarks

Subtopic: General

Name of publication: Financial Post (Toronto)

Title, headline, chapter name: Internet Hero Tries to Kick the Habit: Clifford Stoll Aims to Stir Up Some Skepticism About the Information Network

Quote Type: Paraphrase

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=d15e4c74b880ed5d1f33e1bbedb03299&_docnum=6&wchp=dGLbVtb-lSlAl&_md5=355e4949cae88695881b8af7741fdc32

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Tencer, Elizabeth L.