FidoNet is either going to interconnect with UseNet or die … Once we have a way to get new standards formally adopted, then we can really get to work on a superior method of conference distribution. One that is impervious to “dupe” messages, that does not contain 10 or 12 lines of SEEN-BYs, and that allows conferences to be truly fully moderated.
Predictor: Jennings, Tom
Prediction, in context:In a 1991 Internet paper, Tom Jennings talks about the future of FidoNet and why he believes there is much change soon to come:”Since UseNet has obviously superior conferences to FidoNet (or so I’m told by everyone I’ve ever met that’s been exposed to both), I think FidoNet is either going to interconnect with UseNet or die. There is already software available for both the IBM and Amiga platforms (and possibly others) that can handle UseNet conferences in their native format, so it FidoNet is unable to gate conferences to UseNet we may start seeing FidoNet nodes leave the network in order to run software that has full UseNet capability … Once we have a way to get new standards formally adopted, then we can really get to work on a superior method of conference distribution. One that is impervious to ‘dupe’ messages, that does not contain 10 or 12 lines of SEEN-BYs, and that allows conferences to be truly fully moderated.”
Biography:Tom Jennings developed FidoNet in 1983 and by 1988 it was connected to the Internet, enabling the exchange of news and e-mail. By 1992, it was a linked network of amateur electronic bulletin board systems with more than 13,000 nodes worldwide. He was given an EFF Pioneer Award in 1992. (Pioneer/Originator.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1991
Topic of prediction: Community/Culture
Subtopic: MOOs/MUDs/B-Boards/Newsgroups
Name of publication: FidoNews
Title, headline, chapter name: Order Versus Orders
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.wps.com/FidoNet/FidoNews/1991801.nws
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Kafoure, David