The prediction, in brief:

The Internet (and the commercial services that overlay it) could subsume the full-service network efforts under way. A combination of PCs, cable, broadband, and/or integrated services digital network (ISDN) may provide the interactive digital services only promised by the full-service networks … Because it will be so easy to turn one’s computer into a gateway, the Internet could easily become the vehicle for delivering content.

Predictor: Gilder, George

Prediction, in context:

In a 1995 article in Telecommunications, Andrew Zimmerman paraphrases the position of George Gilder. Zimmerman writes:”The Internet (and the commercial services that overlay it) could subsume the full-service network efforts under way. A combination of PCs, cable, broadband, and/or integrated services digital network (ISDN) may provide the interactive digital services only promised by the full-service networks. This PC-centric scenario gains force from rapidly increasing processing power and compression technologies, trends well described by industry visionaries such as George Gilder. In short, although the PC today is being purchased by consumers for home computing needs, the same hardware (with a few peripherals, such as cable modems) could become the digital interactive service gateway of the future. Because it will be so easy to turn one’s computer into a gateway, the Internet could easily become the vehicle for delivering content.”

Biography:

George Gilder was a pioneer the formulation of the theory of supply-side economics. In his major book “Microcosm” (1989), he explored the quantum roots of the new electronic technologies. His book “Life After Television,” published by W.W. Norton (1992), is a prophecy of computers and telecommunications displacing the broadcast-TV empire. He followed it with another classic, “Telecosm.” (Futurist/Consultant.)

Date of prediction: November 1, 1995

Topic of prediction: Information Infrastructure

Subtopic: Internet Service Providers

Name of publication: Telecommunications

Title, headline, chapter name: The Internet: Do You Have a Strategy?

Quote Type: Paraphrase

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
www.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Falcone, Peter P.