We’re seeing something in the Internet as significant as the birth of cities. It’s something that profound and with that sort of infinite possibilities. It’s really something new, it’s a new kind of civilization.
Predictor: Gibson, William
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 interview in Stockholm, Sweden, conducted by Dan Josefsson for “Rapport,” Sweden’s most popular TV-news program, William Gibson, author of the term “cyberspace,” talks about the future of the Internet. He says: ”I sometimes suspect that we’re seeing something in the Internet as significant as the birth of cities. It’s something that profound and with that sort of infinite possibilities. It’s really something new, it’s a new kind of civilization. And of course the thing I love about it is that it’s transnational, non profit – it isn’t owned by anyone – and it’s shape is completely user driven. What it is, is determined by the needs of millions and millions of users. So cyberspace is evolving to meet the needs of individuals all over the world. The American so-called ‘Information Highway,’ or the ‘Infobahn’ (laughs) which I have always liked very much, is an attempt to create a commercial version. I think that very, very large interests are looking at the Internet, not really understanding what it is, but thinking ‘We can make a fortune if we have one of those!’ You know, they want to get in there, it’ll be broadcast television again. But of course that’s not going to be it.”
Biography:William Gibson published the influential book “Neuromancer,” in which he coined the term “cyberspace,” in 1984. Through the early 1990s, he was asked to comment regularly on the coming age of the Internet despite the fact that he claimed to use it rarely, if ever. (Author/Editor/Journalist.)
Date of prediction: November 23, 1994
Topic of prediction: General, Overarching Remarks
Subtopic: General
Name of publication: Interview
Title, headline, chapter name: I Don’t Even Have A Modem
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
www.josefsson.net
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Falcone, Peter P.