If women want to ensure themselves a meaningful place in the future, they need to be among those determining how the technology will be used. They need to be among those deciding whether it will be the great leveler or simply serve to worsen social divisions … If we want technology to serve society rather than enslave it, we have to build systems accessible to all people – be they male or female, young, old, disabled, computer wizards or technophobes.
Predictor: Borg, Anita
Prediction, in context:In a 1994 Seattle Times article about women and computing, reporter Marla Williams quotes Anita Borg, at the time a researcher for Digital Systems Corporation’s Network Systems Lab in Palo Alto, Calif. In the late 1980s, Borg founded and began operating Systers, a bulletin board exclusively for female computer professionals. At this point in 1994, it had 715 members representing 175 companies and 220 colleges and universities in 18 countries. Williams quotes Borg saying: ”If women want to ensure themselves a meaningful place in the future, they need to be among those determining how the technology will be used. They need to be among those deciding whether it will be the great leveler or simply serve to worsen social divisions … If we want technology to serve society rather than enslave it, we have to build systems accessible to all people – be they male or female, young, old, disabled, computer wizards or technophobes.”
Biography:Anita Borg, the founder and keeper of Systers, a 1990s electronic mailing list for women in computer science, won a 1995 Electronic Frontier Foundation Pioneer Award for her work. Her list was a major force for increasing the numbers and improving the position of women in the computer science field. (Advocate/Voice of the People.)
Date of prediction: May 8, 1994
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Digital Divide
Name of publication: Seattle Times
Title, headline, chapter name: Equal Access – In the Battle of the Sexes, the Computer World Seems to be Yet Another Realm Dominated by Men. However, Women are Struggling to Gain Recognition for their Savvy, While Seeking Ways to Increase and Improve their Access to Technology and Directing its Future
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=bee18deeaab4381aa5d7590409078eca&_docnum=2&wchp=dGLbVlb-lSlAl&_md5=0544d0e8481250b3949edc7e9b722996
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Boone, Jason Matthew