It won’t be long before the Internet resembles a suburban nightmare … The power and appeal of online services is that people with common interests can find each other. Newsgroups, mailing lists and on-line chat represent the most powerful, lowest cost “narrowcasting” media invented. In the future, such narrow – but highly qualified – market segments will be attracted to visit next-generation Web servers by information and “newsgroups on steroids.” As a baseline, these servers will offer improved graphics, security and transaction processing for the “store.” Online chat will let customers speak with salespeople and, more important, let customers to speak with each other. It will even enable “celebrity visits” to the store, just as authors visit bookstores today.
Predictor: Gooding, Don
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 article for Communications Week, Don Gooding discusses the potential of online malls. He writes: ”Since the Web servers have extremely low barriers to entry, it won’t be long before the Internet resembles a suburban nightmare. Why will customers visit your real estate? The reason will be that online malls will host ‘virtual communities’. The power and appeal of online services is that people with common interests can find each other. Newsgroups, mailing lists and on-line chat represent the most powerful, lowest cost ‘narrowcasting’ media invented. In the future, such narrow – but highly qualified – market segments will be attracted to visit next-generation Web servers by information and ‘newsgroups on steroids.’ As a baseline, these servers will offer improved graphics, security and transaction processing for the ‘store.’ Online chat will let customers speak with salespeople and, more important, let customers to speak with each other. It will even enable ‘celebrity visits’ to the store, just as authors visit bookstores today. Software … will enable easily searchable newsgroup discussions and archives. Then potential customers can find all the relevant information prior to purchase: Are other customers happy with their purchases? Is this the right model for my need? Has support been adequate? These V-malls catering to specific virtual communities will be an explosive new category of specialized retail…and they’ll give new meaning to the phrase ‘let your fingers do the walking.'”
Date of prediction: January 2, 1995
Topic of prediction: Economic structures
Subtopic: Shopping
Name of publication: Communications Week
Title, headline, chapter name: Shop Till Your Fingers Drop: Online Malls
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web11.epnet.com/citation.asp?tb=1&_ug=dbs+0%2C1%2C2%2C3+ln+en%2Dus+sid+4350E799%2D2B2C%2D4188%2D8440%2DC41383A837A8%40Sessionmgr6+51F4&_us=bs+shop++till++your++fingers++drop+ds+shop++till++your++fingers++drop+dstb+KS+hd+0+hs+0+or+Date+ri+KAAACBTB00225499+sm+KS+so+b+ss+SO+9F1B&fn=1&rn=1
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Kafoure, David