Bricklin saw the future for computer technology in putting video on people’s desks that would allow them to have face-to-face meetings with customers, service providers, and associates.
Predictor: Bricklin, Dan
Prediction, in context:This 1995 entry in Jones Telecommunications & Multimedia Encyclopedia features Dan Bricklin. It says: ”Bricklin continued to look at the traditional way of doing things and search for better, more efficient methods, sometimes even working on software before there was hardware that could run it. His work with the pen-based technology of Slate was an example of his ability to think beyond the constraints of reality. In 1995, Bricklin told the Los Angeles Times, ‘Product is my thing. I like to develop new metaphors and new ways of using computers. If there are new metaphors to be found, I won’t find all of them, but I’ll find some of them.’ In 1995, Bricklin saw the future for computer technology in putting video on people’s desks that would allow them to have face-to-face meetings with customers, service providers, and associates. Dan Bricklin’s ability to apply his knowledge and experience to problems in a unique way and create simple solutions is perhaps his greatest contribution to computer science.”
Biography:Dan Bricklin was the inventor of the first big spreadsheet program, VisiCalc, in 1979. In 1995, he founded and became chief technical officer of Trellix, a company making Web tools. Trellix later invested in Pyra Labs, the biggest supplier of Blogging software, in 2001. (Pioneer/Originator.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Communication
Subtopic: Video Conferencing
Name of publication: Jones Telecommunications & Multimedia Encyclopedia
Title, headline, chapter name: Dan Bricklin
Quote Type: Paraphrase
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.digitalcentury.com/encyclo/update/bricklin.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Bricker, Erin E.