Refined computer hardware will have to be produced to handle the communications speed of gigabit networks and the volume of data that will accumulate as knowbots scan all the paper books and research journals on a virtally endless list of topics.
Predictor: Kahn, Robert E.
Prediction, in context:In a 1990 article in The New York Times, John Markoff paraphrases the future vision of Internet pioneer Robert Kahn. Markoff writes:”A new class of sophisticated tools will have to be developed and used, such as knowledge robots, or ‘knowbots,’ as Dr. Kahn calls them. These otherworldly creatures will have ravenous appetites for information. They will be sent on fact-finding missions for humans, traveling at almost the speed of light to the appropriate electronic destinations and searching through appropriate databases. Prototype knowbots have already been created in software designed by scientists at Dr. Kahn’s NRI [National Research Institute] and put to work, experimentally. In addition, refined computer hardware will have to be produced to handle the communications speed of gigabit networks and the volume of data that will accumulate as knowbots scan all the paper books and research journals on a virtally endless list of topics.”
Biography:Robert E. (Bob) Kahn was hired by Lawrence Roberts at IPTO in 1972 to work on networking technologies. He organized a demonstration of ARPAnet between 40 machines and a Terminal Interface Processor at International Conference on Computer Communications that year, sharing the idea of the network for the first time with a group of observers from around the world. In 1973, he posed the Internet problem and began a research program at ARPA to look into it, setting four goals for design: 1) any network should be able to connect with any other; 2) there will be no central distribution or control; error recovery Ð lost packets will be retransmitted; 4) no internal changes will have to be made to a computer to connect it to the network. In 1973 he presented his basic Internet ideas with Vinton Cerf at the International Network Working Group gathering. In 1974 he published (with Cerf) a paper on Packet Network interconnection that detailed the design of a Transmission Control Program (TCP). (Pioneer/Originator.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1990
Topic of prediction: Getting, Sharing Information
Subtopic: Intelligent Agents/AI
Name of publication: New York Times
Title, headline, chapter name: Creating a Giant Computer Highway
Quote Type: Paraphrase
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=ecf3ae82a22329522f97a4280e07dc1b&_docnum=1&wchp=dGLbVzb-lSlAl&_md5=bf21d55d107186a4033329aed3f2df72
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Garrison, Betty