There is no question that the rest of the world will build their NIIs. Some may even build them faster than we do if we keep going at our current rate. Eventually, these NIIs will link up with one another as surely as the world’s telephone and air transportation systems have done. These global information links will benefit the world as much as international transportation and telephone communication do today.
Predictor: Dertouzos, Michael
Prediction, in context:In a 1991 article for Technology Review, MIT researcher/administrator Michael Dertouzos writes: ”There is no question that the rest of the world will build their NIIs [National Information Infrastructures]. Some may even build them faster than we do if we keep going at our current rate. Eventually, these NIIs will link up with one another as surely as the world’s telephone and air transportation systems have done. These global information links will benefit the world as much as international transportation and telephone communication do today. Yet the NII must start somewhere. And starting it at the national level, even though difficult, is still simpler than starting globally. Finally, strengthening the U.S. economy is not undesireable, either for this country or for the rest of the world. Let’s get on with it!”
Biography:Michael Dertouzos was director of the MIT Laboratory for Computer Science and the author of “The Unfinished Revolution.” He led a project intended to make computers adapt to people. He outlined a comprehensive proposal for a national information “infrastructure” in a 1991 article for Technology Review. (Research Scientist/Illuminator.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1991
Topic of prediction: Global Relationships/Politics
Subtopic: Creating a Smaller World
Name of publication: Technology Review
Title, headline, chapter name: Building the Information Marketplace
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web3.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/237/651/57953601w3/purl=rc1_EAIM_0_A9329382&dyn=5!xrn_1_0_A9329382?sw_aep=ncliveec
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney