The prediction, in brief:

The Internet today is still for computer weenies. But the problem will take care of itself … Communities, whether virtual or physical, should be self-determining rather than determined by megacorporations.

Predictor: Kapor, Mitchell

Prediction, in context:

Mitchell Kapor is quoted in a 1993 The Nation article that covers the Internet and its implications. The article says:”It’s not all smooth sailing on the sea of information. On most computers, the Internet is hard to use. The arcane commands that run it make little sense to many average users, who can find themselves lost in cyberspace without a map. ‘The Internet today is still for computer weenies,’ says Kapor. ‘But the problem will take care of itself,’ he adds, because easier-to-use software tools will appear as the Net grows. To make matters more confusing, because the Internet is a network of networks, no one group or person is in charge. Kapor describes it as ‘anarchy.’ … The specter of censorship, as on commercial systems like Prodigy, where systems administrators routinely delete ‘objectionable’ messages looms. ‘Communities, whether virtual or physical, should be self-determining rather than determined by megacorporations,’ adds the Electronic Freedom Foundation’s Kapor.”

Biography:

Mitchell Kapor founded the Lotus Development Corporation and also founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation with WELL (Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link) members John Perry Barlow and John Gilmore in 1990 in direct response to a threat to free speech. He was an outspoken supporter of open access to the Internet, and was asked to speak in many venues about the issue, including Congressional hearings. (Pioneer/Originator.)

Date of prediction: January 1, 1993

Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues

Subtopic: Jurisdiction/Control

Name of publication: The Nation

Title, headline, chapter name: The Whole World is Talking

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Vol. 257, Issue 2, Page 60ISSN: 00278378

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney