I can imagine the administration of every municipality, for example, becoming the focus of an electronic community. Sometimes I get annoyed by a traffic light near my office that always stays red longer than I think it should. I could write a letter to the city, telling the folks who program the lights that the timing isn’t optimal, but that would just be one cranky letter. On the other hand, if I could find the “community” of people who drive the route I do, we could send a strong complaint to the city.
Predictor: Gates, Bill
Prediction, in context:In his 1995 book “The Road Ahead,” Microsoft CEO Bill Gates writes: ”I can imagine the administration of every municipality, for example, becoming the focus of an electronic community. Sometimes I get annoyed by a traffic light near my office that always stays red longer than I think it should. I could write a letter to the city, telling the folks who program the lights that the timing isn’t optimal, but that would just be one cranky letter. On the other hand, if I could find the ‘community’ of people who drive the route I do, we could send a strong complaint to the city. I could find these others by sending a message to people who live near me or by posting a message on a community affairs bulletin board that showed a map of the intersection accompanied by the message: ‘During the morning rush hours hardly anyone goes left at this intersection. Does anyone else think the cycle should be shortened?’ Anyone who agreed with me could add to my message. It would make it easier to fight City Hall.”
Biography:Bill Gates, the most influential technology entrepreneur of the late 20th century, was the primary author of the prediction-packed 1995 book “The Road Ahead” and is the founder and CEO of Microsoft Corporation. (Entrepreneur/Business Leader.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Global Relationships/Politics
Subtopic: Creating a Smaller World
Name of publication: The Road Ahead (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 10: Plugged In At Home
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 211
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne