As on-line communities grow in importance, they will increasingly be where people turn to find out what the public is really thinking. People like to know what’s popular, which movies friends are watching, and what news others think is interesting. I want to read the same “newspaper front page” as those I’m going to meet with later today, so we can have something in common to talk about. You will be able to to see what places on the network are being looked at often. There will be all sorts of “hot lists” of the coolest places.
Predictor: Gates, Bill
Prediction, in context:In his 1995 book “The Road Ahead,” Microsoft CEO Bill Gates writes: ”As on-line communities grow in importance, they will increasingly be where people turn to find out what the public is really thinking. People like to know what’s popular, which movies friends are watching, and what news others think is interesting. I want to read the same ‘newspaper front page’ as those I’m going to meet with later today, so we can have something in common to talk about. You will be able to to see what places on the network are being looked at often. There will be all sorts of ‘hot lists’ of the coolest places.”
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: Community/Culture
Subtopic: General
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:
Pages 211, 212
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne