Before the information highway can become fully integrated into society, it must be available to virtually every citizen, not just the elite, but this does not mean that every citizen has to have an information appliance in his house. Once the majority of people have systems installed in their home, those who do not can be accommodated with a share appliance at a library, school, post office, or public kiosk. It’s important to remember that the question of universal access arises only if the highway is immensely successful – more successful than many commentators expect. Amazingly, some of the same critics who complain the highway will be so popular it will cause problems also complain it won’t be popular at all.
Predictor: Gates, Bill
Prediction, in context:In his 1995 book “The Road Ahead,” Microsoft CEO Bill Gates writes: ”Before the information highway can become fully integrated into society, it must be available to virtually every citizen, not just the elite, but this does not mean that every citizen has to have an information appliance in his house. Once the majority of people have systems installed in their home, those who do not can be accommodated with a share appliance at a library, school, post office, or public kiosk. It’s important to remember that the question of universal access arises only if the highway is immensely successful – more successful than many commentators expect. Amazingly, some of the same critics who complain the highway will be so popular it will cause problems also complain it won’t be popular at all.”
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: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Digital Divide
Name of publication: The Road Ahead (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 12: Critical Issues
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 256
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne