When television is digital, it will have many new bits – the ones that tell you about the others. These bits may be simple headers that tell you about resolution, scan rate, and aspect ratio, so that your TV can process and display the signal to its fullest capacity … The bits may be the control data for a knob that allows you to change X-rated to R-rated to PG-rated material (or the reverse). Today’s TV set lets you control brightness, volume, and channel. Tomorrow’s will allow you to vary sex, violence, and political leaning.
Predictor: Negroponte, Nicholas
Prediction, in context:In his 1995 book “Being Digital,” Nicholas Negroponte writes:”When television is digital, it will have many new bits – the ones that tell you about the others. These bits may be simple headers that tell you about resolution, scan rate, and aspect ratio, so that your TV can process and display the signal to its fullest capacity … The bits may be the control data for a knob that allows you to change X-rated to R-rated to PG-rated material (or the reverse). Today’s TV set lets you control brightness, volume, and channel. Tomorrow’s will allow you to vary sex, violence, and political leaning.”
Biography:Nicholas Negroponte, a co-founder of MIT’s Media Lab and a popular speaker and writer about technologies of the future, wrote one of the 1990s’ best-selling books about the new future of communications, “Being Digital.” (Pioneer/Originator.)
Date of prediction: February 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Getting, Sharing Information
Subtopic: TV/Films/Video
Name of publication: Being Digital (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 3: Bitcasting
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 49
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne