The prediction, in brief:

If you want to see reproductions of the artwork in a museum or gallery, you’ll be able to “walk” through a visual representation, navigating among the works much as if you were physically there. For details about a painting or sculpture, you would use a hyperlink. No crowds, no rush, and you could ask anything without worrying about seeming uninformed. You would bump into interesting things, just as you do in a real gallery. Navigating through a virtual gallery won’t be like walking through a real at gallery, but it will be a rewarding approximation.

Predictor: Gates, Bill

Prediction, in context:

In his 1995 book “The Road Ahead,” Microsoft CEO Bill Gates writes:”Spatial navigation can also be used for touring. If you want to see reproductions of the artwork in a museum or gallery, you’ll be able to ‘walk’ through a visual representation, navigating among the works much as if you were physically there. For details about a painting or sculpture, you would use a hyperlink. No crowds, no rush, and you could ask anything without worrying about seeming uninformed. You would bump into interesting things, just as you do in a real gallery. Navigating through a virtual gallery won’t be like walking through a real at gallery, but it will be a rewarding approximation – just as watching a ballet or basketball on television can be entertaining even though you’re not in the theater or stadium.”

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: Getting, Sharing Information

Subtopic: Virtual Reality

Name of publication: The Road Ahead (book)

Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 4: Applications and Appliances

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Pages 82, 83

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne