Using a combination telephone-video screen computer, citizens will be capable of participating in audio- and videophone calls, teleconferences, tele-debates, tele-discussions, tele-forums, and electronic town meetings. They will, of course, continue to have the capability to phone radio and television talk shows from cars, homes, and workplaces, and talk to vast audiences simultaneously. Most citizens will gain access to a good deal of information and data in many different formats,The material … may have been tailormade specifically for their age group, sex, race, style of living, educational level, taste, and individual interests. Some of it the users will pay for. Some will be provided free because it is promotional or public-service in nature or because it grinds the ax of a particular interest group.
Predictor: Grossman, Lawrence K.
Prediction, in context:In his 1995 book “The Electronic Republic: Reshaping Democracy in the Information Age,” Lawrence Grossman, former president of NBC News and PBS, writes:”Citizens already have many ways to express themselves individually and in groups, to each other and to their elected and appointed officials. At their disposal in the future will be a diverse selection of portable fingertip and voice-activated telecommunications media capable of sending, receiving, storing, and sorting data and motion pictures of all kinds. People will be able to compose and receive instantaneous computer messages, faxes, letters, wires, and videos, and they will have the ability to direct communications, in turn, to just about any individuals or groups they select. Time and distance will be no factor. Using a combination telephone-video screen computer, citizens will be capable of participating in audio- and videophone calls, teleconferences, tele-debates, tele-discussions, tele-forums, and electronic town meetings. They will, of course, continue to have the capability to phone radio and television talk shows from cars, homes, and workplaces, and talk to vast audiences simultaneously. Most citizens will gain access to a good deal of information and data in many different formats, which can be retrieved on order or automatically through ‘smart’ television sets programmed to select and store or retrieve any material on any subject. The material they call up may have been tailormade specifically for their age group, sex, race, style of living, educational level, taste, and individual interests. Some of it the users will pay for. Some will be provided free because it is promotional or public-service in nature or because it grinds the ax of a particular interest group.”
Biography:Lawrence Grossman wrote the book “The Electronic Republic: Reshaping Democracy in an Information Age” (Penguin, 1995). The former executive at NBC and PBS urged people to realize that digital communications had altered how things can and should be done. (Author/Editor/Journalist.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Getting, Sharing Information
Subtopic: General
Name of publication: The Electronic Republic (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 7: The Shape of the Electronic Republic: The Citizens, the Congress, the Presidency, and the Judiciary
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 148
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne