Many educational software programs will have distinct personalities, and the student and computer will get to know each other. A student will ask, perhaps orally, “What caused the American Civil War?” His or her computer will reply, describing the conflicting contentions: that it was primarily a battle over economics or human rights. The length and approach of the answer will vary depending on the student and the circumstances. A student will be able to interrupt at any time to ask the computer for more or less detail or to request a different approach all together. The computer will know what information the student has read or watched and will point out connections or correlations and offer appropriate links … Different learning rates will be accommodated, because computers will be able to pay attention to independent learners.
Predictor: Gates, Bill
Prediction, in context:In his 1995 book “The Road Ahead,” Microsoft CEO Bill Gates writes:ÒWhen the information highway is in operation, the text of millions of books will be available. A reader will be able to ask questions, print the text, read it on-screen, or even have it read in his choice of voices … It will be his tutor. Computers with social interfaces will figure out how to present information so that it is customized for the particular user. Many educational software programs will have distinct personalities, and the student and computer will get to know each other. A student will ask, perhaps orally, ÔWhat caused the American Civil War?Õ His or her computer will reply, describing the conflicting contentions: that it was primarily a battle over economics or human rights. The length and approach of the answer will vary depending on the student and the circumstances. A student will be able to interrupt at any time to ask the computer for more or less detail or to request a different approach all together. The computer will know what information the student has read or watched and will point out connections or correlations and offer appropriate links … Different learning rates will be accommodated, because computers will be able to pay attention to independent learners.Ó
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: E-learning
Name of publication: The Road Ahead (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 9: Education: The Best Investment
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 195
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne