Will the future see an increasing gap between the information-rich and the information-poor? Access to the Net and access to college are going to be the gateways, everywhere, to a world of communications and information access far beyond what is accessible by traditional media.
Predictor: Rheingold, Howard
Prediction, in context:In his 1991 book “The Virtual Community,” Howard Rheingold writes: ”In the future, that’s where the Net culture in the rest of society will come from worldwide – those who connected with it in college. Will the future see an increasing gap between the information-rich and the information-poor? Access to the Net and access to college are going to be the gateways, everywhere, to a world of communications and information access far beyond what is accessible by traditional media.”
Biography:Howard Rheingold, one of the first writers to illuminate the ideals and foibles of virtual communities, published a webzine called Electric Minds and wrote “Virtual Reality,” “Smart Mobs” and “Virtual Community.” He also was the editor of Whole Earth Review and the Millennium Whole Earth Catalog. (Research Scientist/Illuminator.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1990
Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues
Subtopic: Digital Divide
Name of publication: The Virtual Community
Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter Three: Visionaries and Convergences: The Accidental History of the Net
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.rheingold.com/vc/book/3.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Smith, Ian T.