The best use of our technology enhances our humanity. Telling stories establishes computers as a communications medium, prevents each one of us from being labeled a number, passive recipients of media marketing. If we all have a place to publish, the Plugged-In channel, the GK Darby channel, there’s no way the Web will end up as banal and mediocre as television.
Predictor: Hall, Justin Allyn
Prediction, in context:In this 1995 online essay, Justin Hall makes the statement: ”The best use of our technology enhances our humanity. Telling stories establishes computers as a communications medium, prevents each one of us from being labeled a number, passive recipients of media marketing. If we all have a place to publish, the Plugged-In channel, the GK Darby channel, there’s no way the Web will end up as banal and mediocre as television. There would be as many places to find fresh and engaging content as there are people who yearn to be heard. We could engage in worldwide conversation through computers; sharing stories, tips and tricks for life enrichment. Our quality of life stands to be vastly improved when we have the world brain at our fingertips. Got a pain in your gulliver? Find a remedy, find four, without leaving your computer. Interested in Moroccan art? Tap into the Museum of Morocco from your desk.”
Biography:Justin Hall worked briefly at Wired in 1994, during a sabbatical from his college days at Swarthmore. He started his own irreverent e-zine, covering diverse topics and providing links all over the Web. He later worked for ZDTV and Games.com and as a freelance journalist. (Advocate/Voice of the People.)
Date of prediction: July 21, 1995
Topic of prediction: Community/Culture
Subtopic: General
Name of publication: Links.net
Title, headline, chapter name: Computopia: Sharing Stories Humanizes Computer Connections
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.links.net/dox/tech/computopia.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Goodrich, Barbara J.