Electronic communication technology will change, is changing, indeed, has changed (although some of us haven’t noticed it) the nature of work, and indeed the need for work, in all advanced countries … it may be difficult for most of us to realize that “work” is over, and that very few humans are needed any more … Our old ideas and institutions will be smashed and paved over by the white-hot oozing asphalt of the Information Superhighway.
Predictor: Dator, Jim
Prediction, in context:In a 1994 speech titled “Does Religion Have a Future?” futurist Jim Dator says: ”It is clear, at least to me, that electronic communication technology will change, is changing, indeed, has changed (although some of us haven’t noticed it) the nature of work, and indeed the need for work, in all advanced countries … Even though it may be difficult for most of us to realize that ‘work’ is over, and that very few humans are needed any more to provide everyone with all of the goods and services they could possibly want, much less need, this technologically-induced change is nothing compared to what lies almost immediately ahead with the evolution of artificial intelligence, the rapid emergence of biological engineering – called nanotechnology … that all of these technologies are about to burst into view around us with such speed that our old ideas and institutions will be smashed and paved over by the white-hot oozing asphalt of the Information Superhighway.”
Biography:Jim Dator was a futurist who is credited with founding the first Future Studies program in 1971. He has been director of the Hawaii Research Center for Futures Studies at the University of Hawaii. (Futurist/Consultant.)
Date of prediction: May 17, 1994
Topic of prediction: Economic structures
Subtopic: Employment
Name of publication: A. Margaret Kai Memorial Lecture, Tenney Theatre, St. Andrews Cathedral
Title, headline, chapter name: Does Religion Have a Future?
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.futures.hawaii.edu/dator/other/religion.pdf
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney