Usable electronic money may be the most important outcome of a sudden grassroots takeover of the formerly esoteric and forbidden field of codes and ciphers … There are certainly many potential uses of encryption that the cypherpunks’ own ideological leanings blind them to, and that will have to wait until encryption technology enters the mainstream – as it certainly will.
Predictor: Kelly, Kevin
Prediction, in context:In his 1994 book “Out of Control: The New Biology of Machines, Social Systems and the Economic World,” Kevin Kelly, editor of Wired magazine, writes: ”Usable electronic money may be the most important outcome of a sudden grassroots takeover of the formerly esoteric and forbidden field of codes and ciphers. Everyday e-money is one novel use for encryption that never would have occurred to the military. There are certainly many potential uses of encryption that the cypherpunks’ own ideological leanings blind them to, and that will have to wait until encryption technology enters the mainstream – as it certainly will. To date, encryption has birthed the following: digital signatures, blind credentials (you have a diploma that says, yes, you have a Ph.D., yet no one can link that diploma with the other diploma in your name from traffic school), anonymous e-mail, and electronic money. These species of disconnection thrive as networks thrive.”
Biography:Kevin Kelly was the author of the book “Out of Control” and the first executive editor of the highly influential Wired magazine. (Author/Editor/Journalist.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1992
Topic of prediction: Communication
Subtopic: Security/Encryption
Name of publication: Out of Control: The New Biology of Machines, Social Systems, and the Economic World
Title, headline, chapter name: E-Money
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 228
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney