The prediction, in brief:

The computer culture’s center of gravity has shifted decisively to people who do not think of themselves as programmers. The computer science research community as well as industry pundits maintain that in the near future we can expect to interact with computers by communicating with simulated people on our screens, agents who will help organize our personal and professional lives.

Predictor: Experts

Prediction, in context:

In her 1995 book “Life on the Screen,” Sherry Turkle – an accomplished social psychologist, sociologist and anthropologist from MIT whose studies centered around people and computers for decades – writes:”The computer culture’s center of gravity has shifted decisively to people who do not think of themselves as programmers. The computer science research community as well as industry pundits maintain that in the near future we can expect to interact with computers by communicating with simulated people on our screens, agents who will help organize our personal and professional lives.”

Date of prediction: January 1, 1995

Topic of prediction: Getting, Sharing Information

Subtopic: Intelligent Agents/AI

Name of publication: Life on the Screen (book)

Title, headline, chapter name: Introduction: Identity on the Internet

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 19

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney