The vision of the Open Data Network is not a lowest-common-denominator approach: it incorporates a need for an evolving low end, but it lays the foundation for a richer construct for the future. The challenge for the country is to shape the architecture of the network so that the NII that results meets not just short-term commercial objectives, but also longer-term societal needs. It is important to appreciate these differences in outlook now, since progress dictates that rough agreement on an NII vision be achieved sooner rather than later.
Predictor: National Research Council
Prediction, in context:In 1994, the NRENaissance Committee, appointed by the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board of the National Research Council, produced a special report titled “Realizing the Information Future: The Internet and Beyond.” Among the committee members were Internet pioneers Leonard Kleinrock, David Clark, David Farber, Lawrence Landweber and Robert Kahn. The committee’s goal was to “study issues raised by the shift to a larger, more truly national networking capability.” Among its statements about the blossoming of the National Information Infrastructure (NII) is this: ”Although specific current federal efforts to promote an NII are hard to pin down, the centerpiece is clearly the IITF [Information Infrastructure Task Force]. The IITF appears designed to provide a policy framework for meeting general public infrastructure needs, attacking the broader nature of the NII challenge, interacting with many stakeholders, and serving as a vehicle for coordination and communication across the government on several interconnected policy issues. The current focus appears to include lowest-common-denominator approaches to the most basic connectivity or industry-directed provision of services to households. However, as now empowered, the IITF neither fully embraces the research perspectives that have grown with the HPCC and NREN programs nor satisfactorily addresses the education and library communities’ needs for more than minimal access. By contrast, the vision of the Open Data Network is not a lowest-common-denominator approach: it incorporates a need for an evolving low end, but it lays the foundation for a richer construct for the future. The challenge for the country is to shape the architecture of the network so that the NII that results meets not just short-term commercial objectives, but also longer-term societal needs. It is important to appreciate these differences in outlook now, since progress dictates that rough agreement on an NII vision be achieved sooner rather than later.”
Date of prediction: January 1, 1994
Topic of prediction: Information Infrastructure
Subtopic: Open Access
Name of publication: Realizing the Information Future: The Internet and Beyond
Title, headline, chapter name: Leadership in Education
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://stills.nap.edu/html/rtif/
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney