The Internet is a tidal wave. It will wash over the computer industry and many others, drowning those who don’t learn to swim in its waves.
Predictor: Gates, Bill
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 column for the New York Times News Service, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates looked at the general topic of the Internet. He writes: ”The Internet is the most important single development in the computer industry since the IBM PC was introduced in 1981. It is even more important than the advent of the graphical user interface, the use of on-screen pictures and fonts … Like the PC, the Internet is a tidal wave. It will wash over the computer industry and many others, drowning those who don’t learn to swim in its waves. The Internet has shortcomings, but they will be overcome. Consequently, companies must account for the Internet in their plans. This is an area where I’m practicing what I preach. Over the past year, I’ve challenged Microsoft to address the opportunities presented by the Internet. If you looked around Microsoft and said, ‘What’s the theme that’s driving innovation here?’ you would discover it is the Internet far more than anything else.”
Biography:Bill Gates, the most influential technology entrepreneur of the late 20th century, was the primary author of the prediction-packed 1995 book “The Road Ahead” and is the founder and CEO of Microsoft Corporation. (Entrepreneur/Business Leader.)
Date of prediction: August 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: General, Overarching Remarks
Subtopic: General
Name of publication: New York Times
Title, headline, chapter name: The Internet
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/columns/1995essay/essay950815.asp
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney