The Net itself does not dictate how it will be used. Such views are known as “technological determinism,” and they are tremendously common in discussions of the Net, which some people assume will bring a decentralized world of liberty and others assume will bring a centralized world of control. The answer is that neither outcome is necessary.
Predictor: Hall, Barbara Welling
Prediction, in context:In his introduction to The Network Observer online newsletter for July 1994, Phil Agre paraphrases the ideas of Barbara Welling Hall. He writes: ”[Barbara Welling Halls’] message is that the Net itself does not dictate how it will be used. Such views are known as ‘technological determinism,’ and they are tremendously common in discussions of the Net, which some people assume will bring a decentralized world of liberty and others assume will bring a centralized world of control. The answer is that neither outcome is necessary; what happens depends on the uses we make of the Net, and on how we help to shape the evolving network culture.”
Date of prediction: January 1, 1994
Topic of prediction: Community/Culture
Subtopic: Virtual Communities
Name of publication: The Network Observer
Title, headline, chapter name: Welcome to TNO 1 (7)
Quote Type: Paraphrase
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://dlis.gseis.ucla.edu/people/pagre/tno/july-1994.html#augmented
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Kafoure, David