It is possible that Mosaic and its progeny could quickly become the standard front end for the Internet … As the software improves and modem speeds increase, full-page layouts with color graphics, animations, film clips, automated product ordering and many other features will become commonplace. Using Mosaic for video-on-demand and set-top-box interactive television is also a likely possibility.
Predictor: Branwyn, Gareth
Prediction, in context:In his 1994 book “MOSAIC Quick Tour,” Gareth Branwyn writes: ”Without sounding too grandoise, it is possible that Mosaic and its progeny could quickly become the standard front end for the Internet. Even though Internet ‘membership’ is growing rapidly, many users have great difficulty figuring out how to use all the available services. This, coupled with the infoglut of too much information and no way of burrowing through it, means that the Internet experience can quickly become overwhelming. Mosaic brings the resources of the Internet back into the familar realm of the Windows and Mac graphic-user environments. Few average users know what an IP address is, or how to write a UNIX script; but almost everyone knows how to point and click a mouse. For many Internet service developers, Mosaic is a major breakthrough. Government agencies, universities, mail-order businesses and publishers (to name a few) are all scrambling to offer their resources through Mosaic. Mitch Kapor, founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and a chief evangelist for the information highway, sees Mosaic as a major turning point in providing free and open access. Another likely development for Mosaic may be as a fullblown Internet publisher. Numerous magazines have been exploring better ways of making the leap into cyberspace, and Mosaic might be the ticket. As the software improves and modem speeds increase, full-page layouts with color graphics, animations, film clips, automated product ordering and many other features will become commonplace. Using Mosaic for video-on-demand and set-top-box interactive television is also a likely possibility.”
Biography:Gareth Branwyn served as editor of Street Tech Labs and as the “Jargon Watch” editor of Wired. He wrote for Esquire, I.D., Yahoo! and other magazines. His books include “Jargon Watch: A Pocket Dictionary for the Jitterati” and “Jamming the Media: A Citizen’s Guide.” (Author/Editor/Journalist.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1994
Topic of prediction: Information Infrastructure
Subtopic: Language/Interface/Software
Name of publication: MOSAIC Quick Tour: Accessing and Navigating the Internet's World Wide Web
Title, headline, chapter name: What Does the Future Hold?
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Pages 7, 8
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Bricker, Erin E.