Elon University
The prediction, in brief:

The Internet is a protocol running on top of a physical connection network. That underlying physical network can be changed and the protocol can still be called the Internet. As the underlying physical network changes, all of these applications you develop for the Internet port right over there … It’s a game, and we’re going to build a business around it.

Predictor: Clark, Jim

Prediction, in context:

In a 1994 article for Wired magazine, Michael Goldberg interviews Mosaic executive and former Silicon Graphics Inc. CEO Jim Clark. Goldberg quotes Clark saying: ”I hadn’t thought about what the implications were in terms of [the Internet’s] growth rate [before associating with Mosaic]. The Internet is a protocol running on top of a physical connection network. That underlying physical network can be changed and the protocol can still be called the Internet. As the underlying physical network changes, all of these applications you develop for the Internet port right over there. You would be astounded at the number of terabytes of data that are served by Mosaic today, daily, running on numerous platforms. It’s sort of the standard network tool … You get 1.0 for free. What about 2.0? Do you want it? Of course, you want the upgrades and the new features … It’s a game, and we’re going to build a business around it.”

Date of prediction: January 1, 1994

Topic of prediction: Information Infrastructure

Subtopic: Protocols

Name of publication: Wired

Title, headline, chapter name: Why Jim Clark Loves Mosaic: After Leaving Silicon Graphics, Jim Clark Wanted to Get Into the Interactive-Television Business, But Wasn’t Sure Where the Next Fire Would Strike. With Mosaic, Clark Thinks He Has Found the Spark

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/2.10/jim.clark_pr.html

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