Government records could also be made more accessible [thanks to network technology]. The cumbersome procedures necessary to gain access to information under the federal Freedom of Information Act or the local public records laws could be replaced by instantaneous computerized access. Information that is an expensive nightmare to get from government today would thus become available, inexpensively and conveniently, with a few keystrokes.
Predictor: Snider, James
Prediction, in context:The 1995 book “The Information Revolution,” edited by Donald Altschiller, carries a reprint of the 1994, The Futurist article “Democracy On-line” by James H. Snider. Snider speculates on the electronic town meeting, a possibility in the near future. He writes:”Government records could also be made more accessible [thanks to network technology]. The cumbersome procedures necessary to gain access to information under the federal Freedom of Information Act or the local public records laws could be replaced by instantaneous computerized access. Information that is an expensive nightmare to get from government today would thus become available, inexpensively and conveniently, with a few keystrokes. Congress’ recent passage of the Government Printing Office (GPO) Electronic Information Access Enhancement Act, which provides Internet access to GPO documents, is a major step in that direction.”
Date of prediction: January 1, 1994
Topic of prediction: Getting, Sharing Information
Subtopic: General
Name of publication: The Information Revolution (book)
Title, headline, chapter name: Democracy On-line
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 188
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne