From the Ether: Predicting the Internet’s Catastrophic Collapse and Ghost Sites Galore in 1996

As if to make up for the shortage of real money to finance Internet commerce, several companies have been trying to mint digital money. They have, however, failed to streamline financial activity – there are now more, not fewer, middlepersons. Therefore, transaction costs, at 50 cents each or more, remain way too high. Without efficient micropayments, there will be little Internet commerce, except, maybe, but probably not, some advertising.

Welcome to the Emerald City! Please Ignore the Man Behind the Curtain

How different would the public interpretation of computer/communication networks be if the guiding metaphor were that of the “information sidewalk”?

From the Ether: Predicting the Internet’s Catastrophic Collapse and Ghost Sites Galore in 1996

Investors poured a lot of money into the Internet during 1995, but very little leaked out. Everyone will realize this suddenly in January when financial results are tallied. A hurried search for greater fools to absorb projected continuing losses won’t pan out this time.

Welcome to the Emerald City! Please Ignore the Man Behind the Curtain

As these technologies reinforce the strength of connections between members of wired communities, the gap between these communities and the social community as a whole widens. These technologies can act to create distance as well as to destroy it.

From the Ether: Predicting the Internet’s Catastrophic Collapse and Ghost Sites Galore in 1996

Almost all of the many predictions now being made about 1996 hinge on the Internet’s continuing exponential growth. But I predict the Internet, which only just recently got this section here in InfoWorld, will soon go spectacularly supernova and in 1996 catastrophically collapse.