The interesting questions to ponder are: (1) is “exposure” in cyberspace the same as exposure in physical space, and (2) if so, who among us will: (a) unthinkingly exceed the virtual FARs of stimulating space and move into active freneticism, (b) ever so gently decline into the state of “comfortably numb” as we use isolating environments to cut ourselves off from exposure, or (c) pro-actively leverage connectivity to serve our time rather than succumb to the temptations of too many activities … The answers probably lie in the combination of autonomy and self-awareness that structures individual lives, and the sense of mission that make up institutional memories.
Predictor: Acker, Stephen R.
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 article from the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Stephen R. Acker of the Communication Department/Center for the Advanced Study of Telecommunications at The Ohio State University discusses collaboration in a virtual world. He writes: ÒThe interesting questions to ponder are: (1) is ÔexposureÕ in cyberspace the same as exposure in physical space, and (2) if so, who among us will: (a) unthinkingly exceed the virtual FARs of stimulating space and move into active freneticism, (b) ever so gently decline into the state of Ôcomfortably numbÕ as we use isolating environments to cut ourselves off from exposure, or (c) pro-actively leverage connectivity to serve our time rather than succumb to the temptations of too many activities. At the institutional level, how will higher education plan its physical and electronic spaces to meet the needs of these individuals? The answers probably lie in the combination of autonomy and self-awareness that structures individual lives, and the sense of mission that make up institutional memories.”
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: Community/Culture
Subtopic: General
Name of publication: Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication
Title, headline, chapter name: Space, Collaboration, and the Credible City: Academic Work in the Virtual University
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol1/issue1/acker/ACKTEXT.HTM
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne