The culture has shifted to a new medium. But it’s not going to be the only medium there is. The introduction of fire produced great changes in our society. That doesn’t mean that everything is on fire. Digital technologies and the net can have a great effect without meaning that everything has to be the net. I listen to books on tape. I have for many years. I couldn’t live without them. I listen to the radio. I read books. I read magazines. I write letters. All of these things are not going to go away when the net comes. The flourishing of digital communication will enable more options, more possibilities, more diversity, more room, more frontiers.
Predictor: Kelly, Kevin
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 HarperÕs Magazine article, four experts on the impact of modern computing and telecommunications technology debate the effects of such technology on modern society. The article includes comments by Kevin Kelly, the executive editor of Wired magazine and the author of “Out of Control: The Rise of Neo-biological Civilization,” published by Addison-Wesley, an excerpt from which appeared in the May 1994 issue of Harper’s Magazine. Kelly says: ÒThe culture has shifted to a new medium. But it’s not going to be the only medium there is. The introduction of fire produced great changes in our society. That doesn’t mean that everything is on fire. Digital technologies and the net can have a great effect without meaning that everything has to be the net. I listen to books on tape. I have for many years. I couldn’t live without them. I listen to the radio. I read books. I read magazines. I write letters. All of these things are not going to go away when the net comes. The flourishing of digital communication will enable more options, more possibilities, more diversity, more room, more frontiers.”
Biography:Kevin Kelly was the author of the book “Out of Control” and the first executive editor of the highly influential Wired magazine. (Author/Editor/Journalist.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1995
Topic of prediction: General, Overarching Remarks
Subtopic: General
Name of publication: Harper's Magazine
Title, headline, chapter name: What Are We Doing On-line? A Debate on the Social Consequences of Online Communications
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Pages 35 - 46
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne