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Introduction -- The Internet at the forefront : 1990 through 1995 were revolutionary, with changes surpassing any previous stretch of communications history -- From bonfires and bongos to the Web : people crave and benefit from connections, spurring communications networks to evolve -- Web gems : social, political, and economic expectations inspired intriguing statements about the Internet -- The 'highway' metaphor : finding a way to tell (and sell) how the Internet could be changing lives -- Knocking the Net : some warn the Internet is naughty, anti-nature, and nefarious, even supporters see negatives -- Saddam, O.J., and the Unabomber : Internet developments are tied to the news events and popular culture of the '90s -- Nothing is certain but death and taxes (and some predictions - including the death of taxes - may have been premature, while many other 'deaths' may come to pass) -- Aristotle, Jefferson, Marx, and Mcluhan : predictors use historic perspective to make their points on issues -- Supporters crow about "500 channels!" : everyone warns about "infoglut" : a breathless bromide about a video wonderland is bandied about, while information overload looms larger than ever -- Voices of the Net : zooming in on ten of the many people who made a difference by voicing concerns -- The threat to freedom, to the earth : as communications networks become all-seeing, thinkers/theorists expect Big Brother or a robot takeover -- The future of networks : the global mind doesn't need humans, but they may be able to use it if they'd like -- Nobody knows you're a dog, or do they? -- Hmmm ... will it happen? : these predictions did not come true, nor do they seem likely to come to pass. |
