Imagining the internet: personalities, predictions, perspectives

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 1990s

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, some 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? Privacy issues on the Internet

Hmmm ... will it happen? : these predictions did not come true, nor do they seem likely to come to pass; then again, you never know.