By Steve Ranger, 6 August 2007 09:01
NEWS
Even renowned science fiction author William Gibson has given up guessing what the future looks like - for now at least.
The novelist is famous for inventing the word 'cyberspace' and predicting the implications of the networked world long before it became a reality. But his latest book Spook Country is set in the present (in fact, the near past) rather than the far-flung future.
In an exclusive interview with silicon.com, Gibson said: "The trouble is there are enough crazy factors and wild cards on the table now that I can't convince myself of where a future might be in 10 to 15 years."
William Gibson talks tech...
"I think that, generally speaking, technologies are morally neutral until humans beings pick them up and use them for something."
Click here to read the full Q&A
Gibson has been exploring the relationship between technology and society ever since his influential novel Neuromancer in 1984.
He told silicon.com: "Most societal change now is technologically driven, so there's no way to look at where the human universe is going without looking at the effect of emergent technology. There's not really anything else driving change in the world I believe."
But he added: "All of the big changes that emergent technologies bring us are, for the most part, completely unanticipated by the people that introduce those technologies. It's out of control by its very nature and if you could control it, it wouldn't work."
Follow the link to read the full interview in which he talks about where Neuromancer went wrong, why he's not a Luddite or a technophile, corporate futurism... and spotting escapees from Second Life.
Comments
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1. Geoffrey Richards
The future is apparent to people who are looking at the past. Might I suggest that large-scale non-violent civil disobedience will be met by violence at the hands of tyrants, followed by an 'alien' visitation (for a 'progress report' on humans) in about 5 years and 4 months. Of course, you may call me crazy, but I have seen things many others choose to ignore. Keep looking, the proverbial sh!t is about to hit the fan. All the best, and peace will prevail, Geoff
2. Joe Whitehead
Isn't that what they said in 1995 with the end of the world? Previous results are not indicative of future returns. I expect that some predictions will at least partially come true. Backlash against being attacked would likely change most people to become non-nonviolent. Just saying... Almost no one's absolutely innocent of aggression.
Anyways, I'd partially agree with Gibson - people who use the technology drive the change. I've seen much technology that had great potential and went nowhere such as DAT (digital audio tape) while cell phones have made a mockery of everything to do with putting that much power into such a small space. The cell phones are deliberately restricted so as to make more money for operators. :)
The DAT drives were sabotaged by having annoying DRM on them in addition to the costs. You can't drop costs if even musicians and hobbiests refuse to buy them! The phones on the other hand have been a boon and bane to almost everyone who can afford one. They have been marketted as a convenience.