The Internet? Is that thing still around?

Remember when it was still called "The Net?" They even made a pretty crummy movie of the same title, starring Sandra Bullock. It took place in a world where the 'Net could be used to order a pizza, crash a plane, erase an identity, or hack into the government's super-secret mainframe using nothing more than green text on a black screen.

Rexdude over at SlashDot has dug up an article from Internet Magazine at the end of 1994, listing the Best and Worst of 1994 and Predictions for '95. In the article, tech experts weigh in on the highlights and low points of the Internet in '94, and also gave predictions as to where it was headed. Some of my favs:

• Worst:

  There's not much that's bad on the Net, but because cyberspace does imitate life, we shouldn't be surprised that in 1994 some less-than-desirable material showed its insolent face. Pick any tragic event and you can probably recall seeing a newsgroup that taunted its seriousness. There was alt.tonya-harding. whack.whack.whack. Then we had alt.lorena.bobitt.chop.chop.chop. And no, I haven't forgotten alt.oj-simpson.drive.faster.

  Expect to see more of this in '95. But don't despair, the flamers are out in force, scorching away at those who abuse the Net, and working to make the Information Highway more like real life, where all is good and nary an offensive word is spoken.

  Mike Godwin
  (mnemonic@eff.org)

  Looks like the flamers lost this one. I'm pretty sure the Net continues to be abused to this day.

• Predictions:

  Cancelbot wars: As spamming and the spam-killing cancelbots become more widespread, people will find their Usenet News messages canceled by someone who simply doesn't like them. Cancelbot software will spread, as people begin editing out opposing views and unfriendly ideas….
  Smart searches: The first intelligent agent software packages will emerge, allowing Net users to ask for a specific piece of information like "What is the population of Fiji?" or "How far is Saturn from the Sun?" An agent will go out on the Net , find the information, and return it without the user knowing the source.

  Kevin Savetz
  (savetz@northcoast.com)

  I've never been attacked by a cancelbot, but I am glad that intelligent agents now exist that can go out on the Net on my behalf. Thanks, Google.

• Predictions:

  The Information Superhighway as delivered via set-top boxes will die forever; a good idea gone awry (gone the way of Betamax); unless someone figures out what people really want, such as the ability to search reference works, participate in distance learning, search the holdings at the local library, and practice electronic democracy.

  Joel Snyder
  (jms@opus1.com)

  Yep, the number one reason people log onto the Net is to search for library books. Something like that, anyway.

• Predictions:

  On-line politics will take off in a big way, with candidates for the 1996 presidential race making their positions available, soliciting funds, debating opponents, and forging postings from each other. Some campaign somewhere will get in trouble over dirty GIFs.

  Aaron Weiss
  (mw12@crux4.cit.cornell.edu)

  Maybe somebody unleashed a cancelbot on Bob Dole's campaign.