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Summary of Findings
A broad-ranging survey of technology leaders, scholars, industry officials, and interested members of the public finds that most experts expect attacks on the network infrastructure in the coming decade. Some argue that serious assaults on the Internet infrastructure will become a regular part of life.
In September 2004 the Pew Internet & American Life Project sent an e-mail invitation to a list of respected technology experts and social analysts, asking them to complete a 24-question survey about the future of the Internet. We also asked the initial group of experts to forward the invitation to colleagues and friends who might provide interesting perspectives. Some 1,286 people responded to the online survey between September 20 and November 1,2004. About half are Internet pioneers and were online before 1993. Roughly one-third of the experts are affiliated with an academic institution, and another third work for a company or consulting firm. The rest are divided between nonprofit organizations, publications, and the government.
This survey finds there is a strong across-the-board consensus that the Internet will become so important to users in the coming decade