In 1996 MPR News saw big changes coming to the world of digital technology, and figured listeners could use a daily guide to the new, rapidly changing landscape. Future Tense was born, seeking from the very beginning to help users understand how technology was changing their lives -- for the good and bad. Future Tense, created, produced and hosted by Jon Gordon, offered listeners a peek into the future (sometimes presciently, sometimes not so much).
Future Tense aired across the U.S. on American Public Media stations until 2010. APM's tech show is now Marketplace Tech Report.
April 2, 1998 - So your web page looks nice, and it's a good read...but how does it SOUND? Thomas Dolby Robertson is out to make the web a friendly place for the ear. The singer of the 1980's quirky hit song "She Blinded Me With Science" makes his living these days as a multimedia artist and composer.
April 15, 1998 - Even with thousands of job losses, we hear a lot about the high tech worker shortage; that there isn't a qualified workforce to support the growing information technology industry. Not everyone believes it. Norman Matloff at the University of California-Davis is one of them. He says software companies only hire about 2-percent of the people who apply and that the cry of a labor shortage is a way to get cheaper labor.
April 22, 1998 - Web work pays well, according to a new study by the American Electronics Association. The A-E-A says average salaries for Web-related jobs range from about $40,000 to $120,000 a year That's for positions such as electronic commerce manager, web publisher and graphic artist. Paula Silva is a Vice President for the A-E-A.
June 27, 2000 - This is Future Tense for Tuesday, June 27th. I'm Jon Gordon. Today, helping to heal the wounds of war in Kosovo with the Internet. Gary Selnow is director of World Internet Resources for Education and Development. This is Future Tense, I'm Jon Gordon.
June 28, 2000 - Internet cookies from Uncle Sam. Internet privacy campaigner Jason Catlett. In the news today, America Online it will appeal a judge's order allowing hourly AOL subscribers to pursue a class-action suit over allegedly excessive billing charges caused by pop-up advertisements. The lawsuit claims at least 2.5 million subscribers have been overcharged between $15 million to $20 million because pop-up ads appeared after they began to pay for additional time beyond their monthly limits, effectivley forcing subscribers to pay for the privilege of reading unwelcome ads.
June 29, 2000 - This is Future Tense for Thursday June 29th. I'm Jon Gordon. Today, a toy inventor who plans to blast himself into space. Brian Walker of Bend, Oregon. This is Future Tense. I'm Jon Gordon.
July 3, 2000 - This is Future Tense for Monday, July 3rd. I'm Jon Gordon. New technology from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will make searching for life on mars a more practical task. Sensor Webs, as we hear in the report from Shawnee Barnes in Los Angeles, have lots of other applications. A final note...A twenty-something computer systems manager who legally changed his name to "DotComGuy" to reflect his online life is halfway to his goal. Six months ago, the 26-year-old rented a Dallas town house and said he'd live off e-commerce for a year -- and wouldn't leave the "Dotcompound." From a stark beginning, DotComGuy has acquired a workout room,
July 5, 2000 - From Minnesota Public Radio, this is Future Tense. I'm Jon Gordon. Today, suped up walkie talkies.
July 7, 2000 - From Minnesota Public Radio, this is Future Tense for Friday, July 7th. I'm Jon Gordon. Today, making your voice heard with TellThemNow.com A Seattle Internet company allows you to tell politicians, stars, business people, and journalists what you think of them, without having to find the email addresses yourself. You can send email from the TellThemNow.com Web site, or from news sites that include the TellThemNow service. The online version of the Seattle Times, for example, includes a little TellThemNow box next to every story. All you have to do is plug in the name of the person to whom you wish to vent. Wiley Brooks is the company's founder.
July 10, 2000 - This is Future Tense for Monday, July 10th. I'm Jon Gordon. Today, is your privacy at risk when dotcoms fail?