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We imagine how the newspapers of the 1980s might have commented on cult writer William Gibson's predictions of communities in cyberspace.

Virtual communities? Virtual lunacy.

In the future, you won't bother going out to the bingo hall, you'll sit at home alone in front of a computer screen chatting to your 'cyber' friends.

According to kooky sci-fi writer William Gibson, computers are set to replace the good old-fashioned community hall as people start socialising and even dating in what he calls 'cyberspace'.

Cyberspace

The wacky author thinks everyone will eventually have a personal computer. People will use them for everything from having conversations to crime-solving.

People might even become addicted to life in 'cyberspace' as across the fence catch-ups with neighbours will become a thing of the past.

Type, don't chat

Busby will be chucked out the window, too, as computers will eventually replace the phone - and it won't just be locally. Before long, Gibson reckons we could be using computers to chat to one person or whole groups of people all over the world at any time of day or night.

It's ridiculous, of course, but it makes great sci-fi. But just for once, it would be nice if a sci-fi writer of Gibson's calibre made predictions for the future that might have a chance of coming true.