The article contains an analytical review of developments in database technologies, made on the basis of reports prepared by the results of eight meetings of database specialists held throughout 1988–2013. Objects of the analysis are most interesting predictions given in the reports: their realism, accuracy, pragmatism or, vice versa, utopianism or opportunism. 
 The article consists of two parts.
 Part 1 is devoted to analysis and evaluation of predictions made in the reports of the four earlier meetings held in 1988, 1990, 1995, and 1996. These predictions are about creation, development and uses of decision support systems, database appliances, graphic processing units, operating systems, interface for structured query language, database applications, information distribution, universal database management systems, query optimization criteria, intellectual analysis of database within database management systems. A detailed description of research themes in the field of databases, which got the priority status in that time, is given: recording and computation of data, security and confidentiality of data, replication and harmonization of data, structuring of data, intellectual analysis of data, data warehouses. 
 Part 2 is devoted to an analytical review of the predictions contained in the reports on the meetings held in 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013. The predictions are about self-adjustment of database systems, rethinking of the traditional database architecture as a result of new hardware capabilities. They make special emphasis on the feasibility of manipulations with structured and unstructured data within DSS architecture, support of Big Data technology, with outlining the themes of research aimed at implementation of its potential.