Future World

This week we look at the future, as seen from the the past. If there is one lesson that we can take from these peeks ahead, it’s that all lenses into the future are foggy and trying to predict the future from the present is hit or miss at best.


Automobiles Of The Future

1960s

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Nuclear-powered vacuum cleaners will probably be a reality in 10 years.

–Alex Lewyt, president of vacuum cleaner company Lewyt Corp., in the New York Times in 1955.


Computers: 2005 Model

Computer of 2005

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“Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.”

(ed – They will also be photoshopped submarines, thanks TIBT)

–Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949


The Future Of Television

Future Television

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“Television won’t last because people will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night.”

–Darryl Zanuck, movie producer, 20th Century Fox, 1946.


Television Based Learning Machine

Television Based Learning Machine

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“Transmission of documents via telephone wires is possible in principle, but the apparatus required is so expensive that it will never become a practical proposition.”

–Dennis Gabor, British physicist and author of Inventing the Future, 1962.


The Telephonoscope

Telephonoscope

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“Everything that can be invented has been invented.”

–Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.


Translation Machine

Translation Machine

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“Remote shopping, while entirely feasible, will flop – because women like to get out of the house, like to handle merchandise, like to be able to change their minds. “

–TIME, 1966, in one sentence writing off e-commerce long before anyone had ever heard of it.


Future New York

Future New York

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“Rail travel at high speed is not possible, because passengers, unable to breathe,would die of asphyxia.”

–Dr Dionysys Larder (1793-1859), professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, University College London.

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