An engineer in 1964 looks to the future
From the Hattiesburg American - Feb 18, 1964
He got all this correct!
An automated home is the closest to being a reality. The rest of it—not even close.
Many of the engineers' dreams are soon to become realities. Plans are now under way for twin 110-story towers in New York City which will dwarf the Empire State Building. The tunnel under the English Channel now seems assured. Covered, air-conditioned baseball stadiums are being built to do away with the need for rain checks. And the engineers soon hope to place a man on the moon, the first major step toward the exploration of our own galaxy and the galaxies beyond.
He got all this correct!
Fifty years from now some writer will look back and reflect that the in the 60's an engineer who dreamed of the weekend trip to Mars, the University of Space located on Jupiter, the completely automated home where housework consisted of pushing buttons, the aerial highways and helicars, and other commplace things in the year 2014 was considered a "screwball" by his fellow citizens.
An automated home is the closest to being a reality. The rest of it—not even close.
Comments
I've got an automated house, all but the dog walker and I'm working on it.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/06/14 at 11:07 AM
Also no mention of the underwater cities, which is the trouble with predicting future events. Most mentioned here were in progress already so it was safe enough to declare them as near future predictions.
World Trade Center opened for business April, 1973.
Astrodome (Houston, TX) opens 1965.
Moon Landing, July 1969.
Cross Channel Tunnel opens 1994 - London to Paris in a few hours by train. Thirty years out but engineers had plans from as early as 1802.
However, consider what we do have today - computer-phones that fit in our pockets, with video capability. World wide travel for the masses. Eradication of smallpox and a few other diseases on the endangered list.
Although the future ain't what it used to be, it is better today than the "Good Ole Days."
World Trade Center opened for business April, 1973.
Astrodome (Houston, TX) opens 1965.
Moon Landing, July 1969.
Cross Channel Tunnel opens 1994 - London to Paris in a few hours by train. Thirty years out but engineers had plans from as early as 1802.
However, consider what we do have today - computer-phones that fit in our pockets, with video capability. World wide travel for the masses. Eradication of smallpox and a few other diseases on the endangered list.
Although the future ain't what it used to be, it is better today than the "Good Ole Days."
Posted by KDP on 01/06/14 at 11:18 AM
I predict WWIII will be the one thing that stimulates failing economies, reduces population growth, and actually saves the world. Probably though not in my remaining lifetime.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 01/06/14 at 02:15 PM
I still want the flying cars! (Not to mention the boundless optimism of those days.)
Posted by Dave Plechaty on 01/09/14 at 02:02 AM
@Dave in the Frozen Midwest. Watch This
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 01/09/14 at 02:31 AM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: Predictions | Yesterday’s Tomorrows | 1960s