The Incredible Shrinking Radio



Despite the technological trend being obvious in 1954, I don't think anyone--SF writers or scientists or futurists--really anticipated something like an iPod.
     Posted By: Paul - Tue Dec 29, 2015
     Category: Radio | Technology | 1950s





Comments
I don't know about the 1950s, but Stanley Kubrick in the movie "2001:A Space Odyssey" which was designed, built, & filmed through the 1960s, had a very iPod-like portable viewer.

In 1974, Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle published "The Mote in God's Eye" which had a something very much like a Samsung Notes tablet.
Posted by mjbird on 12/29/15 at 08:10 AM
Arthur C. Clarke proposed the Geostationary communications satellite in 1945. IIRC his later short story about this had the satellites manned so the valves (vacuum tubes) could be easily replaced. It was before William Shockley invented the transistor by a few months.
Posted by BMN on 12/29/15 at 11:40 AM
Capt. Kirk was using a flip phone in the 60's & Dick Tracey was talking on his wrist communicator way back in the 50's.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 12/29/15 at 12:01 PM
Don't forget the 3D printer replicators on the Enterprise.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 12/29/15 at 05:23 PM
Expat: Many of Star Trek's predictions aren't so much predictions as inspirations for watching geeks who then went on to invent what they saw. Which is even more impressive, if you ask me.
Posted by Richard Bos on 12/30/15 at 06:11 AM
@RB: Oh, I agree!! The REALLY good S/F is written by guys like Asimov, Clark, Bear, etc. and they knew/know what they're talking about. (usually)
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 12/30/15 at 06:18 AM
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