• Amusing excerpts from the 2000 edition of the DK "FUTURE" book. My, how far we've come in 10 years.
    159 replies, posted
[release][img]http://imgkk.com/i/g-4b.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/pueu.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/a4z-.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/p_sk.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/tr1o.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/rinu.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/3y9c.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/wzgo.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/2-wp.jpg[/img] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/uy-d.jpg[/img] [/release] [img]http://imgkk.com/i/d8v3.jpg[/img] heh found this in my bookshelf and thought it was interesting enough to warrant a discussion
That was surprisingly accurate.
[IMG]http://gyazo.com/340ac652429360585be35bfc7473ccea.png[/IMG] Fully functional keyboard? Well that's kind of expected...
Not too bad, as far as predictions go.
Some of those predictions on the calendar are really accurate
And we still don't have robot servants. :saddowns:
We can do pretty much all of those things now. Except for the hologram stuff.
why don't we have futuristic funny shaped buildings yet
Videophones: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/2020/videophone.PNG[/img][img]http://htc-mobiles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/HTC-Sensation-300x254.png[/img] Workstation: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/2020/workstation.PNG[/img][img]http://www.slipperybrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/hotseat-flight-sim.jpg[/img] Portable Media Device: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/2020/touchpad.PNG[/img][img]http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Gadgets/Apple%20iPad/More%20pics/1004ipad_hometimes-420-90.jpg[/img] Computer Graphics: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/2020/virtualreality.PNG[/img][img]http://files.g4tv.com/rimg_606x0/ImageDb3/262696_l/Battlefield-3-Reveal-GDC-2011.jpg[/img] Virtual Book: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/2020/book.PNG[/img][img]http://regmedia.co.uk/2009/02/09/kindle_2_001.jpg[/img] ID: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/2020/IDcard.PNG[/img][img]http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/347925/350wm/T3700805-Biometric_passport_chip-SPL.jpg[/img] Friend Compatibility: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/2020/hotbadges.PNG[/img][img]http://s3.therandomforest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/facebook.jpg[/img] [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/2020/2014.PNG[/img] huh
[quote][img]http://imgkk.com/i/2-wp.jpg[/img][/quote] What kind of fucking utopia requires an ID card?
[QUOTE=polarbear.;30970186]why don't we have futuristic funny shaped buildings yet[/QUOTE] [img]http://www.dubai-architecture.info/images/BurjAlArab-a(17).jpg[/img] [img]http://www.burjdubaiskyscraper.com/2010/02/burj0902.jpg[/img] Compared to 2000 buildings, these could/would look funny and futuristic.
[QUOTE=Vietnow;30969813] Fully functional keyboard? Well that's kind of expected...[/QUOTE] my kayboard daesnt function currectly
Oh man, thats a nice dose of nostalgia. Thanks!
[QUOTE=Prez;30970286][img]http://www.dubai-architecture.info/images/BurjAlArab-a(17).jpg[/img] [img]http://www.burjdubaiskyscraper.com/2010/02/burj0902.jpg[/img] Compared to 2000 buildings, these could/would look funny and futuristic.[/QUOTE] [img]http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/jpgs/london/london_bridge_tower_rpbw031007_63hayesdavidson_johnmclean.jpg[/img] Shivers down my spine every time I see it. Especially from the bottom.
This one could be treated as futuristic too: [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ryugyeong_Hotel_on_February_2011.jpg[/img]
I loved this book when I was little.
[QUOTE=pawelte1;30970580]This one could be treated as futuristic too: [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ryugyeong_Hotel_on_February_2011.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. [editline]7th July 2011[/editline] Shame the damn thing never got finished though.
Their "video phone" looks so... toy-like.
Just goes to show that science and technology moves even faster than we can predict. That book predicted that a technological utopia would exist as soon as 2020, but not only did we beat their deadline in half the predicted time, we hugely exceeded their expectations in almost every regard. Makes you wonder how much the world will change over the [i]next[/i] ten years. "Science fiction" is becoming reality, and it's happening faster and faster with every passing day. The far-fetched visions of the future we have today will most likely be dwarfed by the reality of it. People will look back and say, [i]"Man, that's all they thought we'd accomplish? Talk about underachievers."[/i]
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;30970977]Just goes to show that science and technology moves even faster than we can predict. That book predicted that a technological utopia would exist as soon as 2020, but not only did we beat their deadline in half the predicted time, we hugely exceeded their expectations in almost every regard. Makes you wonder how much the world will change over the [i]next[/i] ten years. "Science fiction" is becoming reality, and it's happening faster and faster with every passing day. The far-fetched visions of the future we have today will most likely be dwarfed by the reality of it. People will look back and say, [i]"Man, that's all they thought we'd accomplish? Talk about underachievers."[/i][/QUOTE] Their worse prediction is that the technology would automatically lead to a utopia, whereas in reality we're moving towards the opposite of that.
[QUOTE=CoolCorky;30970211] Workstation: [img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28898399/2020/workstation.PNG[/img][/QUOTE] Woah, judging by it's expression, that chair is watching some freaky future porn.
[QUOTE=Vietnow;30969813][IMG]http://gyazo.com/340ac652429360585be35bfc7473ccea.png[/IMG] Fully functional keyboard? Well that's kind of expected...[/QUOTE] No thanks, that's too advanced for me. I'll stick with my good old half-missing keyboard.
The only thing as far as I can tell that wasn't an accurate prediction was the solar cell part. There's maybe 20 houses in my entire town (with like thousands of homes) that have solar panels, and as far as I can remember the most efficient ones only reach about 30% and even then, they're unfeasible for residential or commercial use.
[QUOTE=pawelte1;30970580]This one could be treated as futuristic too: [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ryugyeong_Hotel_on_February_2011.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] so who rents a hotel room there?
The aesthetics of all the prediction gadgets look dumb. Why is it everyone's assumption that in the future everything is bizarre looking?
most of this stuff is already here.
[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;30971054]Their worse prediction is that the technology would automatically lead to a utopia, whereas in reality we're moving towards the opposite of that.[/QUOTE] How can you say that? Nearly the entire world is connected now, and ideas and information and opinions are being instantly exchanged across oceans. Look at me and you, for example: you're from the United Kingdom, I'm from the heart of America, and we're exchanging opinions and ideas across three thousand miles of land and water that would have prevented us from doing that only fifteen years ago. We're both experiencing each other's culture, we're both learning and expanding our minds at a rate that even our parents couldn't have imagined when they were our age. Look at how "simple" social networking sites like Twitter have taken the strife and oppression in the Middle East and put it on our doorsteps, so that the entire world can see and learn from it, and work to help make things better for everybody. There will probably always be willfully ignorant people, but they're rapidly declining to a very small minority. The "hot ticket social issues" that has our politicians in uproar today will be ugly history in the future because now people can discuss their ideas for making the world better in ways that we never could have imagined before. You can see it in action. When you read about some social outrage (a gay bash Georgia, a racist policeman in New York, whatever), the people you discuss these things with aren't just the kids on your street anymore. The social ignorance of places that grew up mostly secluded from the rest of world, such as the small towns in the deep American South, is dissipating in the face of our new, connected world. Things are changing for the better, and they're doing it faster than ever before.
That was so awesome!
I always find it funny in these future predictions that any prediction about housing or culture is always way too optimistic, while any prediction about computers and such is always way crappier than what actually developed.
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;30971390]How can you say that? Nearly the entire world is connected now, and ideas and information and opinions are being instantly exchanged across oceans. Look at me and you, for example: you're from the United Kingdom, I'm from the heart of America, and we're exchanging opinions and ideas across three thousand miles of land and water that would have prevented us from doing that only fifteen years ago. We're both experiencing each other's culture, we're both learning and expanding our minds at a rate that even our parents couldn't have imagined when they were our age. Look at how "simple" social networking sites like Twitter have taken the strife and oppression in the Middle East and put it on our doorsteps, so that the entire world can see and learn from it, and work to help make things better for everybody. There will probably always be socially ignorant people, but the "hot ticket social issues" that has our politicians in uproar today will be a thing of the past in the future, because now people can discuss their ideas for making the world better in ways that they never could have before. You can see it in action. When you read about some social outrage (a gay bash Georgia, a racist policeman in New York, whatever), the people you discuss these things with aren't just the kids on your street anymore. The social ignorance of places that grew up mostly secluded from the rest of world, such as the small towns in the deep American South, is dissipating in the face of our new, connected world. Things are changing for the better, and they're doing it faster than ever before.[/QUOTE] All that and more is true, but what I'm saying is a) it's not as good as was predicted in 2000 b) it won't last for long if those numerous bills to censor and restrict the internet go through. The internet is gradually becoming less globalised and more regionalised. For example, Iran is working on its own, closed off version of the internet so its citizens can't access the outside world. China has its Great Firewall. Australia is trying to block sites left, right and centre. Furthermore, the part about being able to see atrocities committed in backwaters on the other side of the planet doesn't do much good either. What can you do if you're just sat behind a computer screen?
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