Predictions of the Future...From the 1960s

kkleiner writes "Jetpacks, flying cars, death rays — the future isn't quite what the past hoped it would be. Of course, when predictions do come true it can be really shocking. Check out some of the more entertaining and eye-opening videos that show classic predictions from the 1960s. The Jet Age couldn't imagine the Age of Social Media clearly, but they got a few things right. And many more hilariously wrong."

Comments

funded by Monsanto

[KiloByte]

The House of the Future was funded by Monsanto who now is a scarily powerful biotech and genetically modified food conglomerate but who in the 1960s was all about plastics.

So nothing really changed.

Arthur C Clarke: Profiles of the Future.... 1962

[SomethingOrOther]

Arthur C Clarkes "Profiles of the Future" is the last word on this.
First published in 1962, it's predictions are amazingly accurate. It is a must for any geek bookshelf and I'm amazed so few have read it.

The (few!) things he did get wrong, he followed up in later editions of the book along with good explanations as to why that particular technology came about sooner / later than he predicted.

There is an excellent article about the book given in the Guardian Newspaper
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/mar/04/profiles-future-arthur-clarke-review
It is a fun book, much recommended.

I'd post a link to Amazon..... but I'd rather you buy a copy from your local independent bookshop :-)

Re:Did he predict the Internet?

[GameboyRMH]

The Internet has been predicted quite a few times. Off the top of my head, Mark Twain:

http://thetyee.ca/Books/2007/01/08/MarkTwain/

Also I found this article on the topic, although the comments are far more interesting than the article itself:

http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2011/03/who-said-science-fiction-never-predicted-the-internet/