Predicting the future can be a dangerous proposition. This is especially true when you have the audacity to create a video projecting what the future might look like—such as these intrepid designers did back in 1930 when they envisioned what “Eve” would be wearing in the year 2000. (Actually, some of their predictions looked a lot like some of the clothes I saw in the 1980’s.)
On a slightly more serious note, I’d encourage you to check this recent post entitled ”Yeah, But He Didn’t Predict the iPhone, Did He?” from the fine folks at TechCrunch. In it, Michael Arrington profiles this amazing article written by James Berry in 1968. The name of the article is 40 Years in the Future.
Arrington claims Berry “had a few things almost right.” If you read the article, however, Berry wasn’t so much wrong in his predictions as he was just a decade or so off in some of his estimates.
Arrington claims Berry’s biggest mistake was this parapraph: ”Medical research has guaranteed that most babies born in the 21st century will live long and healthy lives. Heart disease has virtually been eliminated by drugs and diet. If hearts or other major organs do give trouble, they can be replaced with artificial organs.”
From my perspective, you must first remember that we are still early in the 21st century. My guess is that most babies born in this century will live long and healthy lives. I also believe Berry will also be shown to be correct about heart disease being eliminated as well as his prediction about artificial organs.
If you have the time to read Berry’s complete article you’ll see that he nailed the microwave oven; “computers handling travel reservations,’ and “TV screens covering an entire wall.” Moreover, his predictions about robots, diagnostic technology and self-cleaning materials are just now coming true.
Simply because Berry thought we would be vacationing under the sea in the year 2008 is no reason to belittle an otherwise amazing article.
Interested in other future-related posts? Check out these recent posts:
The Future is Cheap
A Race For Our Future
Insuring Our Future
The Future of Advertising is On the Wall
The Future of Food Innovation
The Future of Rural Health Care
Jack Uldrich is a writer, futurist, public speaker and host of jumpthecurve.net. He is the author of seven books, including Jump the Curve and The Next Big Thing is Really Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business. He is also a frequent speaker on future technology and future trends, nanotechnology, robotics, RFID, innovation, change management and executive leadership to a variety of businesses, industries and non-profit organizations and trade associations.
