31Aug/07Off
1979 Living Room of the Future
This is fabulous. The 1979 Living Room of the Future!
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August 31st, 2007 - 11:35
As always, eerily accurate.
August 31st, 2007 - 11:37
my robot’s name is Jenkins
August 31st, 2007 - 11:39
Wow. So close in some ways, and way off in others. It’s interesting how many times I’ve seen predictions back then of video phones — this article even predicts “mid 1980s”. And yet 30 years later, we still don’t have them. They exist, but they’re nowhere close to being standard or cheap yet. I wonder why that is. As technology goes, it’s kind of a no-brainer at this point in time. Is it because on some level, consumers don’t really want them? Do we like the visual anonymity of the phone? Or is there something I’m missing?
August 31st, 2007 - 11:51
Because a lot of people talk on the phone in the crapper, is my guess.
August 31st, 2007 - 11:57
(I do Sudoku in the crapper… tmi?)
August 31st, 2007 - 11:58
Heh. Maybe. Yeah, I guess the portability of cordless phones became more important than the whole video thing. Although it still seems like we could have a video monitor where the base of the phone is. I guess it’s something that probably won’t quite happen until the computer, the TV, and the phone all inevitably merge into one unit. Then the video teleconferencing functionality that people use on their computers now will become more commonly used.
August 31st, 2007 - 11:58
Holy shit! They predicted the GEICO caveman!?
August 31st, 2007 - 12:03
The major reason video phones never really caught on, I think, is the difference between watching television and listening to the radio. Video demands too much of your attention, whereas audio only leaves you free to do other things. You can cook when you’re on the phone, for example, but not if you were tied to a phone.
August 31st, 2007 - 12:16
I agree. I don’t think a portable video phone is something most people would be interested in. If you need that kind of Jetsons-like interactivity, you can always just do it with your computer. (dirty)
August 31st, 2007 - 12:33
Soosan, me too.
August 31st, 2007 - 12:40
Note to self: Never let Ivon or Soosan borrow my Sudoku book.
August 31st, 2007 - 12:59
Hugh… I saw that too!
I’ve also been known to study for exams whilst on the crapper… I mean what else is there to do?
August 31st, 2007 - 13:01
I demand my domestic robot and my 3D holographic recorder.
August 31st, 2007 - 13:04
I’m pretty sure the lack of video phone has to do with the fact that I don’t want to get dressed every morning and if you could see me when I answered my phone, I would not ever answer my phone.
I love how they predicted email, but you still have to WRITE IT DOWN first and then scan it at the post office.
August 31st, 2007 - 13:06
Something I’ve always been curious to know is why the people of the future are so often depicted wearing tacky unitards. Do we imagine that the machines of the future will use style as fuel? I don’t get it.
August 31st, 2007 - 13:11
Yeah, what’s with the jumpsuits? Why does every prediction of “the future” take away our inalienable right to pants?
“Tonight, the Action News 7 Team gives you a sneak peek at the future of fashion…with sexy results.”
And where the fuck is my robot bartender?
August 31st, 2007 - 13:46
…and my flying car! I would gladly give up my right hand for a flying car.
August 31st, 2007 - 13:51
You guys don’t have a robot bartender?!?
August 31st, 2007 - 13:53
I was thinking the same thing about the unitards. Although I must say that I DO wear one piece dresses whenever possible so I don’t have to think about actually picking out two separate pieces of clothing in the morning. So a unitard, if designed to hide my “flaw” areas, might be an option for me.
August 31st, 2007 - 15:21
He still has his vinyl records though!
September 2nd, 2007 - 21:09
My sister’s company actually makes robot bartenders.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=1363718
Of course, at $150,000 to $200,000, we’ll prolly all have to chip in.