Predictions of the Future...From the 1960s 278
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."
Or is it we (Score:5, Insightful)
The Jet Age couldn't imagine the Age of Social Media clearly, but they got a few things right. And many more hilariously wrong.
Perhaps we are the ones who got it wrong.
Independent bookshops? - ha! (Score:4, Insightful)
I'd post a link to Amazon..... but I'd rather you buy a copy from your local independent bookshop
Who will, in turn merely place an order with Amazon and charge you a premium for your laziness.
Re:Images of the future (Score:5, Insightful)
Too bad you posted anon, so you will likely not read this.
Like most things, I find academia to be what you make of it. Sure, there are professors who've schmoozed their way into tenure and money, and continue to be lazy. However, many of them are actually genuinely interested in advancing with their topic and helping their group. Those are the ones to work for. And like you said, there is not much money to be got in academia compared to business, so I can't imagine profs doing it to line their pants. With lint.. maybe.
And yes, the work that is done is a lot, most of which will hardly be read and even more of which is ultimately a dead end. Such is life. But some progress is made. Some areas are progressing with leaps and bounds (computational chemistry, for one), and much insight is gained. Quick, it is not, and I do not expect to see much significant changes in my lifetime. But gradual progress is there, at a glacial pace, nearly too slow to see. Conferences are actually places where good progress is made, mostly by people putting their heads and ideas together. The fact that it's in Hawaii, or (in my case) in Australia does not change a thing. If we take the geometrical centre of the research activity we would be in South Europe (Italy, Spain) and the people still be complaining. It has to be somewhere.
Re:The online shopping one is really accurate (Score:2, Insightful)
They're called JOKES.