Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- info:40_years_from_now_-_2008 [2008/05/12 22:30] – created 192.168.1.103
+++ info:40_years_from_now_-_2008 [2008/05/12 22:31] (current) – 192.168.1.103
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-I have always enjoyed these looks into the future and how wrong they usually are.
+I have always enjoyed these looks into the future and how wrong they usually are. This was written in 1968.
-    **40 Years in the Future**
+**40 Years in the Future**
-    //By James R. Berry//
+//By James R. Berry//
-    IT’S 8 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008, and you are headed for
+It’S 8 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008, and you are headed for
-    a business appointment 300 mi. away. You slide into your
+a business appointment 300 mi. away. You slide into your
-    sleek, two-passenger air-cushion car, press a sequence of
+sleek, two-passenger air-cushion car, press a sequence of
-    buttons and the national traffic computer notes your
+buttons and the national traffic computer notes your
-    destination, figures out the current traffic situation and
+destination, figures out the current traffic situation and
-    signals your car to slide out of the garage. Hands free, you
+signals your car to slide out of the garage. Hands free, you
-    sit back and begin to read the morning paper—which is
+sit back and begin to read the morning paper—which is
-    flashed on a flat TV screen over the car’s dashboard.
+flashed on a flat TV screen over the car’s dashboard.
-    Tapping a button changes the page.
+Tapping a button changes the page.
-    The car accelerates to 150 mph in the city’s suburbs, then
+The car accelerates to 150 mph in the city’s suburbs, then
-    hits 250 mph in less built-up areas, gliding over the smooth
+hits 250 mph in less built-up areas, gliding over the smooth
-    plastic road. You whizz past a string of cities, many of
+plastic road. You whizz past a string of cities, many of
-    them covered by the new domes that keep them evenly
+them covered by the new domes that keep them evenly
-    climatized year round. Traffic is heavy, typically, but
+climatized year round. Traffic is heavy, typically, but
-    there’s no need to worry. The traffic computer, which feeds
+there’s no need to worry. The traffic computer, which feeds
-    and receives signals to and from all cars in transit between
+and receives signals to and from all cars in transit between
-    cities, keeps vehicles at least 50 yds. apart. There hasn’t
+cities, keeps vehicles at least 50 yds. apart. There hasn’t
-    been an accident since the system was inaugurated. Suddenly
+been an accident since the system was inaugurated. Suddenly
-    your TV phone buzzes. A business associate wants a sketch of
+your TV phone buzzes. A business associate wants a sketch of
-    a new kind of impeller your firm is putting out for sports
+a new kind of impeller your firm is putting out for sports
-    boats. You reach for your attache case and draw the diagram
+boats. You reach for your attache case and draw the diagram
-    with a pencil-thin infrared flashlight on what looks like a
+with a pencil-thin infrared flashlight on what looks like a
-    TV screen lining the back of the case. The diagram is
+TV screen lining the back of the case. The diagram is
-    relayed to a similar screen in your associate’s office, 200
+relayed to a similar screen in your associate’s office, 200
-    mi. away. He jabs a button and a fixed copy of the sketch
+mi. away. He jabs a button and a fixed copy of the sketch
-    rolls out of the device. He wishes you good luck at the
+rolls out of the device. He wishes you good luck at the
-    coming meeting and signs off.
+coming meeting and signs off.
-    Ninety minutes after leaving your home, you slide beneath
+Ninety minutes after leaving your home, you slide beneath
-    the dome of your destination city. Your car decelerates and
+the dome of your destination city. Your car decelerates and
-    heads for an outer-core office building where you’ll meet
+heads for an outer-core office building where you’ll meet
-    your colleagues. After you get out, the vehicle parks itself
+your colleagues. After you get out, the vehicle parks itself
-    in a convenient municipal garage to await your return.
+in a convenient municipal garage to await your return.
-    Private cars are banned inside most city cores. Moving
+Private cars are banned inside most city cores. Moving
-    sidewalks and electrams carry the public from one location
+sidewalks and electrams carry the public from one location
-    to another.
+to another.
-    With the U.S. population having soared to 350 million, 2008
+With the U.S. population having soared to 350 million, 2008
-    transportation is among the most important factors keeping
+transportation is among the most important factors keeping
-    the economy running smoothly. Giant transportation hubs
+the economy running smoothly. Giant transportation hubs
-    called modemixers are located anywhere from 15 to 50 mi.
+called modemixers are located anywhere from 15 to 50 mi.
-    outside all major urban centers. Tube trains, pushed through
+outside all major urban centers. Tube trains, pushed through
-    bores by compressed air, make the trip between modemixer and
+bores by compressed air, make the trip between modemixer and
-    central city in 10 to 15 minutes.
+central city in 10 to 15 minutes.
-    A major feature of most modemixers is the launching pad from
+A major feature of most modemixers is the launching pad from
-    which 200-passenger rockets blast off for other continents.
+which 200-passenger rockets blast off for other continents.
-    For less well-heeled travelers there are SST and hypersonic
+For less well-heeled travelers there are SST and hypersonic
-    planes that carry 200 to 300 passengers at speeds up to
+planes that carry 200 to 300 passengers at speeds up to
 ,000 mph. Short trips— between cities less than 1,000 mi.
-    apart—are handled by slower jumbo jets.
+apart—are handled by slower jumbo jets.
-    Homes in Mi’s 80th year are practically self-maintaining.
+Homes in Mi’s 80th year are practically self-maintaining.
-    Electrostatic precipitators clean the air and climatizers
+Electrostatic precipitators clean the air and climatizers
-    maintain the temperature and humidity at optimum levels.
+maintain the temperature and humidity at optimum levels.
-    Robots are available to do housework and other simple
+Robots are available to do housework and other simple
-    chores. New materials for siding and interiors are self-
+chores. New materials for siding and interiors are self-
-    cleaning and never peel, chip or crack.
+cleaning and never peel, chip or crack.
-    Dwellings for the most part are assembled from prefabricated
+Dwellings for the most part are assembled from prefabricated
-    modules, which can be attached speedily in the configuration
+modules, which can be attached speedily in the configuration
-    that best suits the homeowner. Once the foundation is laid,
+that best suits the homeowner. Once the foundation is laid,
-    attaching the modules to make up a two- or three-bedroom
+attaching the modules to make up a two- or three-bedroom
-    house is a job that doesn’t take more than a day. Such
+house is a job that doesn’t take more than a day. Such
-    modular homes easily can be expanded to accommodate a
+modular homes easily can be expanded to accommodate a
-    growing family. A typical wedding present for the 21st
+growing family. A typical wedding present for the 21st
-    century newlyweds is a fully equipped bedroom, kitchen or
+century newlyweds is a fully equipped bedroom, kitchen or
-    living room module.
+living room module.
-    Other conveniences ease kitchenwork. The housewife simply
+Other conveniences ease kitchenwork. The housewife simply
-    determines in advance her menus for the week, then slips
+determines in advance her menus for the week, then slips
-    prepackaged meals into the freezer and lets the automatic
+prepackaged meals into the freezer and lets the automatic
-    food utility do the rest. At preset times, each meal slides
+food utility do the rest. At preset times, each meal slides
-    into the microwave oven and is cooked or thawed. The meal
+into the microwave oven and is cooked or thawed. The meal
-    then is served on disposable plastic plates. These plates,
+then is served on disposable plastic plates. These plates,
-    as well as knives, forks and spoons of the same material,
+as well as knives, forks and spoons of the same material,
-    are so inexpensive they can be discarded after use.
+are so inexpensive they can be discarded after use.
-    The single most important item in 2008 households is the
+The single most important item in 2008 households is the
-    computer. These electronic brains govern everything from
+computer. These electronic brains govern everything from
-    meal preparation and waking up the household to assembling
+meal preparation and waking up the household to assembling
-    shopping lists and keeping track of the bank balance.
+shopping lists and keeping track of the bank balance.
-    Sensors in kitchen appliances, climatizing units,
+Sensors in kitchen appliances, climatizing units,
-    communicators, power supply and other household utilities
+communicators, power supply and other household utilities
-    warn the computer when the item is likely to fail. A
+warn the computer when the item is likely to fail. A
-    repairman will show up even before any obvious breakdown
+repairman will show up even before any obvious breakdown
-    occurs.
+occurs.
-    Computers also handle travel reservations, relay telephone
+Computers also handle travel reservations, relay telephone
-    messages, keep track of birthdays and anniversaries, compute
+messages, keep track of birthdays and anniversaries, compute
-    taxes and even figure the monthly bills for electricity,
+taxes and even figure the monthly bills for electricity,
-    water, telephone and other utilities. Not every family has
+water, telephone and other utilities. Not every family has
-    its private computer. Many families reserve time on a city
+its private computer. Many families reserve time on a city
-    or regional computer to serve their needs. The machine
+or regional computer to serve their needs. The machine
-    tallies up its own services and submits a bill, just as it
+tallies up its own services and submits a bill, just as it
-    does with other utilities.
+does with other utilities.
-    Money has all but disappeared. Employers deposit salary
+Money has all but disappeared. Employers deposit salary
-    checks directly into their employees’ accounts. Credit cards
+checks directly into their employees’ accounts. Credit cards
-    are used for paying all bills. Each time you buy something,
+are used for paying all bills. Each time you buy something,
-    the card’s number is fed into the store’s computer station.
+the card’s number is fed into the store’s computer station.
-    A master computer then deducts the charge from your bank
+A master computer then deducts the charge from your bank
-    balance.
+balance.
-    Computers not only keep track of money, they make spending
+Computers not only keep track of money, they make spending
-    it easier. TV-telephone shopping is common. To shop, you
+it easier. TV-telephone shopping is common. To shop, you
-    simply press the numbered code of a giant shopping center.
+simply press the numbered code of a giant shopping center.
-    You press another combination to zero in on the department
+You press another combination to zero in on the department
-    and the merchandise in which you are interested. When you
+and the merchandise in which you are interested. When you
-    see what you want, you press a number that signifies “buy,”
+see what you want, you press a number that signifies “buy,”
-    and the household computer takes over, places the order,
+and the household computer takes over, places the order,
-    notifies the store of the home address and subtracts the
+notifies the store of the home address and subtracts the
-    purchase price from your bank balance. Much of the family
+purchase price from your bank balance. Much of the family
-    shopping is done this way. Instead of being jostled by
+shopping is done this way. Instead of being jostled by
-    crowds, shoppers electronically browse through the
+crowds, shoppers electronically browse through the
-    merchandise of any number of stores.
+merchandise of any number of stores.
-    People have more time for leisure activities in the year
+People have more time for leisure activities in the year
 . The average work day is about four hours. But the
-    extra time isn’t totally free. The pace of technological
+extra time isn’t totally free. The pace of technological
-    advance is such that a certain amount of a jobholder’s spare
+advance is such that a certain amount of a jobholder’s spare
-    time is used in keeping up with the new developments—on the
+time is used in keeping up with the new developments—on the
-    average, about two hours of home study a day.
+average, about two hours of home study a day.
-    Most of this study is in the form of programmed TV courses,
+Most of this study is in the form of programmed TV courses,
-    which can be rented or borrowed from tape _ * libraries. In
+which can be rented or borrowed from tape _ * libraries. In
-    fact most schooling—from first grade through
+fact most schooling—from first grade through
-    college—consists of programmed TV courses or lectures via
+college—consists of programmed TV courses or lectures via
-    closed circuit. Students visit a campus once or twice a week
+closed circuit. Students visit a campus once or twice a week
-    for personal consultations or for lab work that has to be
+for personal consultations or for lab work that has to be
-    done on site. Progress of each student is followed by
+done on site. Progress of each student is followed by
-    computer, which assigns end term marks on the basis of tests
+computer, which assigns end term marks on the basis of tests
-    given throughout the term.
+given throughout the term.
-    Besides school lessons, other educational material is
+Besides school lessons, other educational material is
-    available for TV viewing. You simply press a combination of
+available for TV viewing. You simply press a combination of
-    buttons and the pages flash on your home screen. The world’s
+buttons and the pages flash on your home screen. The world’s
-    information is available to you almost instantaneously.
+information is available to you almost instantaneously.
-    TV screens cover an entire wall in most homes and show most
+TV screens cover an entire wall in most homes and show most
-    subjects other than straight text matter in color and three
+subjects other than straight text matter in color and three
-    dimensions. In addition to programmed TV and the
+dimensions. In addition to programmed TV and the
-    multiplicity of commercial fare, you can see top Broadway
+multiplicity of commercial fare, you can see top Broadway
-    shows, hit movies and current nightclub acts for a nominal
+shows, hit movies and current nightclub acts for a nominal
-    charge. Best-selling books are on TV tape and can be
+charge. Best-selling books are on TV tape and can be
-    borrowed or rented from tape libraries.
+borrowed or rented from tape libraries.
-    A typical vacation in 2008 is to spend a week at an undersea
+A typical vacation in 2008 is to spend a week at an undersea
-    resort, where your hotel room window looks out on a tropical
+resort, where your hotel room window looks out on a tropical
-    underwater reef, a sunken ship or an ancient, excavated
+underwater reef, a sunken ship or an ancient, excavated
-    city. Available to guests are two- and three-person
+city. Available to guests are two- and three-person
-    submarines in which you can cruise well-marked underwater
+submarines in which you can cruise well-marked underwater
-    trails.
+trails.
-    Another vacation is a stay < on a hotel satellite. The
+Another vacation is a stay < on a hotel satellite. The
-    rocket ride to the satellite and back, plus the vistas of
+rocket ride to the satellite and back, plus the vistas of
-    earth and moon, make a memorable vacation jaunt.
+earth and moon, make a memorable vacation jaunt.
-    While city life in 2008 has changed greatly, the farm has
+While city life in 2008 has changed greatly, the farm has
-    altered even more. Farmers are business executives running
+altered even more. Farmers are business executives running
-    operations as automated as factories. TV scanners monitor
+operations as automated as factories. TV scanners monitor
-    tractors and other equipment computer programmed to plow,
+tractors and other equipment computer programmed to plow,
-    harrow and harvest. Wires imbedded in the ground send
+harrow and harvest. Wires imbedded in the ground send
-    control signals to the machines. Computers also keep track
+control signals to the machines. Computers also keep track
-    of yields-, fertilization, soil composition and other
+of yields-, fertilization, soil composition and other
-    factors influencing crops. At the beginning of each year, a
+factors influencing crops. At the beginning of each year, a
-    print-out tells the farmer what to plant where, how much to
+print-out tells the farmer what to plant where, how much to
-    fertilize and how much yield he can expect.
+fertilize and how much yield he can expect.
-    Farming isn't confined to land. Mariculturists have turned
+Farming isn't confined to land. Mariculturists have turned
-    areas of the sea into beds of protein-rich seaweed and
+areas of the sea into beds of protein-rich seaweed and
-    algae. This raw material is processed into food that looks
+algae. This raw material is processed into food that looks
-    and tastes like steak and other meats. It also is cheap;
+and tastes like steak and other meats. It also is cheap;
-    families can have steak-like meals twice a day without
+families can have steak-like meals twice a day without
-    feeling a budget pinch. Areas in bays or close to shore have
+feeling a budget pinch. Areas in bays or close to shore have
-    been turned into shrimp, lobster, clam and other shellfish
+been turned into shrimp, lobster, clam and other shellfish
-    ranches, like the cattle spreads of yesteryear.
+ranches, like the cattle spreads of yesteryear.
-    Medical research has guaranteed that most babies born in the
+Medical research has guaranteed that most babies born in the
 st century will live long and healthy lives. Heart disease
-    has virtually been eliminated by drugs and diet. If hearts
+has virtually been eliminated by drugs and diet. If hearts
-    or other major organs do give trouble, they can be replaced
+or other major organs do give trouble, they can be replaced
-    with artificial organs.
+with artificial organs.
-    Medical examinations are a matter of sitting in a diagnostic
+Medical examinations are a matter of sitting in a diagnostic
-    chair for a minute or two, then receiving a full health
+chair for a minute or two, then receiving a full health
-    report. Ultrasensitive microphones and electronic sensors in
+report. Ultrasensitive microphones and electronic sensors in
-    the chair's headrest, back and armrests pick up heartbeat,
+the chair's headrest, back and armrests pick up heartbeat,
-    pulse, breathing rate, galvanic skin response, blood
+pulse, breathing rate, galvanic skin response, blood
-    pressure, nerve reflexes and other medical signs. A computer
+pressure, nerve reflexes and other medical signs. A computer
-    attached to the chair digests these responses, compares them
+attached to the chair digests these responses, compares them
-    to the normal standard and prints out a full medical report.
+to the normal standard and prints out a full medical report.
-    No need to worry about failing memory or intelligence
+No need to worry about failing memory or intelligence
-    either. The intelligence pill is another 21st century
+either. The intelligence pill is another 21st century
-    commodity. Slow learners or people struck with forgetful-
+commodity. Slow learners or people struck with forgetful-
-    ness are given pills which increase the production of
+ness are given pills which increase the production of
-    enzymes controlling production of the chemicals known to
+enzymes controlling production of the chemicals known to
-    control learning and memory. Everyone is able to use his
+control learning and memory. Everyone is able to use his
-    full mental potential.
+full mental potential.
-    Despite the fact that the year 2008 is only 40 years away—as far ahead as 1928 is in the past—it will be a world as strange to us as our time (1968) would be to the pilgrims.
+Despite the fact that the year 2008 is only 40 years away—as far
+ahead as 1928 is in the past—it will be a world as strange to us
+as our time (1968) would be to the pilgrims. •