11 predictions from the past that were considered fatastic and insane, but they came true

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

People tend to dream about the future and often fantasy throws them completely crazy ideas. But this is only at first glance. After all, many of the incredible predictions of the past have come true today. They have become firmly established in everyday life. The first cell phone was released in 1984 and was incredibly expensive. Nowadays, few people can even imagine life without a mobile with a touch screen, built-in camera and face recognition system. They cost much less than the first such device. Thinking about how short and infinitely long a century is pretty wild …

# 1 Navigation system predicted in the fifties of the last century

So, imagine how differently people then perceived advances in technology, which looked incredible and even insane. There were many of them. Nowadays technology is developing at an unusually fast pace, the world is constantly changing. The most extraordinary forecasts for the future exceed all the most daring human expectations.

This roundup brings together a variety of retro-futuristic innovations dreamed up by dreamers of the last century. They provide a unique insight into the strange and bizarre depths of the human mind.

# 2 A picture of the future, painted by artists in 1930

Lisa Yashek, a science fiction professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, is an expert on the bizarre yet wonderful movement of retro-futurism. She says that in reality, when we talk about retro-futuristic objects and images, we usually mean images of the past from the late 1800s. "And when we look at these pictures, it becomes clear that people from the past actually had very specific expectations about the future, which are often just wonderfully similar to our present!"

# 3 TV newspaper is that easy

# 4 Self-driving cars of the future, circa 1960

According to Lisa, humans seem to have been particularly adept at extrapolating all the exciting new communication technologies of the time: telephones, radio, film, and television. On this basis, they came up with many different communication technologies, very similar to those that are now. Today, no one is surprised by the opportunity to talk to anyone from anywhere in the world. People can easily drive their cars, watch all the latest news on screens and even shop from home. Everything that once looked quite shocking is now in the order of things.

# 5 The Future of Phones, 1956

Moreover, in the past, even how our clothes, fashion and taste preferences would change, were well foreseen. Unisex clothing, for example. It was first invented by avant-garde artists, and then popularized by the creators of science fiction films. Now she is still popular.

# 6 Fashion of the future predicted on the cover of Life magazine in 1914

The picture above gives a rather accurate, and therefore an exciting idea of the fashion of the future. They seem to be dressed in modern underwear, but other aspects of their style are very modern! The artist definitely correctly assumed that in the future we will wear much less clothes, more beautify the body. The man's tattoos in the picture are very reminiscent of modern body art. In addition, some blurring of gender boundaries is evident.

# 7 1981 After there was almost no room left on Earth

People in the past were not always accurate in their predictions about science and innovative technology. Some paintings reflect utopian dreams more than reality. But who knows, maybe in the future anything is possible.

The science fiction research professor also noted that it is very important to remember that this future was not retro for the people who envisioned it. "It was their modern vision of the future, inspired by the scientific advances and avant-garde art of the time."

“From the retro-futuristic imagery created between the 1880s and the 1960s, we get a great insight into the sciences and technologies that were most important to people of the past. These are new types of mass and personal transport, new communication technologies and new habitats,”Lisa explained.

# 8 Visions for the Future of Shopping in the 1940s

Lisa also added that people were inspired by the rapid growth of modern cities and factories. It seemed to them that in the future we would only enjoy our great achievements. The state and large corporations will sponsor projects that will combine the best of the natural world and technology. An absolute utopia!"

# 9 A futuristic trip with family (Bruce McCall)

# 10 The city of the future, as it was imagined in 1908

Meanwhile, Lina Survila, global tech PR and editor-in-chief of Abstract Stylist, also said: "The artists had a perfect vision and they seemed to be very close to the ideas that we see embodied today."

Moreover, a kind of retro-futuristic aesthetics touched all possible forms of art. Fashion is no exception. When you start thinking about futurism in fashion and a bright vision of what the future could be, Paco Rabanne immediately comes to mind. The Spanish fashion designer was active in the 60s. He burst into the fashion world with his retro-futuristic designs and his ideas for how people will dress in the future.

# 11 Smartwatch 1984

Retro ideas about what the future will look like have inspired many creators, artists and thinkers. From the architect and designer Matti Suuronen (the Futuro house, created in the 1970s) to the book by Isaac Asimov, The Naked Sun. Lina added that the Jetsons, with their retro-futuristic flying cars, also deserve a lot of attention in popularizing the aesthetics of movement in popular culture.

If you are interested in the article, read about how the rocket was invented 400 years before the flight into space, or the secrets of a medieval manuscript of a rocket science pioneer.