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French artists in 1899 envisioned what life would look like in the year 2000

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Re: French artists in 1899 envisioned what life would look like in the year 2000

#31
post #17

One of the most difficult things seems to be forecast fashion but probably the artist didn't even attempt to envision future clothing, except for technical ones. That would distract from the main point. There is even a gown in the underwater game of croquet.

They envisioned robotic tailors and even today we are far away from that

it's last one this slide https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/a-19th-century-vis...

Re: French artists in 1899 envisioned what life would look like in the year 2000

#32
post #27

One of the interesting things about these photos is that, aside from all the under-water ones, many of the contraptions exist. We just call them Roomba, Kubota tractor, Audible, Philips All-In-One Trimmer, etc. One consistent facet is that many of our modern technologies are a lot more complex on the inside, but simpler in appearance. There really is one guy pushing buttons to harvest thousands of acres. There's a co…

I didn't realize that the underwater thing was so important back then. We are all thinking about flying cars, and these drawings don't disappoint, but there is as much happening underwater as it is happening in the sky. Now, we are still fascinated with flying, machines, etc... but going underwater is boring by comparison. We have submarines, mostly for the military, a bit of scientific exploration, etc... but beside…

What would be the benefit of large scale underwater transportation and living?

I suppose if the surface became uninhabitable, or if we wanted to hide from space-based surveillance.

Re: French artists in 1899 envisioned what life would look like in the year 2000

#34

Which makes me wonder what people in future will think about our science fiction media.

Which science fiction media? Is there any dream that is physically possible while unrealized? - Going to other galaxies: As opposed to flying, those are physically impossible, - 2100 utopia would be about ecology and people consuming less, not more, - When I was a kid, I used to dream about flying blades (drones) or minicomputer in our hands where would could read stuff of program. Today I don’t see a single thing th…

> 2100 utopia would be about ecology

and social relationships

Silent Running https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067756/

Re: French artists in 1899 envisioned what life would look like in the year 2000

#35
post #27

One of the interesting things about these photos is that, aside from all the under-water ones, many of the contraptions exist. We just call them Roomba, Kubota tractor, Audible, Philips All-In-One Trimmer, etc. One consistent facet is that many of our modern technologies are a lot more complex on the inside, but simpler in appearance. There really is one guy pushing buttons to harvest thousands of acres. There's a co…

I didn't realize that the underwater thing was so important back then. We are all thinking about flying cars, and these drawings don't disappoint, but there is as much happening underwater as it is happening in the sky. Now, we are still fascinated with flying, machines, etc... but going underwater is boring by comparison. We have submarines, mostly for the military, a bit of scientific exploration, etc... but beside…

This seems super logical to me though: it's just way cheaper and simpler to build into the sky: few to no issues with air pressure. Fewer issues with sun-light. No issue with the build-surface moving (except for during earthquakes).

Compared to building underwater: massive costly issues to overcome due to water pressure (when going deep), issues with lack of light. When building at the surface: waves, wind, lack of stable build platform.

These are all issues that where known and predictable in 1899 as well...

Re: French artists in 1899 envisioned what life would look like in the year 2000

#36
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't realize that the underwater thing was so important back then. We are all thinking about flying cars, and these drawings don't disappoint, but there is as much happening underwater as it is happening in the sky. Now, we are still fascinated with flying, machines, etc... but going underwater is boring by comparison. We have submarines, mostly for the military, a bit of scientific exploration, etc... but beside…

What would be the benefit of large scale underwater transportation and living? I suppose if the surface became uninhabitable, or if we wanted to hide from space-based surveillance.

Nice radiation shielding in case the earth poles reverse.

I can't think of anything better.

Re: French artists in 1899 envisioned what life would look like in the year 2000

#37
post #14
post #4

This might be a better source, with all of the images. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/a-19th-century-vis...

My favorite one is "Chemical dinner". Literally just people eating dinner. The idea of chemicals in their food was science fiction to them. https://the-public-domain-review.imgix.net/collections/a-19t...

Chemical may be also translated something like medicinal - note the butler has tiny pills on his plate; it’s the “meal in a pill” that comes up now and then (famously in Willy Wonka).

Re: French artists in 1899 envisioned what life would look like in the year 2000

#38
post #8

seems mostly right to me: 1) ok, but should be staring at iphones 2) not this one perhaps, given our treatment of whales 3) john deere tractors - it's a thing 4) could see many of our overvalued billionaires going for this 5) drone strike 6) robo hoover - available everywhere

> not this one perhaps, given our treatment of whales

Whaling was one of the biggest industries back then, I'd argue by the standards of 1899 that would seem quite humane

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