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

openculture.com

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

#11

Post by badpun »

simonsarris wrote: post #9

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…

People desired flat roads before cars. There was a huge effort in XIX century to develop better roads for the horse-drawn buggies and stagecoaches.

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

#12

Post by mc32 »

sotillan wrote: post #6
Affric wrote: post #2

It’s interesting because they got so much right but they just couldn’t quite imagine the computer so they have humans pulling levers, remotely operating machinery, being carried by advanced surveillance helicopters… Perhaps this hints that our vision of the future should have us doing less.

Yeah, I do think the thing that will date most 20th century science fiction is that it usually has humans actively doing most things, like mining, piloting space ships, fighting battles, etc. When it seems more likely that almost all of that will be done by AIs, with humans directing them at best.

Probably more like AI doing everything and very few humans overriding a few things here and there, negative things.

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

#13

Post by simonsarris »

badpun wrote: post #11
simonsarris wrote: post #9

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…

People desired flat roads before cars. There was a huge effort in XIX century to develop better roads for the horse-drawn buggies and stagecoaches.

I think, like with almost all of these, the scale of our modern success is out of the scope of any of their beliefs.

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

#14

Post by geor9e »

dado3212 wrote: 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...

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

#15

Post by eastbound »

SunlitCat wrote: post #7

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 that I would like to dream about.

Maybe social relationships?

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

#16

Post by thih9 »

simonsarris wrote: post #9

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…

What contributes to accuracy is what’s not there. To me especially the biology and medical advancements are missing.

While we’re way better at maintaining our bodies than 100 years ago, we’re still mostly focused on improving our environment, just like 100 years ago.

In 2124 I’d like no illnesses, regrowing limbs, perfectly balanced nutrition that is universally available, safe and accessible bio tech, and I could go on.

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

#17

Post by pmontra »

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.

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

#18

Post by eastbound »

geor9e wrote: post #14
dado3212 wrote: 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...

They are all my favourite. “Radium heating” with everyone gathered around a futuristic fireplace.

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

#19

Post by eastbound »

simonsarris wrote: post #13
badpun wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People desired flat roads before cars. There was a huge effort in XIX century to develop better roads for the horse-drawn buggies and stagecoaches.

I think, like with almost all of these, the scale of our modern success is out of the scope of any of their beliefs.

Yes. In 1899, they hadn’t even invented the lift, necessary for skyscrapers. Imagine showing them, not Dubai, but a mundane success story like Bangkok.

Edit: The Eiffel Towers had some, earlier than that. See comments ;) Sorry.

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

#20

Post by a1o »

I read somewhere that people understimate how much things in the long time and overstimate how much things change in the long time.

Seeing this drawings is interesting because it's possible lots of things that happened are old ideas like automation in farms. The ideas are correct in some with the visuals or details different, but overall very interesting. Shows how important it is having a vision.

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