Predictions from 1900 of 2000

[I, Brian]

Found this really interesting page:

Predictions of the Year 2000 from The Ladies Home Journal of December 1900
1900 Predictions

Some seriously spot on predictions - and some not so spot on predictions.

But even so, an interesting exercise in trying to predict the world from 100 years from now. Possible a lesson for aspiring writers in there as well.

[Allegra]

Very interesting, thanks, Brian! One thing they didn't predict: the Internet.

[Talysia]

I can't believe how accurate some of the predictions were, and yet how far off the mark the rest were. What a fascinating insight into how the people of the era believed the future would turn out.

[purple_kathryn]

eh? Which ones do you find accurate?

As far as I can tell the majority are completely wrong and some have a (very) small part right

[Talysia]

I thought number 9 - the one about photographs (about them being in full colour and able to be sent anywhere in the world) was fairly accurate, as was the one about cameras (number 10). I think it's possible to grow flowers in any colour now, and give them a scent too, as well as the one about telephones connecting up around the world. Lastly, I liked the one about being able to buy ready cooked meals (even if we do have to stick them in the microwave).

Ok, so they might not be the exact definition of how things turned out, and I may have misread them, but they can be interpreted as fairly close. To me, at least.

[PTeppic]

Since each "single" prediction is actually a collection of related ones, there's several parts which aren't too far out. The population part of #1, for example; whilst admittedly most of the rest of #1 is nowhere near. Similarly most of #7, #11, #22, #26 and the latter parts of #2 went wide. Fortunately the same is still true for most of #28. Whilst the precise wording of #14 isn't true, we do have genetic engineers who would probably try for most of what's written, if they wanted to as they have added disease resistance from #12.

Most of #4 seems about right, as does #6. Maybe not powered sleighs, but Segway, anyone? #9, #10, #18 are pretty spot on, generally, and the principles of #15, #19, #21, #25 and the latter half of #25 are here.

Perhaps more ironic is how far in the opposite direction those such as the general principle of #3 have gone. "Anyone weighing less than 20 stone will be considered a lightweight."

Those like #8, depend on how you interpret them. We DO have long-range artillery, along with satellite guided missiles with nuclear (city destroying) warheads. That has led to redesign of bunkers. Aircraft have stealth capabilities and whilst not quite smoke/cloud generators we have chaff and flare for sensory disruption. The first Iraq war showed tank charges across the desert (pretty much as described) and JCB/Cat are making huge earth-moves (and that's without the monsters in open-cast mines). Spy planes and satellites, as described, have been in use since the 50s/60s.

[Rosemary]

Very interesting Brian. #2 seems quite accurate, well here in Western Australia at least. Most of the younger generations are much taller these days.
Parts of #3 are fairly accurate. Most of our children are given some sort of exercise at a very early age and I don't know of any school without some form of gymnasium over here. Even two year olds are encouraged to clamber about on suitable playground equipment at home or at a Day Care.