Many people have seen movies from the 80s or earlier where writers thought the future would be very different. But, unfortunately, It appears that past generations got a little too excited about how quickly technology progresses, and some of their future predictions for the present day were optimistic.
Just for fun, here are some of the technologies past generations thought would be more common by now---even if they aren't.
1. Hovercraft
For some reason, hovercraft were always a favorite of past generations as a potential future technology. The idea of a car that hovers just above the ground, powered by powerful downward air currents, may seem pretty cool. However, in reality, hovercraft aren't exactly a coveted technology today.
Hovercraft require a lot of fuel to function, and their maintenance costs are pretty high. On top of that, hovercraft have a limited carrying load, which can become a significant inconvenience for items or personnel transport.
Ultimately, hovercrafts just didn't hit the spot in the general public, and so past generations were a little off-base in thinking they'd become a big deal.
2. Holograms
Another favorite in films and video games alike: the hologram. Hologram technology was discussed a lot in the past with possible applications like gaming, surgery, and communication.
However, most people don't use holograms to FaceTime friends, perform medical procedures, or play video games. So, will holograms become as widespread as past generations thought they would? It's hard to know for sure.
In a commercial sense, holograms are still off the table. Prototypes are in development, however, and there are some promising candidates on the horizon. Unfortunately, production costs will have to drop significantly before this technology is accessible to regular people. Nevertheless, perhaps you'll see more advancement in hologram technology over the next few decades.
3. Self-Tying Shoes
Remember the classic scene in Back to The Future where Marty McFly dons his self-tying Nikes and hops on a hoverboard? Well, believe it or not, Nike has made those kicks a reality with the footwear giant's Adapt line of self-tying sneakers.
However, the shoes aren't exactly popular. There is additional hardware inside the shoe for the whole self-tying feature to work, making them expensive. They also need to be charged regularly. So, similarly to holograms, prices would have to become a lot more agreeable for widespread commercial success. There's also the issue of waterproofing.
Additionally, some people see a self-tying shoe as an unnecessary luxury item. So Nike and other manufacturers might be limited to selling the shoes as a gimmick rather than a flagship product.
4. Flying Saucers
Have you noticed recently that the billionaire space race involves a lot of long, cylindrical craft? Well, in an aerodynamic sense, this shape is certainly the most reliable and has been a favorite for decades. Unfortunately, however, this calls into question the validity of flying saucer technology.
The infamous image of a flat, round object flying across the sky can be traced to a single eye-witness account of a UFO in the mid-20th century.
In 1947, a pilot named Kenneth Arnold noticed a bright blue light, and then a disk-shaped object, while flying near Mount Rainier in Washington.
Years later, this story was released to the public, and the lore of flying saucers began. Some newspaper comics even showed people using these saucers as transport in the future!
So, is this a viable technology for human use? Currently, no big names in the aerospace industry have publicly announced a saucer-like craft for space exploration or transport purposes. About the closest science has gotten was the Canadian-built Avrocar constructed in 1959.
However, NASA has recently been developing flying saucer technology using balloons to aid with landings of Mars-bound spacecraft. Still, the technology isn't widely used as past generations thought it would be.
5. Weather Control
Imagine controlling the rain or ridding the sky of those annoying clouds covering the sun. Weather control has been a topic of debate for some years, with past generations fantasizing about the days when they could manipulate the atmosphere around them.
But this technology is certainly not the norm at the moment. So, unfortunately, you'll still have to deal with whatever weather Mother Nature throws your way. But is weather control achievable?
In China, weather control machines were installed over a piece of land the size of Alaska. Scientists and engineers designed these machines to induce rainfall on the Tibetan Plateau (China's primary water source) and create a more reliable water supply.
China is further expanding the project, intending to clear the skies for important events. So, this type of technology could become the norm in the coming decades.
6. Moving Sidewalks
Moving sidewalks, or autowalks, are most frequently seen in airports, where travelers can use the autowalk to alleviate the burden of carrying heavy luggage. You've probably seen these before, and they certainly make transport easier.
Past generations, however, often imagined these sidewalks as being outside and far more widespread. And these generations weren't wholly wrong. In some places, you can find moving sidewalks out on steep city hills or ski slopes. But they aren't commonplace. Yet.
7. Underwater Buses
This idea is a little out there. Some past generations imagined underwater carriages or buses powered by electricity or carried by sea creatures. The image above is from a series of postcards drawn for the 1900 World Fair about possible future technology.
But whale buses haven't really caught on in the modern-day. Currently, there aren't any vehicles out there that whales pull along. And outside of submarines and small exploration watercraft, underwater travel isn't common. So this may be the single area of technology that doesn't have much of a future.
The Future of Technology is Bright
While this generation may not be as technologically advanced as past generations thought, the future is still exciting. With constant advancements made each year, some people may be using these predicted technologies as part of their lives in the not-so-distant future.
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