I find it fascinating how humans have tried to predict future. If you have come across something interesting please share. Both authentic and hoaxes are welcome.

An example of a famous hoax is a computer by "Rand Corporation":


Another example this is how someone may have imagined transatlantic flights about century ago (1928?):

 

I remember reading George Orwell's "1984" in my teens in the early 50s. It became depressingly realistic when I learned about the way the Communists in the Soviet Union controlled civil rights and liberties. Fortunately, their philosophies were only accepted by very few countries so, Orwell's prophicies thankfully never really materialized for the majority civilized countries.
As far as Thechnological predictions are concerned, I think "The Jetsons" are the most enjoyable ones.

 

Fortunately, their philosophies were only accepted by very few countries so, Orwell's prophicies thankfully never really materialized for the majority civilized countries.

Not in 1984, but today, not so sure.

 

The only difference between TASS and some US news outlets - TASS was (is) controlled by the party and here, a party is controlled by media outlets.

 

 

love Jetsons...

here is self-driving cars idea from 1960s

 

and of course food delivery

 

wireless phone

 

 

The only difference between TASS and some US news outlets - TASS was (is) controlled by the party and here, a party is controlled by media outlets.

That's the thing about the definition of an honest election. TASS was able to convince hundreds of millions of people that the western world was wholly preoccupied with nuking the USSR, or even better, invading and enslaving the workers through capitalism. It worked very well.

By the same token, if the vast majority of media outlets in some country are officially endorsing one party, are elections in that country honest?

 

MOD NOTE: Let's stay on topic and keep the politics out of it, otherwise this will be a very short-lived thread.

 

Flying cars, which everyone would soon have.

 

An example of a famous hoax is a computer by "Rand Corporation":

Love, the large, chrome, double steering wheel.
Wonder what that was supposed to do(?).
Looks like it should have been on a submarine.

And who could have envisioned just how small, powerful computers would get (Iphone anyone) with a very high definition color screen, able to communicate 4 different ways (cell phone, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS), and with a tiny camera that far exceeds anything the old film still or movie cameras could do.

 

Love, the large, chrome, double steering wheel.
Wonder what that was supposed to do(?).
Looks like it should have been on a submarine.

And who could have envisioned just how small, powerful computers would get (Iphone anyone) with a very high definition color screen, able to communicate 4 different ways (cell phone, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS), and with a tiny camera that far exceeds anything the old film still or movie cameras could do.

I am pretty sure that is a submarine (simulator?). the printing terminal in front is cobbled together from a DECwriter II and something I don’t recognize. That makes it an anachronism and completely exposes the fake nature of the photo.

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And the TV on the wall looks like it was added to the picture later as well... Proportions just don't seem right on it as well as the "shadows" in both directions.

 

And the TV on the wall looks like it was added to the picture later as well... Proportions just don't seem right on it as well as the "shadows" in both directions.

I looked at the picture, and thought great
but on closer look, look at the far right, off the side of the set
zoom in looks like there are flat screen monitors !

 

The base picture for the RAND fake (which was an entry in a fake-picture competition) was taken at a 2000 Smithsonian Museum exhibit showing a mock up of a nuclear submarines reactor and power plant control room.

http://web.archive.org/web/20000706.../navpalib/news/news_stories/sub-centen02.html

In the competition, the picture from the exhibit was posted on a website (Fark.com, IIRC) and the challenge was to use Photoshop to modify it and come up with a description consistent with the image.

Years ago I tracked down the site and wanted to see what the other entries looked like, but while the text was there, the images weren't available anymore. I'm sure they're out there somewhere.

 

I looked at the picture, and thought great
but on closer look, look at the far right, off the side of the set
zoom in looks like there are flat screen monitors !

I'm pretty sure those are just posters in a nearby exhibit.



What I've always wondered is what is the thing mounted on the wall near where the (undersized) person was Photoshopped in:



I've can't make out anything on the plaque below it. It may or may not even be related to the control room exhibit.

 

Try reading THE UNPARALLELED ADVENTURE OF ONE HANS PFAALL by Edgar Allan Poe ... it's an excellent example of the way people from the 19th century envisioned space travel.

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While not actual predictions for the most part there was some interesting ideas.