John Elfreth Watkins (1852 - 1903) was a civil engineer who worked for American railroads. He wrote an article for the December 1900 edition of The Ladies Home Journal. Some of the predictions are very funny. Overall I am impressed with how many of his predictions were in general close to the mark.
Here are some of those he was close to:
"The American will be taller by from one to two inches. ... He will live fifty years instead of thirty-five as at present ..."
"Huge forts on wheels will dash across open spaces at the speed of express trains of to-day. They will make what are now known as cavalry charges."
"Photographs will be telegraphed from any distance. If there be a battle in China a hundred years hence snapshots of its most striking events will be published in the newspapers an hour later."
"Grand Opera will be telephoned to private homes, and will sound as harmonious as though enjoyed from a theatre box."
"Fast-flying refrigerators on land and sea will bring delicious fruits from the tropics and southern temperate zone within a few days."
Here are some that he missed on:
"No Mosquitoes nor Flies. Insect screens will be unnecessary. Mosquitoes, house-flies and roaches will have been practically exterminated."
"Strawberries as Large as Apples will be eaten by our great-great-grandchildren for their Christmas dinners a hundred years hence. ... One cantaloupe will supply an entire family."
"Roses will be as large as cabbage heads."
"Hot and Cold Air from Spigots. Hot or cold air will be turned on from spigots to regulate the temperature of a house as we now turn on hot or cold water from spigots to regulate the temperature of the bath."
The article is fairly long. If you enjoyed the above predictions, read the whole thing.
(Hat tip: Cool List Digest)
----------
Technorati tags: 1900, 2000, prediction, John Elfreth Watkins, J. Elfreth Watkins
No comments:
Post a Comment