Bruce McCall Illustrates the Future That Wasn't
According to past predictions, we should be living in an era of flying cars and other marvels. But be glad that some advances haven't happened
- By Bruce McCall
- Smithsonian magazine, April 2012
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(Bruce McCall)
Domestic robots ease everyday household life. But morality can’t be programmed, so don’t be shocked when your robo-butler steals the family silverware and elopes with your laptop.
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Comments (5)
C'mon, Smithsonian, do you have to break stories into such SMALL pieces? You have inspred my ire, Smithsonian.
Posted by Roger on April 16,2012 | 07:24 PM
LOL Loved the play on the futuristic concepts :)
Posted by Sivaram Velauthapillai on March 31,2012 | 03:37 PM
Wow chimps sound like Americans.
Posted by Matt on March 27,2012 | 06:48 AM
Loved it
Posted by Don on March 18,2012 | 09:53 PM
While it's still literally true that the mile-high skyscraper is part of the "future that wasn't", it's perhaps worth noting that the Burj Khalifa which opened in Dubai in 2010 is over a half-mile tall. And there are plans underway to build one even taller [one] in Saudi Arabia. But McCall's comment about cold pizza really does make an important point about the problems that have to be overcome in building very tall buildings, such as getting people to the top, getting water to the top, and so on. Sure, from a technical standpoint it can be done, but from a practical standpoint why on earth would you do it? The only reason I can think of is to be able to claim the "mine is bigger than yours" bragging rights.
Posted by Peter Tritz on March 18,2012 | 02:18 PM