Matt Novak, Author at Gizmodo

The Ultimate Necessity of Space Travel (1959)

Philip N. Shockey wrote a piece for the March-May, 1959 issue of Space Journal titled, “The Ultimate Necessity of Space Travel.” Shockey makes the case for a trip to the moon and eventually further into space as a necessity brought about by the eventual destruction of Earth a few billion years from now. That trip…

Tech News Matt Novak

Space Suit (1956)

This image of the space suit of the future appeared in the 1956 book The Complete Book of Space Travel. For anyone that has ever been to the Minnesota History Center you may also recognize it as part of the space exhibit there. See also: The Complete Book of Space Travel (1956) Closer Than We…

Tech News Matt Novak

2000 A.D. (Part 3, 1990)

Today, the thrilling conclusion to our Motorola saga of (paleo)future communications. See also:2000 A.D. (Part 1, 1990)2000 A.D. (Part 2, 1990)

Tech News Matt Novak

Stepped Platform Railway (1890)

These images of a moving sidewalk of the future ran in an 1890 issue of Scientific American. A moving sidewalk very similar to this was actually built for the 1900 Paris Exposition. You can even watch film of the sidewalk in action, shot by Thomas Edison. The images below can also be found in the…

Tech News Matt Novak

1999 A.D. Controversy

Back in April, I started posting clips from the 1967 film 1999 A.D. I never expected controversy. The video below should hopefully clear things up. Many thanks to Skip at A/V Geeks for the link. There is a fair amount of skepticism from people questioning the authenticity of material I post here on the blog.…

Tech News Matt Novak

Dawn of a New Day (1939)

The 1939 New York World’s Fair song “Dawn of a New Day” was written by George and Ira Gershwin. Unfortunately, I don’t remember where I found the song so I can’t give credit where credit is due. You can listen to the song here. See also: Railroads on Parade (1939) All’s Fair at the Fair…

Tech News Matt Novak

2000 A.D. (Part 2, 1990)

Part 2 of the 1990 Motorola concept video 2000 A.D. shows us the emergency medical response team of the future, as well as the moustache of the future. Stay tuned for the third and final installment. See also:2000 A.D. (Part 1, 1990)Pacific Bell Concept Video (1991)Connections: AT&T’s Vision of the Future (1993)Flowers by Alice (1992)Apple’s…

Tech News Matt Novak

Our Dread of Robots (1932)

The September 27, 1932 Ruston Daily Leader (Ruston, Louisiana) ran a cautionary editorial about an inventor who was supposedly shot by his own robot. From the late 1920s until the late 1930s you can find countless news articles of the wondrous feats robots were supposed to have performed. The uneasy feelings we had about automation…

Tech News Matt Novak

2000 A.D. (Part 1, 1990)

The Motorola concept video 2000 A.D. was produced in 1990 and focuses on the fantastic wireless future. Part one appears below. See also:Pacific Bell Concept Video (1991)Connections: AT&T’s Vision of the Future (1993)Flowers by Alice (1992)Apple’s Knowledge Navigator (1987)Apple’s Grey Flannel Navigator (1988)Vision (Clip 1, 1993)Vision (Clip 2, 1993)Vision (Clip 3, 1993)Starfire (1994)GTE’s Classroom of…

Tech News Matt Novak

Big Laughs Coming (1922)

The May 31, 1922 Modesto Evening News (Modesto, California) ran an article titled, “Big Laughs Coming,” about how future generations may look at the styles, technology and work life of 1922. The writer of this piece clearly romanticizes the notion of rural life by proclaiming, “We, voluntarily imprisoned in cramped apartments or small house, will…

Tech News Matt Novak

Transportation of the Future (1992)

The 1992 children’s book Transport (Timelines) features this two-page spread of futuristic bicycle wheels, solar-powered cars, high-speed trains and fire engines with robotic arms. See also: The Future World of Transportation

Tech News Matt Novak

21st Century Eugenics (1967)

The CBS series 21st Century aired a program titled, "The Mystery of Life" on February 26, 1967. The program looked at genetics and the future of humanity. In this clip, host Walter Cronkite interviews biologist James Bonner. Bonner advocates a "large-scale program of [breeding] better people," otherwise known as eugenics. Procreation by committee sounds like…

Tech News Matt Novak

Paleo-Future Inventions Quiz

Encarta has an interesting online quiz about paleo-futuristic products. The quiz was produced by the Discovery Channel and asks questions about jet packs, nuclear-powered cars, meal-in-a-pill, videophones, among others. You can take the quiz here. (The last question is particularly sad, and doesn’t end up well. We’ll probably look at news articles from that failed…

Tech News Matt Novak

Closer Than We Think! Universal Language Boxes (1960)

The August 21, 1960 Chicago Tribune ran this Closer Than We Think! strip about “Universal Language Boxes” of the future. In the world of tomorrow, you’ll be able to talk in English and be understood by a Japanese who knows only his own tongue, or by an Ottoman Turk who’s acquainted with his own language…

Tech News Matt Novak

Robo-Shop (1989)

The December 11, 1989 Post Standard (Syracuse, NY) ran this piece about Jean Du Teau and his newly opened robotics store, Robot World. Du Teau appears immensely optimistic about the future of personal robots. “Robots are today where computers were 10 years ago,” he said. “Most people perceive that the robotic age is going to…

Tech News Matt Novak

Advertising in the Near Future (1885)

While almost all of science fiction is a direct comment of the time in which it was created more so than a prediction of the future, paleo-futurism is more often a direct prediction of the future. This image of “advertising in the near future,” while not science fiction, is clearly more a comment on the…

Tech News Matt Novak

Every Era Produces Good Music (1968)

The August 31, 1968 Daily Review (Hayward, CA) ran this article about the possibility that future generations may one day consider music of the 1960s to be good. The article turns into a very specific endorsement/advertisement of a new LP by The Sandpipers. Do you think there was some payola going on in the newspaper…

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Magic Highway U.S.A. Publicity Stills (1958)

Kevin Kidney has uploaded some amazing Magic Highway, U.S.A. images taken straight from publicity stills of the era. He cleaned them up, spending upwards of an hour and a half on each image. As a Disney artist for over 22 years, Kevin’s Flickr account also contains great examples of his work on Disney collectibles. Kevin…

Tech News Matt Novak

World of Robots (1929)

The November 10, 1929 Helena Daily Independent (Helena, Montana) ran this short piece about the robots of the future which would enslave humanity by the year 1950. Birmingham, Eng., Nov. 9. – The world will be a place of mechanical men in 1950, according to the Institute of Industrial Welfare. Skill will have vanished from…

Tech News Matt Novak

Maid Without Tears (1978)

Matt Chapman, co-creator of Homestar Runner, sent me this great image from the 1978 book Exploring the World of Robots. While I’ve never had a maid, I didn’t know that they were always on the verge of crying! As Matt notes, “the ‘Maid Without Tears’ does not appear to have been made without cords as…

Tech News Matt Novak

Matt Novak

The Ultimate Necessity of Space Travel (1959)

Space Suit (1956)

2000 A.D. (Part 3, 1990)

Stepped Platform Railway (1890)

1999 A.D. Controversy

Dawn of a New Day (1939)

2000 A.D. (Part 2, 1990)

Our Dread of Robots (1932)

2000 A.D. (Part 1, 1990)

Big Laughs Coming (1922)

Transportation of the Future (1992)

21st Century Eugenics (1967)

Paleo-Future Inventions Quiz

Closer Than We Think! Universal Language Boxes (1960)

Robo-Shop (1989)

Advertising in the Near Future (1885)

Every Era Produces Good Music (1968)

Magic Highway U.S.A. Publicity Stills (1958)

World of Robots (1929)

Maid Without Tears (1978)

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