Matt Novak, Author at Gizmodo

Computer Games of the Future (1981)

This holographic computer game of the future is from the 1981 book Tomorrow’s Home by Neil Ardley. The caption explains, “A home computer game of the future has solid images of spaceships that move in midair. These are holographic images produced by laser beams. The game is played with other people who also sit at…

Tech News Matt Novak Apr 2 '08

Negro President by Year 2000 (1965)

The July 19, 1965 Delta Democrat-Times (Greenville, MS) ran a piece by Lyle Wilson proclaiming that by the year 2000, “there will be a Negro president of the United States, a Negro on the Supreme Court, [and] one or more in the U.S. Senate.” The full text appears below. Leftwing political realists in both major…

Tech News Matt Novak Apr 1 '08

Global Warming/Cooling (1982)

The 1982 book, The Omni Future Almanac, reports on the debate between those who believe the year 2000 will bring about rapid global warming, and those that believe the earth will be cooling. Some scientists cite 2000 as the approximate year when the carbon dioxide “greenhouse” effect will be recognized as having raised global temperatures…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 31 '08

Future War Tank (1939)

This image appeared on the back cover of the December, 1939 issue of Amazing Stories. The accompanying text for this “Future War Tank” is below. Future War Tank This Land Battleship Can Form The Spearhead of Attack in Future Wars It will be used to penetrate and smash strategic enemy positions and hold them until…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 29 '08

The Internet? Bah! (1995)

Waxy.org has a link to a February 27, 1995 Newsweek article stating that this whole Internet thing is a bunch of hype. Author Clifford Stoll proclaims, “no online database will replace your daily newspaper, no CD-ROM can take the place of a competent teacher and no computer network will change the way government works.” You…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 28 '08

Sea City of the Future (1984)

This image appears in the 1984 book The Future World of Agriculture and illustrates futuristic farming techniques near a sea city. Robots tend crops that grow on floating platforms around a sea city of the future. Water from the ocean would evaporate, rise to the base of the platforms (leaving the salt behind), and feed…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 27 '08

Impacts of Robotic Sex (1997)

After reading Gizmodo’s interview with a technosexual I thought it was as good a time as any to look at an article from the July-August, 1997 Futurist about sex with robots. https://gizmodo.com/technosexual-one-mans-tale-of-robot-love-367698 Joel C. Snell wrote a piece called, “Impacts of Robotic Sex,” which describes many of the same reasons for wanting a robotic sex…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 25 '08

Buckminster Fuller Screenprints (1981)

The 1981 catalogue Buckminster Fuller, Inventions: Twelve Around One is a gorgeous keepsake from the Carl Solway Gallery in Cinncinnati, Ohio. Their 1981 exhibition of screenprints, derived from Buckminster Fuller drawings, must have been stunning. The catalogue reproduces thirteen screenprints which were produced under the supervision of Fuller. The edition was limited to 60 numbered…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 24 '08

Computers in the Home by Year 2000 (1978)

The March 30, 1978 Titusville Herald (Titusville, PA) ran a story about Honeywell’s Man-Made Sciences Group titled, “Between Man and Machine.” An excerpt which quotes Arnold Kanarick appears below. “Human-computer interaction is the real growth area,” Kanarick says. “I don’t think it’s too blue-sky to say that you’ll find a computer in the American home…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 22 '08

Nirvana Draws Nearer (1959)

I’d like you to imagine a crazy, futuristic dystopia in which women (gasp) work outside the home. And I’m not talking about doing a little gardening on the weekends. I mean full-fledged, testosterone-driven, trouser-wrenching, tell Little Johnny I’ll be late for his baseball game, kind of jobs. What’s that you ask, “But if women get…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 20 '08

Australia Telecom’s Broadband (Part 3, 1992)

Today we have the third and final installment of the 1992 Australia Telecom concept video, Broadband. Enjoy. See also:Australia Telecom’s Broadband (Part 1, 1992)Australia Telecom’s Broadband (Part 2, 1992)

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 19 '08

SMRT-1 Concept Art (1982)

This concept art for the SMRT-1 robot at EPCOT Center is dated May 3, 1982. SMRT-1 was featured at the Communicore exhibit and “spoke” with visitors via telephones while playing trivia games. The Widen Your World website has a pretty thorough breakdown of the Communicore exhibit. Their photograph of SMRT-1 appears below. Communicore was closed…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 18 '08

Australia Telecom’s Broadband (Part 2, 1992)

Part 2 of the 1992 Australia Telecom concept video Broadband demonstrates teleconferencing via videophone, as well as encrypted data transfer. Oh, and scary metal walkways of the future. Don’t forget the walkways. Stay tuned for part 3, coming soon. See also:Australia Telecom’s Broadband (Part 1, 1992)

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 17 '08

Australia Telecom’s Broadband (Part 1, 1992)

The 1992 Australia Telecom concept video, Broadband, envisions the futuristic world of 1996. Part 1 shows us videophone conferencing, moving large amounts of data between computers, as well as (Orwellian) biometric scans. See also:Motorola’s 2000 A.D. (1990)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…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 14 '08

Air Force Predictions for 2063 (1963)

The 1963 book, 2063 A.D., includes the predictions of Brigadier General Irving L. Branch. Branch was a commander at the Air Force Flight Test Center and predicted that by 2063 exploration of the near planets (Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn) will have been accomplished with manned vehicles. He also predicted that the moon and Mars…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 14 '08

Robot Halloween Costumes (1950s)

Flickr user Neato Coolville has this great photo from the 1950s of kids dressed as robots for Halloween. See also: Robots: The World of the Future (1979) Closer Than We Think! Robot Housemaid (1959) How Experts Think We’ll Live in 2000 A.D. (1950)

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 13 '08

Extraordinary Adventures of Saturnino Farandola (1914)

This movie poster for the 1914 film L’Avventure Straordinarissime di Saturnino Farandola (The Extraordinary Adventures of Saturnino Farandola) was drawn by Albert Robida. This version of the (paleo)future appears to involve riding sea creatures while shooting magical underwater firearms. See also: Going to the Opera in the Year 2000 (1882) Evening Fashions of the Year…

Tech News Matt Novak Mar 11 '08

Closer Than We Think! Weather Control (1958)

This Closer Than We Think strip about weather control appeared in the June 22, 1958 Chicago Tribune. In years to come, there will be satellite equipment for forecasting – as well as controlling – the weather. The effects of air and humidity masses can be calculated more precisely from above. Sunspots, solar rays and other…

Tech News Matt Novak Feb 29 '08

We’ll All Be Happy Then (1911)

This image, from a 1911 issue of Life magazine, was drawn by Harry Grant Dart and features the farcical technologies of the future. To see pre-R.U.R. images of personal, robotic servants is extremely rare. Dart never ceases to amaze with his tremendous wit, vivid imagination and biting social/technological commentary. The image can also be found…

Tech News Matt Novak Feb 29 '08

Future “Brotherhood” (1976)

Carl T. Rowan wrote a piece which appeared in the July 3, 1976 Stevens Point Daily Journal (Stevens Point, WI) titled, “Sees hatred yet a century hence.” Rowan covers issues of racism, eugenics and elitism in the century leading up to the United States tricentennial. The piece appears below in its entirety. GALAXY SPACE STATION…

Tech News Matt Novak Feb 27 '08

Matt Novak

Computer Games of the Future (1981)

Negro President by Year 2000 (1965)

Global Warming/Cooling (1982)

Future War Tank (1939)

The Internet? Bah! (1995)

Sea City of the Future (1984)

Impacts of Robotic Sex (1997)

Buckminster Fuller Screenprints (1981)

Computers in the Home by Year 2000 (1978)

Nirvana Draws Nearer (1959)

Australia Telecom’s Broadband (Part 3, 1992)

SMRT-1 Concept Art (1982)

Australia Telecom’s Broadband (Part 2, 1992)

Australia Telecom’s Broadband (Part 1, 1992)

Air Force Predictions for 2063 (1963)

Robot Halloween Costumes (1950s)

Extraordinary Adventures of Saturnino Farandola (1914)

Closer Than We Think! Weather Control (1958)

We’ll All Be Happy Then (1911)

Future “Brotherhood” (1976)

Crypto Companies Have Already Poured $189 Million Into the 2026 Midterms

Iowa just made you prove your age to watch porn. Here’s the catch

Trump Administration Reportedly on Verge of Standards Deal With Big AI

President Trump Chats With AI Teddy Roosevelt About the Panama Canal

What Went on at This Meeting of Powerful Central Bankers Won’t Ease Your Mind About an AI Bubble

Celebrate 20 Years of ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ With These Gorgeous Books

How to Watch USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Livestream Free from Anywhere

Meta Goes the Way of xAI, Considers Renting Computing Power as Own Model Flails

Apple’s ‘Hide My Email’ Feature May Reveal Users’ Real Addresses

Amazon Practically Gives Away the UGREEN 3-Port 30W USB-C Charger for Under $10

The Best Gadgets of June 2026

Meta Fury AI Glasses Review: The Worst Company Still Makes the Best Smart Glasses

Google Home Speaker Review: A Faster Way of Being Frustrated

The Best Tech to Level Up Summer 2026

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: A Private Screen Only Goes So Far

MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Review: The Best Handheld PC, but You’ll Have to Pay for It

HP OmniBook Ultra Review: Perfect, if Not for the Little Things

Fender Elie 6 Review: So Close to Being Great

Govee Outdoor Chromatic String Lights Review: A Colorful Way to (Kind of) Light Your Patio

Logitech’s Folding Travel Mouse Fails at the One Thing That Matters Most