Matt Novak, Author at Gizmodo

Yet Another Flying Car Company

The IsraGood blog points us to yet another company promising that ever-elusive flying car of the future. Urban Aeronautics claims that they will be producing the “X-Hawk” by early 2009. It seems like an intelligent business plan to first introduce the vehicle for urban rescue and medical evacuation purposes but, even if it flies, the…

Tech News Matt Novak

Flowers by Alice (Part 4, 1992)

According to part 4 of Flowers by Alice, in the future, all brides are ditzy Valley Girls with neck spasms. Be sure to check out part 6 of the concept video Connections for AT&T’s version of wedding planning in the future. See also:Flowers by Alice (Part 1, 1992)Flowers by Alice (Part 2, 1992)Flowers by Alice…

Tech News Matt Novak

That 60’s Food of the Future

The May 4, 2003 New York Times Magazine ran an interesting piece by Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma. An excerpt appears below. The piece can be read in its entirety at Michael Pollan’s own site. When I was a kid growing up in the early 60’s, anybody could have told you exactly what…

Tech News Matt Novak

Flickr Group: In the Year 2000

The Paleo-Future blog and Boing Boing Gadgets have started a Flickr group called In the Year 2000. As Joel over at BB Gadgets has noted, there is already great interest in the group (211 members so far) along with some great images. I hope to see this community grow because I’ve already found many images…

Tech News Matt Novak

Hawaii As Educational Resort (1970)

The July 31, 1970 Honolulu Advertiser ran an article by Jane Evinger about Hawaii becoming a destination for education rather than just recreation. The piece quotes heavily from the preliminary report of the Governor’s Conference on the Year 2000. Both the article and the report work under some interesting assumptions about the future, such as…

Tech News Matt Novak

Amateur Photos of NY World’s Fair (1965)

Flickr user ninecormorants has a great collection of amateur photos from the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair. See also: Transportation Exhibits at the New York World’s Fair (1964) To The Fair! (1965)

Tech News Matt Novak

Car-on-Train Pallet System (1968)

This “car-on-train pallet system” is featured in the 1968 book Transportation in the World of the Future.

Tech News Matt Novak

Flowers by Alice (Part 3, 1992)

Part 3 of the US West concept video Flowers by Alice shows the amazing graphics capabilities of their portable, talking computer. Those flower pots are priceless. I’m pretty sure Mario and Luigi can be spotted if you squint hard enough. See also:Flowers by Alice (Part 1, 1992)Flowers by Alice (Part 2, 1992)

Tech News Matt Novak

Progress to Counter Catastrophe Theory? (1975)

The November 24, 1975 Middlesboro Daily News (Middlesboro, Kentucky) ran an editorial countering the “catastrophe theory” predictions made by the Club of Rome. Per usual, neither party got everything right. Excerpts appear below, along with the piece in its entirety. In health care, for example, a cure for cancer will be found by 1995 and…

Tech News Matt Novak

The Tomorrowland That Never Was (1965)

This 1965 concept sketch depicts a hypothetical New Tomorrowland in Disneyland. The drawing is featured in the book Designing Disney’s Theme Parks by Karal Ann Marling.

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GM’s Three-Wheeled Runabout (1966)

The 1966 book Automobiles of the Future features these images of General Motor’s Runabout concept car. Besides having three wheels it also features a built-in shopping cart that slides out of the trunk: Two views of the GM three-wheeled Runabout. This car of tomorrow is fitted with two shopping carts that make up the car’s…

Tech News Matt Novak

Fuller’s Traveling Cartridge (circa 1960s)

This concept drawing by Buckminster Fuller looks to have a lot in common with the airport of the future article we looked at last week. The illustration was found in the excellent 1968 book Transportation in the World of the Future. See also: Airport of the Future (1967) Disney’s Magic Highway, U.S.A. (1958) The Most…

Tech News Matt Novak

Fashion Wired for Sound in Year 2000 (1957)

The May 15, 1957 Chicago Tribune ran a piece titled, “Tell Future of Fashions in Exhibit.” The story described the apparel on display at Marshall Field at the time, which depicted the fashions of the year 2000. An excerpt appears below. Most of the designers represented agreed that the fashionable woman of the future will…

Tech News Matt Novak

Flowers by Alice (Part 2, 1992)

Part 2 of the US West concept video Flowers by Alice features the business tools of the future. Voice recognition technology seemed to be very popular in concept videos of this era. See also:Flowers by Alice (Part 1, 1992)

Tech News Matt Novak

Cyclonic Rocket (circa 1930)

From the 1977 book Rocketship: An Incredible Journey Through Science Fiction and Science Fact: Paul Maiwurm’s fanciful Cyclonic Rocket depends on four rocket engines, unusual rotating tubular wings (wouldn’t the whole vehicle tend to rotate?), scoop propellers and happy pilots. Obviously it’s a California first. See also: Aerial Navigation Will Never Be Popular (1906) Commuter…

Tech News Matt Novak

Living Room of the Future (1979)

This image appears in the 1979 book Future Cities: Homes and Living into the 21st Century and illustrates the living room of the (paleo)future. This living room has many electronic gadgets which are either in use already or are being developed for people to buy in the 1980s. 1. Giant-size TV. Based on the designs…

Tech News Matt Novak

Airport of the Future (1967)

Since I was stuck at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport all day, here’s an article from the December 1, 1967 European edition of Stars and Stripes, which describes the airport of the future. An architect says he has an answer to the complaint that the longest and hardest part of a trip often is getting from home…

Tech News Matt Novak

Flowers by Alice (Part 1, 1992)

The 1992 US West concept video Flowers by Alice features themes and products similar to that of Accenture’s Vision and AT&T’s Connections, both produced in 1993. This clip from Flowers by Alice introduces us to the main characters as well as two emerging technologies. The skyway’s backed up but the bullet train is moving right…

Tech News Matt Novak

Lost and Stolen Time Capsules

Oglethorpe University in Atlanta has a very interesting list from the International Time Capsule Society which describes the 10 most wanted time capsules. It seems that since the list’s creation in 1991, two have been found. 1. Bicentennial Wagon Train Time Capsule This capsule was supposed to hold the signatures of 22 million Americans. But…

Tech News Matt Novak

Highways by Automation (1958)

The August 3, 1958 Chicago Tribune ran this Closer Than We Think! strip, demostrating the automatic highway construction of the future. Something very similar to this appears in the May 14, 1958 Disneyland TV episode Magic Highway, U.S.A.. Tomorrow’s turnpikes will “flow” out of giant machines like magic ribbons across the countryside. The basic equipment…

Tech News Matt Novak

Matt Novak

Yet Another Flying Car Company

Flowers by Alice (Part 4, 1992)

That 60’s Food of the Future

Flickr Group: In the Year 2000

Hawaii As Educational Resort (1970)

Amateur Photos of NY World’s Fair (1965)

Car-on-Train Pallet System (1968)

Flowers by Alice (Part 3, 1992)

Progress to Counter Catastrophe Theory? (1975)

The Tomorrowland That Never Was (1965)

GM’s Three-Wheeled Runabout (1966)

Fuller’s Traveling Cartridge (circa 1960s)

Fashion Wired for Sound in Year 2000 (1957)

Flowers by Alice (Part 2, 1992)

Cyclonic Rocket (circa 1930)

Living Room of the Future (1979)

Airport of the Future (1967)

Flowers by Alice (Part 1, 1992)

Lost and Stolen Time Capsules

Highways by Automation (1958)

Trump Says He’ll Sign Order to Pay TSA

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Apple’s Siri Isn’t Just Going to Use One Chatbot. It’s Going to Use All of Them

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