Matt Novak, Author at Gizmodo

Frigidaire Kitchen of the Future (1957)

The blog Mutagenic Mushroom recently posted this photo of the 1957 kitchen of the future. I can’t tell where they found it but they claim it was produced by Frigidaire. Anyone with more information about this image is encouraged to fill us in. See also: 1999 A.D. (1967) Monsanto House of the Future (1957-1967)

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 15

Thinking Men and Women Predict Problems of World Century Hence (1923)

The February 12, 1923 Bridgeport Telegram (Bridgeport, Connecticut) ran an interesting piece looking at the world of 2022. The article contains contributions from movie producers, architects, teachers, engineers, Margaret Sanger and the head of the NAACP. The introduction is below. Stay tuned as we explore each piece of the article in the coming weeks. In…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 14

Metal Man Comes to Life (1939)

The May 1, 1939 Hammond Times (Hammond, Indiana) ran these images of Elektro, a robot featured at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Elektro could supposedly “speak,” distinguish between colors, smoke a cigar and direct an orchestra. See also: All’s Fair at the Fair (1938) Robots Will Be Kings (1949) “I Can Whip Any Mechanical…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 14

Elektro and Sparko Ad (1956)

After Elektro and his dog Sparko were done showing off their skills at the 1939 New York World’s Fair they toured Westinghouse retailers helping sell refrigerators. This ad ran in the July 2, 1956 San Mateo Times. See also: Metal Man Comes to Life (1939) All’s Fair at the Fair (1938) The Mechanical Man of…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 14

Starfire (Part 7, 1994)

Part 7 of the Starfire video shows the helmet-haired antagonist attempting to derail our heroine’s brilliant business plan. Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion. See also:Starfire (Part 1, 1994)Starfire (Part 2, 1994)Starfire (Part 3, 1994)Starfire (Part 4, 1994)Starfire (Part 5, 1994)Starfire (Part 6, 1994)Connections: AT&T’s Vision of the Future (1993)

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 14

McFly 2015 Buttons and Stickers

The people over at McFly 2015 were kind enough to send me some stickers and buttons. For those unfamiliar with the campaign, McFly 2015 seeks to pressure Nike into producing the boots Michael J. Fox wears in Back to the Future: Part II. Basically, “Where Are My Shoes?” rather than “Where’s My Jetpack?” See also:…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 14

Solar Power of 1999 (1956)

The fascinating book 1999: Our Hopeful Future by Victor Cohn explains in chapter nine how the world will harness the power of the sun. Below is an excerpt from chapter nine titled, “We Hitch Up the Sun.” The sun rose as usual on January 10, 1999, and went to work. In a great, sun-drenched desert,…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 13

Like Earth, Only in Space …. and with monorails (1989)

This image is featured in the 1989 book Checkerboard Press Computers and Electronics (Encyclopedia Series). The caption appears below. Space colonies are now being considered seriously by some people. The one in the picture [above] is controlled throughout by a big central computer. The colony is positioned 240,000 miles (350,000km) from Earth and about the…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 13

Closer Than We Think! Polar City (1959)

The January 25, 1959 Chicago Tribune ran this picture of the “Polar City of the Future” as a part of the Closer Than We Think! series. As Alaska joins the union, more rapid development of the vast open spaces of that new state can be expected. Experts are already studying the problems involved in creating…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 12

Starfire (Part 6, 1994)

Part 6 of the Sun Microsystems video Starfire shows how a presentation can be prepared and presented (to floating heads). I apologize for the glitchy video. Parts 7 and 8 should look much better. See also:Starfire (Part 1, 1994)Starfire (Part 2, 1994)Starfire (Part 3, 1994)Starfire (Part 4, 1994)Starfire (Part 5, 1994)Connections: AT&T’s Vision of the…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 11

Aerial Navigation Will Never Be Popular (1906)

The August 14, 1906 Lake County Times (Hammond, Indiana) ran an article by Sir Hiram Maxim titled, “Aerial Navigation Will Never Be Popular.” An excerpt, as well as the original article in its entirety, appears below. But I do not think the flying machine will ever be used for ordinary traffic and for what may…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 11

In a Cashless Future, Robots Will Cook (1996)

The January 24, 1996 New York Times ran an article titled, “In A Cashless Future, Robots Will Cook.” An excerpt appears below. You can read the entire article here. It’s a typical day in the year 2006. After a hectic afternoon of negotiating contracts with business partners in Hong Kong, London, Moscow and the Bronx,…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 11

Bubble House (1968)

This French house, designed by Antti Lovag in 1968 and photographed by Ken Sparkes in 2006, is a shining example of paleo-futuristic design. Many thanks to Richard Green for the link. See also: Desolation Row Desolation Row in Color Taiwan Has Abandonment Issues

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 8

Starfire (Part 5, 1994)

Part 5 of the 1994 video Starfire gives us voyeurism, a subtle Jetsons reference and more video-phone technologies of the paleo-future. See also:Starfire (Part 1, 1994)Starfire (Part 2, 1994)Starfire (Part 3, 1994)Starfire (Part 4, 1994)Connections: AT&T’s Vision of the Future (1993)

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 8

Mobile Malls (1981)

The February, 1981 issue of The Futurist featured this illustration of a “mobile mall” of the future. Below are excerpts from the accompanying article. “It will be the age-old concept of the traveling merchant; but instead of camels or sailing vessels, the retailer of the future will transport his material via superhighway and erect his…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 7

Starfire (Part 4, 1994)

Part 4 of the Starfire video looks at the possibilities of media creation without shooting new scenes with new actors. See also:Starfire (Part 1, 1994)Starfire (Part 2, 1994)Starfire (Part 3, 1994)Connections: AT&T’s Vision of the Future (1993)Apple’s Knowledge Navigator (1987)Apple’s Grey Flannel Navigator (1988)

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 7

Moving Sidewalks by Goodyear (1956)

As a follow-up to last week’s post on the moving sidewalk of 1900, today we have an illustration published in 1956. The image below appears in the book 1999: Our Hopeful Future by Victor Cohn. It was produced by Goodyear and shows the (semi-realized) hopes for this paleo-futuristic technology. See also: Moving Sidewalk (1900) I…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 7

Sinclair Lewis Will Be Read Until Year 2000 (1936)

The December 5, 1936 Chicago Daily Tribune ran a short article titled, “Sinclair Lewis Put First As Author to be Read Until 2000.” Below is the article in its entirety. I’ve added links to the Wikipedia page for each author mentioned. Sinclair Lewis is the American author of the present day whose books are most…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 7

Starfire (Part 3, 1994)

Part 3 of the Sun Microsystems video Starfire begins with our protagonist spying on the office receptionist. From there, we take a look at the scanning interface of the (paleo)future. Enjoy. See also:Starfire (Part 1, 1994)Starfire (Part 2, 1994)Connections: AT&T’s Vision of the Future (1993)Apple’s Knowledge Navigator (1987)Apple’s Grey Flannel Navigator (1988)

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 6

Article for MungBeing

I wrote an article for the online magazine MungBeing which appears in the new issue. An excerpt appears below. You can read the entire article here. There is a genuine sense of sadness detectable when you talk with people about flying cars and meal pills. Oddly enough, most people don’t want meals-in-a-pill, they simply want…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 6

Matt Novak

Frigidaire Kitchen of the Future (1957)

Thinking Men and Women Predict Problems of World Century Hence (1923)

Metal Man Comes to Life (1939)

Elektro and Sparko Ad (1956)

Starfire (Part 7, 1994)

McFly 2015 Buttons and Stickers

Solar Power of 1999 (1956)

Like Earth, Only in Space …. and with monorails (1989)

Closer Than We Think! Polar City (1959)

Starfire (Part 6, 1994)

Aerial Navigation Will Never Be Popular (1906)

In a Cashless Future, Robots Will Cook (1996)

Bubble House (1968)

Starfire (Part 5, 1994)

Mobile Malls (1981)

Starfire (Part 4, 1994)

Moving Sidewalks by Goodyear (1956)

Sinclair Lewis Will Be Read Until Year 2000 (1936)

Starfire (Part 3, 1994)

Article for MungBeing

That Movie with AI Val Kilmer as a Priest Has a Trailer Now

‘You Can’t Miss What Our Values Are’: Before Its Pivot to AI, Allbirds Sounded Very Different

The First ‘Clayface’ Footage Was Wonderfully Disgusting

Scientists Found Literal Ink From Ballpoint Pens in Martian Meteorites

The ‘Galaxy’s Edge’ Han Solo Proves You Really Can’t Replace Harrison Ford

BYD Is Rolling Out 5-Minute Charging on Several Popular EVs

Jury Does What Trump’s DOJ Wouldn’t, Deems Ticketmaster a Monopoly

Govee RGBIC TV Smart Light Bars Go on Clearance, Bringing Each Down to Under $25 on Amazon

EU Is Rolling Out an Online Age Verification App That Could Become the Global Blueprint

16 Underrated Anime That Deserve Your Love

Alienware’s $350 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor Nixes Everything for a Pretty Screen

Sony Inzone H6 Air Review: A Perfect Case for Open-Back Gaming Headsets

Anker’s EufyMake E1 Finally Brings Printers Out of the Dark Ages

The Soundboks Mix Is Going to Make You the Most Popular Guy at the Park

Asus Zenbook A16 Review: Start Considering Snapdragon on PC, for Real

Aqara Thermostat Hub W200 Review: Almost Better than My Ecobee

HP Omen Max 45L Review: 4K60 Gaming Has Never Been So Easy

Ecovacs Winbot W3 Omni Review: Window Cleaning Robots Have a Long Way to Go

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

The Best Gadgets of March 2026