Matt Novak, Author at Gizmodo

McFly 2015

The McFly 2015 project is incredibly focused. Its single goal is to entice Nike to produce the paleo-futuristic shoes worn my Michael J. Fox in the movie Back to the Future: Part II. The project was launched in April of 2007 by the Maloof brothers (Michael and Charles). When I emailed them I got a…

Tech News Matt Novak

After the War (1944)

Associated Press Woman’s Editor Dorothy Roe included a poem in her 1944 article about the kitchen of the future. I found the article in the March 20, 1944 Charleston Gazette (Charleston, West Virginia) and the poem is transcribed below. After the war . . . We’ll just a press a button for food or for…

Tech News Matt Novak

Future Shock – Skin Color (1972)

Below is a short clip from the 1972 paleo-futuristic documentary Future Shock. This segment focuses on the prospect of changing your skin color. Will the human race emerge in a range of brilliant colors? Given the choice, would we want to look alike or different? What is beautiful? You can find Future Shock on the…

Tech News Matt Novak

600 Miles An Hour (1901)

The September 27, 1901 Lincoln Evening News (Lincoln, Nebraska) included a short story and illustration of the elevated train of the future. At a speed of 600 miles an hour, it would have been quite impressive. Below is the entire article. The object figured in the accompanying illustration may be termed either an aerial automobile…

Tech News Matt Novak

Writer and Producer of Connections: AT&T’s Vision of the Future

As a writer and producer for the 1993 video Connections: AT&T’s Vision of the Future, Henry Bassman has a fascinating link to the paleo-future. Bassman worked at AT&T for almost thirty years. While there, he worked on technology videos, the introduction of cellular telephone systems, UNIX, optical communications systems, advanced microprocessor technology, among many other…

Tech News Matt Novak

This Machine Records All Your Thoughts (1919)

The June 8, 1919 Syracuse Herald (Syracuse, New York) featured a great article about mind-reading machines that would be commonplace in the office of the future. Oddly enough, they still needed stenographers to type out the correspondence. Why couldn’t the man simply verbally dictate his thoughts to a typist? That is a question for the…

Tech News Matt Novak

Robots: The World of the Future (1979)

The 1979 book Robots (World of the Future) showcases the many robotic innovations to come. The intro explains, “few of them will look like the popular image of a robot – a machine in the shape of a human.” The image below, featured on page 23, does feature one such robot as “humans and machines…

Tech News Matt Novak

Word Origins: Imagineering, continued (1942)

As a follow-up to Tuesday’s story about the origins of the word “Imagineering,” I found a January 22, 1942 article from The Cullman Banner (Cullman, Alabama). Below is an excerpt from the story as well as the story in its entirety. New Noun – War brings new words – or bring back old ones in…

Tech News Matt Novak

Transportation Exhibits at the New York World’s Fair (1964)

The 1964 film World’s Fair Report with Lowell Thomas took viewers through a preview of what the 1964 New York World’s Fair would have to offer. Below is a short clip of the film that shows the transportation exhibits, including the paleo-futuristic Futurama. World’s Fair Report with Lowell Thomas can be found on the DVD…

Tech News Matt Novak

Disneyland to Take to Highways Tonight (1958)

The TV critic for the Albuquerque Tribune (Albuquerque, New Mexico) wasn’t a fan of the Disneyland TV episode, “Magic Highway, U.S.A.” The review in May 14, 1958 proclaims that, “the future for driver’s is hideous if Disney artists have their way.” Below is the full review. Walt Disney’s Disneyland goes a-motoring in “Magic Highway, U.S.A.”…

Tech News Matt Novak

Closer Than We Think! (1958-1963)

In 1958 Arthur Radebaugh started the syndicated Sunday comic Closer Than We Think! It ran in newspapers until early 1963. The strip really epitomizes the optimistic brand of futurism so common in the post-WWII era. Below are a few great examples of this paleo-futuristic strip from the Chicago Tribune. Push-Button Education – May 25, 1958…

Tech News Matt Novak

New York in 1960 (1935)

This cover to the March, 1935 issue of Popular Mechanics purported to illustrate New York City in 1960. The image is featured in the book Out of Time: Designs for the Twentieth-Century Future. See also: Amphibian Monorail (Popular Science, 1934) Commuter Helicopter (1947)

Tech News Matt Novak

Where’s My Jetpack? (2007)

It’s not often that I recommend a newly published book here at the Paleo-Future blog. However, Where’s My Jetpack? by Daniel H. Wilson is essential reading for anyone interested in paleo-futurism. You can listen to an interview with Wilson here. Below is an excerpt about hoverboards. Wide-eyed children of the eighties watched in astonishment as…

Tech News Matt Novak

Power Macintosh Ad: Fighting Spacemen (1994)

Continuing our series of ads from the 1994 Power Macintosh campaign, this one involves fighting spacemen of the (paleo)future. See also: Power Macintosh Ad: This Future Belongs to the Past (1994) Jet Packs and Macs (1994)

Tech News Matt Novak

Anachronisms of the Future (1911)

The June 17, 1911 Evening Post (Frederick, Maryland) ran a blurb about “Anachronisms of the Future.” An article in Popular Mechanics suggests some historical absurdities which future authors may attempt to perpetrate on the gullible public. The illustrations show Joan of Arc at her sewing machine, an X ray examination of a civil war soldier,…

Tech News Matt Novak

Man-Amplifier (1966)

The 1966 book Bionics: Nature’s Ways for Man’s Machines by Robert Wells has some great pictures of the “Man-Amplifier.” Even after reading about it I’m still confused as to how this contraption helps lend greater strength to one’s muscles. This Man-Amplifier helps the pilot or astronaut encumbered by a clumsy and tiring space suit. Strapped…

Tech News Matt Novak

Future of Steam (1889)

The June 13, 1889 Bucks County Gazette (Bristol, Pennsylvania) contained a short article about the future of steam power. Professor Thurston, of Cornell university, does not believe the steam engine will be superseded in a hurry by any other motor, not even electricity. He says, on the contrary, that improvements will continue to be made…

Tech News Matt Novak

The Robot is a Terrible Creature (1922)

The October 16, 1922 edition of The Bee (Danville, Virginia) ran a syndicated story about the Karel Capek play R.U.R. The play introduced the world to the word “robot” from the Czech “robota,” which literally means “forced work.” Below are excerpts as well as the article as it appeared in The Bee. If any industrial…

Tech News Matt Novak

Computer Doctor (1982)

This two page spread appears in the 1982 book Health and Medicine (World of Tomorrow). Patients visiting a doctor in the future first tell the doctor’s computer what is wrong with them. The computer may provide a remedy, or tell the patient to go to the next sections to be tested or to give samples.…

Tech News Matt Novak

Word Origins: Imagineering (1940s)

I had always assumed that someone at Disney had coined the term “Imagineering,” until I came across an article from the May 2, 1947 Portsmouth Times (Portsmouth, Ohio) titled, “Black Light Magic.” The article describes the work of Arthur C. Radebaugh and the caption to the picture above uses the term “Imagineering.” The Wikipedia entry…

Tech News Matt Novak

Matt Novak

McFly 2015

After the War (1944)

Future Shock – Skin Color (1972)

600 Miles An Hour (1901)

Writer and Producer of Connections: AT&T’s Vision of the Future

This Machine Records All Your Thoughts (1919)

Robots: The World of the Future (1979)

Word Origins: Imagineering, continued (1942)

Transportation Exhibits at the New York World’s Fair (1964)

Disneyland to Take to Highways Tonight (1958)

Closer Than We Think! (1958-1963)

New York in 1960 (1935)

Where’s My Jetpack? (2007)

Power Macintosh Ad: Fighting Spacemen (1994)

Anachronisms of the Future (1911)

Man-Amplifier (1966)

Future of Steam (1889)

The Robot is a Terrible Creature (1922)

Computer Doctor (1982)

Word Origins: Imagineering (1940s)

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