Matt Novak, Author at Gizmodo

United States a British Colony (1923)

Author and critic Henry L. Mencken makes some pretty bold predictions in the February 12, 1923 article, “Thinking Men and Women Predict Problems of World Century Hence,” published in the Bridgeport Telegram (Bridgeport, Connecticut). A hundred years hence the United States will be a British colony, its chief function will be to supply imbeciles to…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 29 '07

The Future of Real Estate (1953)

Steve over at Finkbuilt sent me a link to this great image of a couple buying a house in the (paleo)future. The publication appears to be from December, 1953. See also: Something must be wrong with its radar eye! (Chicago Tribune, 1959) Monsanto House of the Future (1957-1967) ‘Summer Terrace’ All Year Round (1960s)

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 29 '07

GM Car of the Future (1962)

The advertisement below ran in the Official Souvenir Program for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. The ad proclaims that General Motors is, “setting a course for the future” by showcasing the “fully functional Firebird III space-age car.” The full text of the ad is transcribed below. Mobility – the easiest, fastest, surest kind possible –…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 28 '07

Starfire (1994)

Today we have the 1994 Sun Microsystems concept video Starfire in its entirety. You can still access individual clips of the program from the links below or you can download the video here. See also: Starfire (Part 1, 1994) Starfire (Part 2, 1994) Starfire (Part 3, 1994) Starfire (Part 4, 1994) Starfire (Part 5, 1994)…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 27 '07

New London in the Future (1909)

This 1909 illustration of New London in the future can be found in the Library of Congress collection.

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 27 '07

Thinks We’ll Do Our Reading on Screen (1923)

The second part of the February 12, 1923 article, “Thinking Men and Women Predict Problems of World Century Hence,” focuses on motion pictures. Written by David Wark Griffith (D.W. Griffith) the piece provides some great insight into the hopes and dreams for this new medium. While he has some spot-on predictions, Griffith couldn’t have been…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 26 '07

Moving Sidewalk Mechanics (1900)

Edison’s film from the 1900 Paris Exposition is amazing, but it leaves you wondering how that moving sidewalk ….well, moves. Wonder no more. This French website answers a few questions via these great illustrations. See also: Moving Sidewalk (1900) Postcards Show the Year 2000 (circa 1900)

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 26 '07

Seattle World’s Fair Official Souvenir Program (1962)

The Seattle World’s Fair of 1962 brought us Seattle’s most iconic structure, the Space Needle. Also known as the Century 21 Exposition there is much to examine for those interested in the paleo-future. The image above is the cover to the Official Souvenir Program. We’ll be taking a peak inside over the next few weeks.…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 26 '07

The Coming Ice Age (1982)

The 1982 book Fact or Fantasy (World of Tomorrow) by Neil Ardley contains the two-page spread below which illustrates domed cities of the future. The domes are necessary to protect humanity from the “savage cold” yet to come. What is our planet going to be like in the future? From the way in which the…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 26 '07

Pictures Stately Edifices (1923)

As promised, we have the first in a long list of predictions found in the February 12, 1923 Bridgeport Telegram (Bridgeport, Connecticut). Today’s excerpt is from architect Thomas Hastings. It’s particularly unsettling to read someone from the 1920s writing about the possibility of another World War. I get such a feeling of detachment, as though…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 25 '07

Monsanto House of the Future (1957)

This 1957 photo of the Monsanto House of the Future can be found in the Library of Congress collection. See also: Monsanto House of the Future (1957-1967)

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 25 '07

Paleo-Future Wallpaper

A few blogs mentioned that they liked “Going to the Opera in the Year 2000” so much that they were using it as their desktop wallpaper. With that in mind, I’ve uploaded 3 different wallpaper designs in a variety of sizes. I haven’t yet blogged about the first image but it may be one of…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 22 '07

Future Plane Travel (1920)

This 1920 cartoon of future plane travel can be found in the Library of Congress collection.

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 21 '07

Man and the Moon (1955)

The Disneyland TV show episode Man and the Moon originally aired December 28, 1955 and was released theatrically outside the United States. The entire episode prominently showcases Werhner von Braun’s torodial space station. The clip below dramatizes what a space mission may involve some day in the distant (paleo)future. You can view a clip of…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 21 '07

Futuristic Phone Booth (1958)

This photo of a “futuristic phone booth” from 1958 can be found in the Library of Congress collection. See also: Outer Space Furniture (1964) Governor Knight and the Videophone (Oakland Tribune, 1955) Face-to-Face Telephones on the Way (New York Times, 1968)

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 20 '07

Electric Belt (1903)

Many people of the early twentieth century held magical beliefs about electricity. This ad in the April 24, 1903 Manitoba Morning Free Press (Winnipeg, Manitoba) promised to cure what ails ya. From rheumatism to lame backs to stomach and bladder problems, Dr. Sanden’s Electric Belt was pure magic. For modern-day nonsense check out the Q-Ray…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 20 '07

Closer Than We Think! Throw-Away Clothes (1959)

Apparently the ability to throw away your clothes is worthy of more attention than the commuter helicopters everyone’s flying around in the future. This strip ran in the October 25, 1959 Chicago Tribune. Do your clothes need to be cleaned or washed? Are you tired of the old patterns or colors? In the future, if…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 19 '07

Future Shock – Babytorium (1972)

As I’ve asserted before, Future Shock is probably the strangest motion picture ever to claim the genre of documentary. While not altogether wrong about what the future holds, the film certainly presents its case in a rather dramatic and overstated manner. Case in point, “Babytoriums” of the future. You can find Future Shock on the…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 19 '07

How Do You Like Them Apples?

I guess “Where’s my Jetpack?” can no longer be the battle cry of the paleo-futurism movement. Mexican start-up Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana (TAM) offers its custom-built TAM Rocket Belt for $250,000, which includes flight and maintenance training. On a full tank of hydrogen peroxide the belt weighs 124 to 139 pounds (the bigger the pilot, the…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 19 '07

Going to the Opera in the Year 2000 (1882)

This lithograph from 1882 depicts the fanciful world of 2000; flying buses, towering restaurants, and of course, 1880’s French attire. Albert Robida is less well-known than Jules Verne but contributed just as much to the collective imagination through his amazing illustrations. If you speak French I recommend picking up the Robida book La vie électrique.…

Tech News Matt Novak Jun 18 '07

Matt Novak

United States a British Colony (1923)

The Future of Real Estate (1953)

GM Car of the Future (1962)

Starfire (1994)

New London in the Future (1909)

Thinks We’ll Do Our Reading on Screen (1923)

Moving Sidewalk Mechanics (1900)

Seattle World’s Fair Official Souvenir Program (1962)

The Coming Ice Age (1982)

Pictures Stately Edifices (1923)

Monsanto House of the Future (1957)

Paleo-Future Wallpaper

Future Plane Travel (1920)

Man and the Moon (1955)

Futuristic Phone Booth (1958)

Electric Belt (1903)

Closer Than We Think! Throw-Away Clothes (1959)

Future Shock – Babytorium (1972)

How Do You Like Them Apples?

Going to the Opera in the Year 2000 (1882)

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