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Here Is How People In The Past Imagined We Would Be Living In The 21st Century
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Here Is How People In The Past Imagined We Would Be Living In The 21st Century

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The future has always fascinated humankind. If we think about the future now, some of us imagine cyberpunk, others⁠ a post-apocalyptic world. There are many futures that we could have. One question that Angie’s List asked is how people in the 1950s, for example, imagined the future. Well, here are some pictures showing us just that.

The people before us imagined that we would have some pretty wacky inventions by now. However, there probably aren’t many people washing their couches with a hose in the 2020s, and robots are still not doing our makeup. Many interior designs seem a little over the top as well, although there is no doubt someone out there would love to live in a house like that.

The inspirational images were taken from the movies Back to the Future or from people from the past, like Italian industrial designer Joe Cesare Colombo or  American science fiction author and astrophysicist Gregory Benford.

What do you think about these ideas? If you have any ideas for the future that awaits us, share in the comments!

More info: angieslist.com

Living room (1950s)

Image credits: Angie’s List

“What is the most awesome technological development you can imagine being applied to our living rooms in the future? For the author of a February 1950 article in Popular Mechanics, the answer was: waterproofing. ‘When Jane Dobson cleans house, she simply turns the hose on everything,’ wrote Waldemar Kaempffert on how life would be in the year 2000. ‘Everything hefty would be made of plastic or other waterproof synthetics. Lighter things like tablecloths were to be mock-linen, woven from incinerator-ready paper yarn.'”

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Image credits: Angie’s List

“Drying your freshly-hosed living room would be no problem. ‘After the water has run down a drain in the middle of the floor (later concealed by a rug of synthetic fiber) Jane turns on a blast of hot air and dries everything,’ reports Kaempffert. Housewives of the 1950s must have really hated feather dusters. (To his credit, Kaempffert predicted ‘shopping by picture phone’ in the same article.)”

Inspiration photo

Image credits: Gregory Benford And The Editors Of Popular Mechanics

Kitchen (1960s)

Image credits: Angie’s List

“Those same hose-wielding housewives could save on the dishwashing by using disposable plastic plates that simply melt away in hot water, according to Kaempffert’s article. But one home appliance company dared to think a bit more space-age: dishwashing with ultrasonic waves!”

Image credits: Angie’s List

“Frigidaire, like Kaempffert, dared to imagine a networked, IoT age. They suggested a ‘hands-free, distant-talking TV telephone’ with a 50-number memory bank that could be used to start your glass-dome countertop oven from anywhere in the world (as well as to open and close windows).”

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Inspiration photo

Image credits: Gregory Benford And The Editors Of Popular Mechanics

Master bedroom (1960s)

Image credits: Angie’s List

“Joe Colombo was a visionary designer who believed in fluid, adaptable systems for a living. His 1969 ‘Futuristic Habitat’ project imagined an open-plan home comprised of a ‘Central-Living’ leisure space, air-conditioned ‘Kitchen-Box,’ and this ‘Night Cell.’

The Night Cell sleeping area featured a Barbarella-style, climate-controlled sleeping pod, as well as a bathroom and wardrobes. The retro-futuristic furniture wouldn’t be out of place in science-fiction series World On A Wire.”

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Image credits: Angie’s List

“You can see a video of the Futuristic Habitat in action on YouTube. Celebrated designer Colombo, who was to die on his 41st birthday, walks in towards the end, puffing his pipe. Colombo’s sleeping arrangement of choice was a drop-top Cabriolet bed that he designed, complete with control panel, cigarette lighter, radio, and phone.”

Inspiration photo

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Image credits: Joe Cesare Colombo

Game room (1960s)

Image credits: Angie’s List

“Paul Alexander’s illustration of a futuristic game room seems designed to encourage gamers to look up from their screens and engage with both the nature and the technology around them. Lounge in the pool while playing waters-edge pinball, or curl up on your dish-shaped sofa with a close friend to dabble on the multimedia station.”

Image credits: Angie’s List

“Alexander worked in architecture and advertising, and later became a science-fiction illustrator for books and magazines. Despite once being described as ‘one of the top ‘gadget’ artists currently working in the American paperback market,’ Alexander retired when computer-assisted illustration became the norm. Imagine if he had lent his hand to video game design!”

Inspiration photo

Image credits: Paul Alexander

Bathroom (1980s)

Image credits: Angie’s List

“In the 1980s, Tim Flattery and Edward Eyth were put to work imagining the year 2015 for the makers of Back to the Future II. ‘We were highly motivated to make it so we didn’t look like fools in 25 years,’ according to Eyth. Their unused bathroom design foresaw the smart home with a wall-bound ‘computerized family diagnosis & medical treatment center’–even if we’re not quite there yet.”

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Image credits: Angie’s List

“The pair also reinvented bathing with their ‘horizontal bio-cleanse environ.’ These individual sanitation chambers use steam-spray and ‘sani-ray’ laser lights to scrub you clean. If you have the space for it, this centrally-oriented hygiene control center makes for a pretty cool sci-fi bathroom in which to unwind after a day out on your hoverboard.”

Inspiration photo

Image credits: Universal Pictures/Edward Eyth

Dressing room (1900s)

Image credits: Angie’s List

“The oldest vision in our collection is a 1900 imagining of the year 2000. ‘Madame at Her Toilette’ is a glorious steampunk dressing room, packed with mysterious levers and proto-robotic tools that are both practical and aesthetic.

The original shows Madame in the grip of articulated comb-arms and blush cushions, not so much being pampered as tortured into her look. Among the brass and teak is the control device itself, a fabulous mixing desk of buttons, lights, dials. To bring it up to date (conceptually if not technologically), we’ve added a reel-to-reel tape player that reads magnetically-stored ‘pre-set’ looks if you prefer to just sit back and let the dressing room control itself.”

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Image credits: Angie’s List

“In the 21st century, we get so caught up in the flow of technology and design progress that charming ideas from the past tend to get cast aside. So, if you plan to renovate your room with a futuristic theme, why not draw inspiration from these visions of yesteryear? Except for the waterproof living room, of course. That one’s just silly.”

Inspiration photo

Image credits: Jean-Marc Côté

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melelliott avatar
Ripley
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently these designers imagined that we would be living in houses with a half-acre floor plan! And given the games room, that they would all be built in extinct volcanoes a la Bond villains.

juhel avatar
Pixie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love stuff like this! There is a whole website dedicatet to the vision of future from the past, from the jules vernes era to futuristic ideas of the 80s. ( https://paleofuture.com/)

alanwilkening avatar
Podunkus
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for the link. Apparently that hosts the archives now. The active site has moved to http://paleofuture.gizmodo.com

Load More Replies...
sluclakito avatar
LittleMissLotus
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, I wish I had rooms like these in my house these are really cool!

lynnnoyes avatar
elfin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I notice that this vision of the future still envisions women doing all the housework.

dlb avatar
Dl B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand why the toilet is on a pillar right in the center of the bathroom. Who would want to sit on the toilet right in the middle of a huge room like that?

captaindash avatar
Full Name
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Jetsons was way more realistic. From vacuuming robots to big flat screens and Skype, tablets with newspapers etc.

stacy avatar
Fixin'Ta
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Being in my fifties, it's fun to see these views of what people thought life would be like in what seemed like the far distant future (I can tell you, the "future" we're living in got here a lot faster than I thought it would when I was 6). I'm always sad that the coolest ideas aren't generally a thing yet -- no flying cars. But we DO have "video phones" and IoT homes (still blows my mind to be able to just tell Alexa to turn off the lights when I go to bed). Still waiting for Rosie the Robot, though.

elsietnorth avatar
Firework
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do have flying cars, actually. Helicopters. Airplanes are flying buses.

Load More Replies...
imbriuminarian avatar
Bunzilla
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are fun, I love retro futurism. Especially mid-century stuff, with all their smooth, clean lines, bubble domes and spheres. :)

kyrie24 avatar
ilikeplants
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The author clearly doesn't have children. A living room you can hose down sounds like living the dream.

jim_ellington avatar
Jim Ellington
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that was an accurate depiction of a future bathroom it would have the Three Seashells.

talovich avatar
Yugan Talovich
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, I prefer the inspiration photos, because they have the trademark of their times.

chrisdifonso avatar
Chris DiFonso
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are utensils and plates/bowls/etc. and even hospital supplies (such as surgical gowns) that dissolve in super hot water in a special machine and all bacteria and viruses are killed

lottekin avatar
charlotte berger
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love this. I desperately want that bathroom and game room in my house.

sallyannlady avatar
Ann McNeil
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But ... how would you relax in that bathroom? Is there anyplace to have a nice hot soak?

zachtan avatar
Zach Tan
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's more innovation here than what Apple sells these days.

kathinka avatar
Katinka Min
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No matter how much modern technology people imagined in the 50s, once thing was always crystal clear: Women do the cleanign and the cooking. And look how right they were for majority of households.

mattsmith31 avatar
Matthew Smith
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got a "Forbidden Planet" Vibe from a couple of the inspiration photos.

laceymarsden avatar
L
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

some look they would be on the Avalon ... vote up if u saw this movie

charlesebonca avatar
Charlese Bonca
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm just very very confused why the lady was spraying the couch with a hose. Very confused.

elia84631 avatar
elia 84631
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love these designs. They are more interesting than today ones

ericmacfadden avatar
Eric Mac Fadden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They even couldn't imagine the future is a tiny screen almost glued to the face and DGAF to nothing else...

annajackson_1 avatar
Anna Jackson
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

xxo91048 avatar
Evere1993
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I make a big amount online work . How ??? Just u can done also with this site and u can do it Easily 2 step one is open link next is Click on Tech so u can done Easily now u can do it also.. copy this link > https://bit.ly/2ugdH7h

vwk72500 avatar
Hoper1987
Community Member
4 years ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I make a big amount online work . How ??? Just u can done also with this site and u can do it Easily 2 step one is open link next is Click on Tech so u can done Easily now u can do it also. open this ☛ https://bit.ly/2ugdH7h

melelliott avatar
Ripley
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently these designers imagined that we would be living in houses with a half-acre floor plan! And given the games room, that they would all be built in extinct volcanoes a la Bond villains.

juhel avatar
Pixie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love stuff like this! There is a whole website dedicatet to the vision of future from the past, from the jules vernes era to futuristic ideas of the 80s. ( https://paleofuture.com/)

alanwilkening avatar
Podunkus
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for the link. Apparently that hosts the archives now. The active site has moved to http://paleofuture.gizmodo.com

Load More Replies...
sluclakito avatar
LittleMissLotus
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, I wish I had rooms like these in my house these are really cool!

lynnnoyes avatar
elfin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I notice that this vision of the future still envisions women doing all the housework.

dlb avatar
Dl B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand why the toilet is on a pillar right in the center of the bathroom. Who would want to sit on the toilet right in the middle of a huge room like that?

captaindash avatar
Full Name
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Jetsons was way more realistic. From vacuuming robots to big flat screens and Skype, tablets with newspapers etc.

stacy avatar
Fixin'Ta
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Being in my fifties, it's fun to see these views of what people thought life would be like in what seemed like the far distant future (I can tell you, the "future" we're living in got here a lot faster than I thought it would when I was 6). I'm always sad that the coolest ideas aren't generally a thing yet -- no flying cars. But we DO have "video phones" and IoT homes (still blows my mind to be able to just tell Alexa to turn off the lights when I go to bed). Still waiting for Rosie the Robot, though.

elsietnorth avatar
Firework
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do have flying cars, actually. Helicopters. Airplanes are flying buses.

Load More Replies...
imbriuminarian avatar
Bunzilla
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are fun, I love retro futurism. Especially mid-century stuff, with all their smooth, clean lines, bubble domes and spheres. :)

kyrie24 avatar
ilikeplants
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The author clearly doesn't have children. A living room you can hose down sounds like living the dream.

jim_ellington avatar
Jim Ellington
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that was an accurate depiction of a future bathroom it would have the Three Seashells.

talovich avatar
Yugan Talovich
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, I prefer the inspiration photos, because they have the trademark of their times.

chrisdifonso avatar
Chris DiFonso
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are utensils and plates/bowls/etc. and even hospital supplies (such as surgical gowns) that dissolve in super hot water in a special machine and all bacteria and viruses are killed

lottekin avatar
charlotte berger
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love this. I desperately want that bathroom and game room in my house.

sallyannlady avatar
Ann McNeil
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But ... how would you relax in that bathroom? Is there anyplace to have a nice hot soak?

zachtan avatar
Zach Tan
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's more innovation here than what Apple sells these days.

kathinka avatar
Katinka Min
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No matter how much modern technology people imagined in the 50s, once thing was always crystal clear: Women do the cleanign and the cooking. And look how right they were for majority of households.

mattsmith31 avatar
Matthew Smith
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got a "Forbidden Planet" Vibe from a couple of the inspiration photos.

laceymarsden avatar
L
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

some look they would be on the Avalon ... vote up if u saw this movie

charlesebonca avatar
Charlese Bonca
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm just very very confused why the lady was spraying the couch with a hose. Very confused.

elia84631 avatar
elia 84631
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love these designs. They are more interesting than today ones

ericmacfadden avatar
Eric Mac Fadden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They even couldn't imagine the future is a tiny screen almost glued to the face and DGAF to nothing else...

annajackson_1 avatar
Anna Jackson
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

xxo91048 avatar
Evere1993
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I make a big amount online work . How ??? Just u can done also with this site and u can do it Easily 2 step one is open link next is Click on Tech so u can done Easily now u can do it also.. copy this link > https://bit.ly/2ugdH7h

vwk72500 avatar
Hoper1987
Community Member
4 years ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I make a big amount online work . How ??? Just u can done also with this site and u can do it Easily 2 step one is open link next is Click on Tech so u can done Easily now u can do it also. open this ☛ https://bit.ly/2ugdH7h

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