Saturday, April 24, 2010

1993 predictions

In 1993, American television screens showed advertisements for telecommunications provider AT&T. All seven ads can be viewed here. Many of the predictions made are incredibly accurate, 17 years on.

Remote book viewer - Google Books
In-car directions - GPS
Wireless faxing - wireless email

Speedy toll payment - systems such as go via
Self-serve concert tickets - online item purchasing
Remote video calling - possible on many mobile phones

Voice-controlled systems - numerous
Portable medical history - systems with entire medical history stored on a card carried on a person
Beach-side video link meetings - teleconferencing/video link

On-demand movies - Hulu.com, etc.
Learning from home - recorded lectures in university, etc.

Speedier supermarket checkout - not where I live, but I've seen systems where shoppers scan in each item they place into their trolley, just paying the total at the checkout with no need to scan again
Remote professional collaboration - teleconferencing/video link
Mini mobile phones - possible with Bluetooth devices

Remote friendships - video chat
Automated translation - various services
Remote light switch - possible, I can't name any specifics though!

Automated driver's license renewal - don't know!
Virtual assistant - numerous