Predictions About Computers

[dgridley]

Here are some interesting computers that were made about computers:

«Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and weigh only 1.5 tons.»
Popular Mechanics, March 1949.

«There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.»
Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC), maker of big business mainframe computers, arguing against the PC in 1977.

«I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year.»
The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957.

«But what... is it good for?»
IBM executive Robert Lloyd, speaking in 1968 microprocessor, the heart of today’s computers.

Anyone have any predictions THEY'D like to make about the future of Computers?

 

[weblord]

i bet they're almost like false prophets.

 

[dgridley]

Well, they were obviously, clearly, wrong!

i bet they're almost like false prophets.

 

[weblord]

Well, they were obviously, clearly, wrong!

hahaha sorry to use a christian term on it as mostly false prophet's prophecy or prediction doesn't happen that's why they're called like that.

ahh the most authorized people to look up to and the powers on high on the computer scene never been able to say the future of the computers. how much more the users like us?

 

[BrandonG]

My prediction:

The internet phase will eventually die down and we'll all be screwed. :hehe:

Actually new technology for computers are being researched and created all the time! Who knows what will be next for computers in 10 years?

 

[eh-stevo]

I cannot wait until everything is a virtual reality.

Where our brains are hooked up to the computer, and our minds play the games. We can tune out of everything and watch a movie through our brain projecting to the eyes. Then a virus breaks through, corrupts our brain and trojans out all our information.

Stevo =D

 

[dgridley]

Already happened.. this is v.3.0 beta version.. where have you been?

I cannot wait until everything is a virtual reality.

Where our brains are hooked up to the computer, and our minds play the games. We can tune out of everything and watch a movie through our brain projecting to the eyes. Then a virus breaks through, corrupts our brain and trojans out all our information.

Stevo =D

 

[eh-stevo]

Ah damn, auto-update is bugged. Better format and reinstall windows =(

Stevo

 

[oldratracer]

Computers will advance to the point where you will no longer need a keyboard, mouse or screen to access the web...everything will be accessable wherever, whenever and at whatever time you need it due to the advancement of communications and artificial intelligence combined with "nano" technology....all you will have to do is "point at" a wall and a "viewing screen" will appear then use your "wrist computer" to access the virtual web...with the "virtual keyboard" ....and let your fingers do the surfing....
(subscription services will apply of course..lol)...

OldRatRacer

 

[The Equivocate]

Here's the article with a lot of other non-computer-related quotes:
http://www.2spare.com/item_50221.aspx

 

[BrandonG]

Here's the article with a lot of other non-computer-related quotes:
http://www.2spare.com/item_50221.aspx

I love this one:

«Everything that can be invented has been invented.»
Charles H. Duell, an official at the US patent office, 1899.

Just imagine!

 

[dgridley]

Sadly, this is one prediction we can almost certainly be sure of...

(subscription services will apply of course..lol)...

OldRatRacer

 

[Humdizzy]

There will be no such thing as a computer in the future. Computers will advance to be the thing we currently call life.

 

[abdulmueid]

I am on the John Titor (http://www.johntitor.com) bandwagon. Good ol' typewriters are coming back after a nasty war :P

But seriously, I am looking forward to things like a "Thing Downloaded" where you can order a Pizza, download it and then print it with a "Thing Printer", all of which is ofcourse pocket sized.

 

[Halobitt]

I am on the John Titor (http://www.johntitor.com) bandwagon. Good ol' typewriters are coming back after a nasty war :P

But seriously, I am looking forward to things like a "Thing Downloaded" where you can order a Pizza, download it and then print it with a "Thing Printer", all of which is ofcourse pocket sized.

Scottish artist and writer of "The Slab Boys", doesn't use a computer but a typewriter I believe.

Re: Pizza. Seems a bit like Back to the Future part 2 where they rehydrate a pizza!

 

[greggish]

My prediction and hope is for super portability. I think the UMPC concept will successfully replace many people's notebooks (and my 2 UMPC domains will be valuable). But my idea of the ultra mobile PC is all the functionality of a notebook in something the size of small paperback. If they could make a screen that folds out in 3 panels then you could have a very small notebook when folded and a large nice screen 3 times the size when unfolded. Also, I think we will be seeing large flash HD's that use 5% of the power of standard HD's and greatly improved battery life (days instead of hours) maybe mini fuel cells. And I would like a ring mouse (a mouse you wear as a pinky ring that has a gyroscope). Obviously these are all pretty near term predictions. Who knows what technology will let the computer look like and do decades from now?

 

[painperdu]

"Spam will be a thing of the past in two years' time"
-Bill Gates, BBC News (January 24 2004)

 

[greggish]

"Spam will be a thing of the past in two years' time"
-Bill Gates, BBC News (January 24 2004)

Billy may not be so off on that one. I get practically no spam now with my gmail.

 

[dgridley]

Gmail has an awesome spam filter.. possibly the absolute best I've encountered. Yahoo's is getting better.. Hotmail still reeks IMO.

Me, I hate "tricky" spam.. I mean I subscribe to alot of lists so I get dupes of the same offers floating about. What ticks me off is getting 3-4 emails in the same day from the same guys with an "oops, put the wrong link in that last email, but here it is now" just so they can go on to try and upsell you on something else. An immediate turnoff to me if any of you marketing guys happen to be listening!

To get back on subject, I can remember getting my first 9600 baud modem (which was considered blazingly fast in it's day), my first CD drive (not even a writer), my 386 33MHZ computer with a 40 MB hard drive and nobody ever thought it could get any better.. one thing, you get exceptional value for the money you spend compared to what it used to cost: my Commodore 64 was $599 new at one point. A Commodore 10MB hard drive was something like $1200!

If things keep going the way they have been, we'll be seeing some phenomenal developments in the coming decade and beyond.

Billy may not be so off on that one. I get practically no spam now with my gmail.

 

[greggish]

To get back on subject, I can remember getting my first 9600 baud modem (which was considered blazingly fast in it's day), my first CD drive (not even a writer), my 386 33MHZ computer with a 40 MB hard drive and nobody ever thought it could get any better..

My first computer was an Atari 800. I also had a cassette drive and it took 20-30 minutes to load Joust which I was getting pirated copies of even then. :hehe: