THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)
Fun Stuff => CHATTER => Topic started by: fatty on 16 Jan 2010, 09:22
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This is a children's book written in 1972 by a guy named Geoffery Hoyle. It's really interesting, I thought I might try to start a discussion about it.
READ & VIEW HERE (http://2010book.tumblr.com/post/310745454/cover)
(http://2.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kvolyrpnuY1qadn0go1_500.jpg)
The first things that stuck out to me were about automation and interaction.
The house is bascially a custom built machine that supplies your every need and customisation. Machines of course can solve all the environmental, social and health problems in the minds of the 1970s futurist. Environmental problems could all be solved if we were more efficient. It's interesting because it is so rigid, whereas now we consider the future to be one of flexibility, change and adaptability. A built in wardrobe is switched for something individual and lightweight, which will go out of fashion in 5 years.
People often mistake customisation for individuality. Interaction with the machine is to give it your custom order. This of course, gives you power and the ability to be an individual. Exactly how you like your eggs is related to your self-awareness. But it's as shallow as choosing your customised numberplate.
(http://14.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kvqxwsnFZu1qadn0go1_500.jpg)
Fashion has become chosing the colour and pattern of your futurist-jumpsuit. Where does creativity go? Did people believe that in 40years time (possibly their lifetime), fashion and similiar forms of creative expression would be unceremoniously replaced with their more-efficient jumpsuit counter-parts. Cooking is the same, it is completely automated.
While now, we may see things like this to be 'mass-produced' or plastic - the author rejoices in these efficiencies. Interaction with work and school is automated, as is ordering from a restaurant.
The fact is, the things that don't change is what the author believes everything else allows and supports, your ability to hang out with your friends, go to the sports game, and play guitar. Machines mean the air is clean and fresh, the environment is protected, and we can fit all the people onto the planet comfortably.
(http://17.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kvu696p3Zi1qadn0go1_500.jpg)
And yes : N.B the series of tubes.
(http://6.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kw35v9DJQ71qadn0go1_500.jpg)
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Mate, let it go.
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It is the 'teens, and there is time for:
(http://www.texturemonkey.com/HCG/blog/klax_(11).jpg)
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The clothing of the future is already here
(http://www.concoxions.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Snuggies.jpg)
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Ooooh look, it's a Screenshot from Attack Of The Blankies!
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On page 31 there's a picture of an iPhone.
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It is the 'teens, and there is time for:
I have a Lynx in box.
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It's always worried me how many futurists idea of a perfect future is one in which everything is centralised and everyone lives essentially identical lives, without any apparent alternative choices. There are plenty of predictions from 1970's Tomorrow's World annuals much like this, often sprinkled with even more worrying shit about state sponsored euthenasia and so forth. The shock at how manis y people the world would contain is also often palpable. I recently re-read 2001: A Space Oddysey, and laughed to see Clarke saying how the world was almost falling apart due to our inability to feed 6 billion people.
Then I realised it was true. Unfortunately, whilst Clarke imagined the US having 'no meat days', the reality is infinitely less fair.
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I still want my jet pack
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Poke your jetpack, where are all our lightsabres?
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Hoverboard.
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I recently re-read 2001: A Space Oddysey
Speaking of which, what did happen to those guys we sent to Jupiter 9 years ago? I hope they are ok!
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Hoverboard.
not until 2015 (http://www.electricpig.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/ebay-hoverboard.jpg)
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Khar, I think this book barely goes as a far as some other predictions, in fact some of the predictions in this one are almost believable. Except for the bit where you make a car, seal in packaging, and flush it down a tube to your house.
I'm particularly interested in the way it deals with the built and natural envrionment. It's true, our entertainment (in some places) is at the mega-mall, and a perfect food court would be one where you can sit on a green roof and order from the table.
Obviously, one of the things that plagued 1972, is that in the future everything will be more crowded and there will be more queues for everything. Hence, conveyer belts and tubes!
Also, working and learning from the comfort of your home means you will never have water-cooler conversations or playtime in the quadrangle.
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I recently re-read 2001: A Space Oddysey
Speaking of which, what did happen to those guys we sent to Jupiter 9 years ago? I hope they are ok!
We sent a team out and now there are 2 suns, and nighttime is but a distant memory, soon to be nothing more than a story told to children.
Where have you been?
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The clothing of the future is already here
(http://www.concoxions.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Snuggies.jpg)
Quit living in the past old man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdtWC8zBpdY)