Computers of the Future
I'm not sure if this is legitimate, but supposedly this is a picture published by Popular Mechanics in 1954 of what they thought home computers would look like in 50 years, which is 2004.
Editors note: Too bad, turns out it's a hoax. ;-)
From the caption:
Scientists from the RAND Corporation have created this model to illustrate how a "home computer" could look like in the year 2004. However the needed technology will not be economically feasible for the average home. Also the scientists readily admit that the computer will require not yet invented technology to actually work, but 50 years from now scientific progress is expected to solve these problems. With teletype interface and Fortran language, the computer will be easy to use.
Click on the attachment link below for a slightly larger version of the picture.
Uh... turns out... that's a submarine console
I just found out that this picture is a hoax. This is actually a picture of a submarine console that somebody downloaded and edited. Check out this link:
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/computer.asp
It's still pretty funny though.
I like it even better
Oh, well. :-) I think I like it even better now that I know it's a hoax. I'm still going to use it as my wallpaper for awhile. The attention to detail is great. That guy standing there so proudly, looking so stodgy and confident in his creation. The gigantic speaker attached to the bottom of the TV. The grainy look. Brilliant.
These internet hoax busters are no fun. :-) Lesson learned...
Dan
The thing that really makes i
The thing that really makes it look real to me is the odd, unreadable, poorly-memiographed-looking type in the caption.
Ready to Believe
This silly thing got me thinking today. I added some musings to my blog:
A Little Skepticism is a Good Thing
Dan
Re: Computers of the Future
Hi Dan,
Wish I had seen this a while back. I could have confirmed for you that this is certainly not a futurist's prediction of what a home computer might look like. I see that you linked to a truth or fiction type site, and I can confirm that it is the set of control panels for a nuclear submarine. Having spent several years of my life staring at those meters and gauges, it was surprising to stumble across them on your site.
Bill
What a photo!
I love this photo. I might just make it my desktop wallpaper. There are so many things to love about this. What is that big wheel?!? It's like something off a boat. And I'd love to know what all those dials are for. I'm so glad that now that the future is here it turned out that we do not all have to use Fortran to operate our personal computers.
Love it. Thanks for posting, berrydoo.
Dan