A futurist is someone who studies the future and makes predictions based on current trends. Futurists have existed for probably as long as humans have been humans – previously, they have been called words like prophets, fortune-tellers, and diviners. Modern futurism became popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and increased with the rapid and often violent societal and technological changes of World War I.
Check out these past futurists’ visions of the future!
Personal flying machines and domes to control the weather
These postcards from 1900 show what Germany might be like in the year 2000. Did they get it right?
House-cleaning made easy and riding hippopotamuses
And here’s the French perspective! Also from 1900, these postcards show a different vision of 2000. Who got more correct?
Phones with televisions and rocket planes
By 1930, technology had developed tremendously. These German futurists predicted even more developments, many of which have come true.
Solar-powered cars and push-button education
Futurists in the 1950s and ’60s were dreaming big! They predicted that life in 2000 would be wildly exciting. How many of these visions of the future are we still waiting on?