GROOVY FUTURISTIC LIVING ROOMS

Taken from a book published in 1979 called "Future Cities: Homes and Living into the 21st Century" the above picture shows a fairly accurate portrayal of what many of us have currently at home now , including access to "electronic newspapers", "electronic mail" and very large television screens on the wall. Also, this guy's living quarters looks like it is all of 200 square feet, which is a pretty accurate portrait of what you can buy in Vancouver for $500,000.

Even the solar panels outside reflect where things are heading, at least if we are smart anyways. With the exception of the drink serving robot, everything in this picture seems pretty spot on. Of course I am OK with the absence of robot servants, as I have watched enough sci-fi to know that servile androids always turn on their masters, though I suppose the most harm this one could probably do is pour hot coffee on your lap. There you have it, the groovy future I dreamt about as a kid is finally here, sans the flying cars and jet packs.

Personally, I don't think these kind of books would be possible now, as the world seems to be changing at such an accelerated pace that our imaginations are likely limited to trying to envision what the next few years will look like, let alone decades from now. Also, my gut tells me that our visions of the future are a little less utopian now, as we are more focused on how we will live with dwindling resources and increasing geopolitical pressures in the future.

Well, that's enough future contemplation for now. Please excuse me while I go and enjoy my electronic newspaper and sip martinis in my hermetically sealed relaxation chamber with my faithful pal ROBO 3000, who assures me he holds no contempt or murderous rage towards his human master.