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H. G. Wells and the Uncertainties of Progress

- June 27, 2019 in Books, Culture & History, future, future history, h. g. wells, Literature, progress, retrofuture, science fiction

In addition to the numerous pioneering works of science fiction by which he made his name, H. G. Wells also published a swathe of non-fiction meditations, mainly focused on themes explored in his stories — the effects of technology, human folly, and the idea of progress. As Peter J. Bowler explores, for Wells this notion of progression was far from simple.

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The Library of the Future: A Vision of 1983 from 1883

- January 30, 2019 in future history, libraries, library, retrofuture, retrofuturism

The American librarian C.A. Cutter looks forward from 1883 to "the library of the future" in 1983.

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1970: A Vision of the Coming Age (1870)

- June 14, 2018 in best of sci-fi and future visions, future history, future technologies, historical predictions of the future, quakerism, quakers, retro-future, retrofuture, retrofuturism, technology, utopia, utopias

A vision of the world hundred years in the future, in which societies have been transformed into Quakerly perfection.

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1970: A Vision of the Coming Age (1870)

- June 14, 2018 in best of sci-fi and future visions, future history, future technologies, historical predictions of the future, quakerism, quakers, retro-future, retrofuture, retrofuturism, technology, utopia, utopias

A vision of the world hundred years in the future, in which societies have been transformed into Quakerly perfection.

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1970: A Vision of the Coming Age (1870)

- June 14, 2018 in best of sci-fi and future visions, future history, future technologies, historical predictions of the future, quakerism, quakers, retro-future, retrofuture, retrofuturism, technology, utopia, utopias

A vision of the world hundred years in the future, in which societies have been transformed into Quakerly perfection.

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A Vision of Isolating Technology from 1906

- July 27, 2016 in future history, future technologies, futurism, punch, punch magazine, retrofuturism, smartphone, smartphone zombies, smombie, technology, telegarph

Punch magazine's vision of the smartphone zombie from 1906.

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A Vision of Isolating Technology from 1906

- July 27, 2016 in future history, future technologies, futurism, punch, punch magazine, retrofuturism, smartphone, smartphone zombies, smombie, technology, telegarph

Punch magazine's vision of the smartphone zombie from 1906.

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A Vision of Isolating Technology from 1906

- July 27, 2016 in future history, future technologies, futurism, punch, punch magazine, retrofuturism, smartphone, smartphone zombies, smombie, technology, telegarph

Punch magazine's vision of the smartphone zombie from 1906.

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A Vision of Isolating Technology from 1906

- July 27, 2016 in future history, future technologies, futurism, punch, punch magazine, retrofuturism, smartphone, smartphone zombies, smombie, technology, telegarph

Punch magazine's vision of the smartphone zombie from 1906.

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London a Hundred Years Hence (1857)

- February 4, 2016 in commerce, future history, futurology, historical predictions of the future, london, retrofuture, shopping

A vision, from 1857, of what London would look like 100 years in the future — including the prediction of vast shopping malls and internet shopping.

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