Arthur C. Clarke Predicts the Internet & PC

[Borg 386]

In1974 Arthur C. Clarke told the ABC that every household in 2001 will have a computer and be connected all over the world. Courtesy of Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

 

[smarteyeball]

The man had some awesome foresight.

 

[A Guy]

No pun intended. It sounded like Science Fiction back then, and I'm sure that's what people thought. Amazing how many Star Trek, SciFi things have actually come about. A Guy

 

[boohbah]

yeah, but my taser has being a bit buggy lately. must have been the last teleport to the super market

 

[msdos622wasfun]

I'd say this is a bit more spot on than what Professor Frink once predicted on The Simpsons ... something along the lines of computers being ten times more powerful, twice as big, and so expensive that only the five richest kings of Europe could afford them ...

 

[MilesAhead]

The man had some awesome foresight.

Imagine if he wrote the software for geosynchronous satellite communications and got patents on it? He'd own a piece of every communications company in the world. Trouble is his model for doing it was too far in front of the reality. If he could have built prototypes to demonstrate the principle he probably would have been the richest guy in the world.

But I doubt he would drink Dos-Akkies.

 

[smarteyeball]

He was definitely far in front of the curve and if he'd had the ability to turn those visions into actualities - he would certainly have been one very rich man.

No pun intended. It sounded like Science Fiction back then, and I'm sure that's what people thought. Amazing how many Star Trek, SciFi things have actually come about. A Guy

Sci-fi has definitely spurred technology on.

(Although I'm still waiting for a Dell laptop that can plug into an ancient alien supercomputer and interface seamlessly )

A clear case of life imitating art.

I'd say this is a bit more spot on than what Professor Frink once predicted on The Simpsons ... something along the lines of computers being ten times more powerful, twice as big, and so expensive that only the five richest kings of Europe could afford them ...

lol, yeah

 

[MilesAhead]

For me there were 2 movies that were like rites of passage. One was 2001. The other was Easy Rider. I didn't quite grok 2001 until I read the book. But the light show was awesome.

Only thing is I have to lobby Congress to prohibit every TV commercial from playing Also Sprach Zarathustra. Like, it's been 44 years!! Get another idea!! Jeez!!

 

[mjf]

Clarke also predicted geostationary satellites. What a looney.

 

[smarteyeball]

For me there were 2 movies that were like rites of passage. One was 2001. I didn't quite grok 2001 until I read the book. But the light show was awesome.

Even Clarke liked Kubricks adaptation. It's one of my top ten favourite movies.

The books did help explain a lot though.

Only thing is I have to lobby Congress to prohibit every TV commercial from playing Also Sprach Zarathustra. Like, it's been 44 years!! Get another idea!! Jeez!!

Good music+cheap usage rights=Flogged to death

 

[MilesAhead]

Clarke also predicted geostationary satellites. What a looney.

That's where the richest man in the world would have come in. He had he idea and may have even consulted on it. But unless he did something he could patent he probably just got a hefty consulting fee.

 

[MilesAhead]

For me there were 2 movies that were like rites of passage. One was 2001. I didn't quite grok 2001 until I read the book. But the light show was awesome.

Even Clarke liked Kubricks adaptation. It's one of my top ten favourite movies.

The books did help explain a lot though.

I was a bit surprised when I watched the Science Channel thingy that he actually collaborated with Kubrick during the making of the film. So it wasn't like they butchered his work. Tough thing to get that alien genesis in there without killing the mystery in the film. I remember people were writing articles about Stonehenge and other references (the Sun and Moon are both visible over the obelisk etc..)

I don't know if Clarke intended any of the God references. I think he just looked on the obelisk as a tool for smartening people up, jumping through worm holes, your basic all purpose gizmo.

 

[mjf]

I saw 2001: A Space Odyssey as a young teenager and was overwhelmed by it. The movie theater handed explanatory notes! The current blu ray transfer is magnificent.
I thought Clarke wrote the book after the movie was made??

 

[MilesAhead]

I saw 2001: A Space Odyssey as a young teenager and was overwhelmed by it. The movie theater handed explanatory notes! The current blu ray transfer is magnificent.
I thought Clarke wrote the book after the movie was made??

Could be. I don't remember. All I remember is I read the book after seeing the movie a few times. I still don't get why Keir Dullea's career fizzled. About all I remember seeing him in of any note was some flick where he played the Marquis de Sade. Pretty tame and lame too. Oh well.

Even lamer was 2010. I mean, how can you do a sequel to 2001 where the Star Child is on his way to Earth to kick some ass by thinking, and there's nothing about it in the sequel.

It's like The Matrix. Once the guy flies, that should be that. If he can do whatever he can imagine then he's "God" in that environment. So there's no more point to continuing. There shouldn't be any conflict. Why mess around with Kung Fu crap if you can just vaporize anybody in the way? It's silly.