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November 1, 2007
The Home Computer
Here is a picture of the home computer as predicted in 1954 by Rand Coproration.
The caption reads:
“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 the Fortran language, the computer will be easy to use.”
I was born in 1954. I am glad my laptops and phones are smaller than this!
Stephen
p.s. Rats! Thanks Reg. Sorry - I don't know why comments messes up sometimes - I am getting about 1,000 a day! "I was going to comment on your Rand 1954 "Computer of the Future" item on your Stephen's Lighthouse site, but I get an "Object Not Found Error 404" screen instead (happens for all of your "comment" options on your site). I had this very same "Computer of the Future" image posted up on my cubicle wall until someone pointed out it was a hoax (see Snopes http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/computer.asp). Too bad, since it generated much discussion in the office!
Posted by stephen at November 1, 2007 1:32 PM
Comments
Did they think computers would come with the old guy too? I really want the steering wheel to make a comeback, though.
Posted by: John at November 9, 2007 1:24 PM
OUCH -- spoof or not if you remove the old guy, the television screen and the steering wheel this looks remarkably like the computer I worked on in my first job after college -- an Elliott 405. However, the give-away in the text is the use of a date (1954) and a programming language (Fortran) that are not compatible. Great fun, however and thanks for posting it!
Posted by: Hazel at November 13, 2007 6:56 AM