# Future technologies/inventions you were told about as a child that never came to be **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 9, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622 "2002-12-09T21:50:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/1 "2002-12-09T21:50:43Z")
When I was in the second grade (circa 1978) I remember reading a book which discussed various inventions and technological developments that we could look forward to seeing in the future. Among them were: Food that came in the form of pills. Kids would no longer leave home to go to school. They’d all attend “class” via watching their teacher on a TV screen (this is technologically possible today, I realize) Video phones (again, we actually have them, but they haven’t caught on) Cars that ran on water, solar power, etc. So here we are in 2002 (almost 2003). I’m still using fossil fuels to drive my car, and last I checked there were still yellow school buses (using fossil fuels, of course) taking kids to and from school. My lunch today was prepared no differently than it was 25 years ago, and I still can’t actually see the people I talk to on the phone (not that I really see a need for this). So, what inventions or technological developments do you remember hearing about as a child but never came into being? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/2 "2002-12-09T21:54:37Z")
Readily available flying cars. Space stations (think 2001). Laser weapons. A cure for all disease. World peace. ---
**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/3 "2002-12-09T22:09:17Z")
HDTV ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/4 "2002-12-09T22:48:43Z")
Well, I don’t know about other 41 year olds, but I’m really miffed that I don’t have a jet pack that lets me fly around like the Rocketeer. EVERY book or T show I ever saw about the future showed people with jet packs strapped to their backs. We were all SUPPOSED to have them by the year 2000! Geez, the future turned out to be a real letdown, didn’t it? I WANT MY JET PACK!!! ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/5 "2002-12-09T22:51:48Z")
Factories would become so efficient that people would only work twenty hours per week. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/6 "2002-12-10T22:10:22Z")
On a long-ago quiz show (What’s My Line, maybe,) Henry Morgan predicted a teensy device that would wander around your scalp when you were watching TV. The thing would check the length of each hair and trim it to the right length. :eek: As far as I know, nobody has even tried to make one. ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/7 "2002-12-10T22:15:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dwc1970 \* > \*\* > Kids would no longer leave home to go to school. They’d all attend “class” via watching their teacher on a TV screen (this is technologically possible today, I realize) > > So here we are in 2002 (almost 2003). I’m still using fossil fuels to drive my car, and last I checked there were still yellow school buses (using fossil fuels, of course) taking kids to and from school. \*\* Well I realize that most conventional schools still work the same way, I’m finishing my college degree and I’ve never stepped foot into a classroom. I’m taking all my classes online. From what I’ve experienced, I don’t think this will ever become mainstream, but students learning from home is becoming an increasingly popular alternative. As far as when I was a kid, I’d always imagined that by the time I grew up, everything would be based on virtual reality. While there’s a lot that has been done in that field, I _still_ don’t have my own virtual reality goggles. I think I’ll hold my breath and wait. Hehe ---
**Author:** ![Igloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Igloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Igloo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/8 "2002-12-10T22:43:24Z")
AOL Snort. When I was younger, it seems like we were just a hop skip and a jump from having video phones all over the place. I know some of them are out there (I have one), but they’re far from being [cue cheesy commercial guy] In Every Household! Mine was a “gift” from my parents that we have yet to hook up. I know the Moto commercial is infiltrating us right now but, personally, I could do without any kind of visual contact when I’m on the phone and wonder if the same kind of mentality is what has kept this from really advancing. Or if I’m just odd. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/9 "2002-12-11T00:06:57Z")
I was certainly supposed to have a LOT more antennas in my life. On my hat, my dog, my car, my books…EVERYTHING. And they were supposed to have those little rings around the ends of them. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/10 "2002-12-11T00:55:26Z")
Where the hell is my flying car? To be specific, my computer-driven flying car. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/11 "2002-12-11T03:46:06Z")
Where are my moving walkways? I mean outside of the airport. ---
**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/12 "2002-12-11T04:41:05Z")
Anything the Discovery Channel showcased on the [older] show “Beyond 2000” and “Next Step” ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/13 "2002-12-11T04:53:14Z")
I thought stuff was supposed to be like “Back to the Future Pt. 2” You know, flying cars,self fitting clothes,all that stuff. Or like that old attraction in Orlando, Xanudu (SP) ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/14 "2002-12-11T07:34:49Z")
All our meals in pill form. Vaccinations for tooth decay. Monorails and moving sidewalks in every city (they’ve been invented, but are hardly as common as I thought they would be). And I want my Orgasmatron! ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/15 "2002-12-11T11:42:13Z")
Every one would have a helicopter, or a car that flies, in the garage. ---
**Author:** ![dono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@dono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dono)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/16 "2002-12-11T15:09:33Z")
I remember a Popular Science cover story from the Sixties: “How You’ll Drive 120 MPH - Legally!”. The illustration showed a freeway scene (the cars weren’t flying, alas) with one lane marked “120 MPH”. Man, I couldn’t wait! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/17 "2002-12-11T15:48:26Z")
My shiny clothes! Everyone was supposed to have shiny one piece suits with white boots and gloves and helmets with the aforementioned antennae with rings around them. Those of us who are fashion challenged were really looking forward to this… ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/18 "2002-12-11T16:02:31Z")
I would be thrilled with a robot to do my housework, such as Rosie on the Jetsons. What about a colony on the moon or the sea floor? Or Mars, even? ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/19 "2002-12-11T16:06:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dwc1970 \* > **Food that came in the form of pills.** “Power Bars.” > [@](#): > > **Kids would no longer leave home to go to school. They’d all attend “class” via watching their teacher on a TV screen (this is technologically possible today, I realize)** Yes, but in order to develop healthy social skills (and free parents from the burden of forever babysitting) we still need to shuttle them off for at least a few days a week. And my former housemate doesn’t attend classes. He the lectures arrive in the mail on video and only has to show up for exams. > [@](#): > > **Cars that ran on water, solar power, etc.** \< conspiracy tinfoil hat ON \> That’s because the ealthy oil barons are going to prevent that from ever happening… \< conspiracy tinfoil hat OFF \> > [@](#): > > \*\*So, what inventions or technological developments do you remember hearing about as a child but never came into being? \*\* I’ve always wanted a light sabre. At the very least space travel should be available to the general public at a reasonable price. And Buckminster Fuller said we’d have chutes where you’d throw your dirty clothes in one end and out the other would come clean, dry and pressed garments ready to wear… I bet I’d still lose ONE sock out of every pair though. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622/20 "2002-12-11T16:48:11Z")
Where’s my goddamn rocket car? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-technologies-inventions-you-were-told-about-as-a-child-that-never-came-to-be/141622.md?page=2)