The Future that was Meant to Be

When I was growing up in the late 60's and early 70's, it was fun to read Popular Science articles speculating on our future life. Following the successful manned moon landing, it appeared that things would really take off.

Authors of these reputable periodicals presented a world filled with automated highway systems using hovercraft, perfect meals consumed by pill, personal flying machines, amazing medical advances, and the like. Shows such as Star Trek brought these visions to life (what could that "tri-corder" not do?).

These articles usually predicted these breakthrough advancements for humanity in "1980", then "1985", and then "2000".

This future never happened ...

Instead, we get ads delivered by email, the freedom to butcher the language via texting, advancements in medical billing, channels and channels of mindnumbing reality shows, dubious fashion advances, and downloads of music from the 60's and 70's when, frankly, a better future was envisioned.

I don't mean to be overly pessimistic. After all, dreaming about what we can be tomorrow and the next day is vital to our existence. And many great advancements have occurred.

The $4 cup of coffee, for instance.

But my dream achievement is not on the scene yet ...

... I'd like a device to allow me to pinpoint moles in the yard by their heat readings (so they can be dug out and bonked on the head).

That's not a dreaming too big, is it?

See you tomorrow ...