In the past, what did we think the future would be like? What are some things in the past that we believed would be true about the future (which is now the present, or even now in the recent past)?

I remember taking a class in the year 1983 that was about the future. The topic was called Futurism.

We discussed and studied the probability that most would have car phones and some would have ‘pocket phones’ utilizing Cellular technology if they were wealthy enough. That the upper classes would have cable T.V. and access to more education via cable T.V. and the lower classes would lose out.

Everyone supposedly would have MUCH more leisure time (ha ha!) since computers and robotics and Computer Aided Design and manufacture would produce everything and make our homes automatic. People would still be employed to program and operate the devices but would have more leisure time.

Alternative and “Green” energy sources are still on the docket. We believed in all that congress is pushing today for Green energy, practical or nay, and that everyone would have electric cars.

For this question and discussion—please tell of some things back in the latter 20th century and first decade or so of the 21st, that we believed would be happening now. Or some of the things in the 1970s that we believed about the year 2000.

Please list some, and discuss what you heard or believed about what others have listed, whether they came true or not, or might still be on the horizon.