The Long History of the Future: Why tomorrow's technology still isn't here

(Hardback)

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We love to imagine the future. But why is dramatic future technology always just around the corner, and never a reality For decades weve delighted in dreaming about a sci-fi utopia, from flying cars and bionic humans to hoverboards; with driverless cars first proposed at the 1939 World's Fair. And why not Building a better world, be it a free-flying commute or an automated urban lifestyle is a worthy dream. Given the pace of technological change, nothing seems impossible anymore. But why are these innovations always out of reach Delving into the remarkable history of technology, The Long History of the Future also looks at what lies ahead, showing how the origins of our technology may provide insight into how it realistically evolves. You may never be able to buy a fully driverless car, but automated braking and steering could slash collision rates. Smart cities wont perfect city life, but they could help bins be emptied on time. Hyperloops may never arrive, but superfast trains could fill the gap. Looking to the future, Nicole Kobie demonstrates how despite our belief that current technology is the best it could ever be, the future always proves us wrong, and there is much to look forward to.

Author Bio

Nicole Kobie is a technology and science journalist. A contributing and futures editor for Wired and PC Pro, her research has appeared in publications as wide ranging as Teen Vogue, New Scientist and GQ. Nicole specialises in debunking government and startup PR around future tech. Over recent years she has reported on the limitations of flying cars and the slow research into computer-brain interfaces for Wired and the slow progress in developing self-driving cars for PC Pro/Alphr.