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**Jack** · Aug 25, 2007, 10:31 am

In 1993, AT&T ran a series of ads predicting what technology would enable us to do in the future. Check these samples out and see how close they came to what has passed. BTW, the voice in those ads belongs to Tom Selleck. If you don't know who he is, then welcome to one of the changes that fourteen years brings.
YouTube - AT&T 1993 "You Will" Ads

Autolykos · Aug 25, 2007, 12:17 pm

I remember seeing those commercials when I was a kid! :eek:

They actually seem very close to what we have today. Some of the graphics are different (read: fancier than real life), but those are probably for dramatic purposes. AFAIK, video phone booths are the only prediction that hasn't come true by today. Then again, webcams obviate the need for those.

EDIT: Howait... the company that brought us all those things was not AT&T.

- Rob

**Chris** · Aug 26, 2007, 05:30 pm

yeah...

Blackberry, Garmin, Apple et al :)

**Jack** · Aug 26, 2007, 06:51 pm

It makes me wonder if any of the people who did manage to introduce those technologies were either inspired by AT&T's predictions or perhaps once worked at AT&T and took their knowledge with them when they left.

Milton Bradley · Aug 26, 2007, 07:52 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Isherwood

It makes me wonder if any of the people who did manage to introduce those technologies were either inspired by AT&T's predictions or perhaps once worked at AT&T and took their knowledge with them when they left.

I'd wager on the latter.

There has been an exodus out of AT&T since the mid 80's when they started buying out employees, and forcing early retirements. ( My Father, and many of his friends were part of this exodus, so I have witnessed this first hand. )

Aug 25, 2007, 10:31 am	#1 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,371	AT&T's predictions In 1993, AT&T ran a series of ads predicting what technology would enable us to do in the future. Check these samples out and see how close they came to what has passed. BTW, the voice in those ads belongs to Tom Selleck. If you don't know who he is, then welcome to one of the changes that fourteen years brings. YouTube - AT&T 1993 "You Will" Ads The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)

Aug 25, 2007, 12:17 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Autolykos Logical Phallussy Location: In your internets. Posts: 2,991	I remember seeing those commercials when I was a kid! :eek: They actually seem very close to what we have today. Some of the graphics are different (read: fancier than real life), but those are probably for dramatic purposes. AFAIK, video phone booths are the only prediction that hasn't come true by today. Then again, webcams obviate the need for those. EDIT: Howait... the company that brought us all those things was not AT&T. - Rob "I'd rather be free and alive!" -- Ron Paul Religion isn't the greatest threat to mankind -- authoritarianism is. The Anarcheion Zeitgeist

Aug 26, 2007, 05:30 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
Chris Gamma-ray burst Location: Nashville Posts: 6,294	yeah... Blackberry, Garmin, Apple et al :) Delusion- A persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence. (i.e. religion) Shared

Aug 26, 2007, 06:51 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
Jack formerly Isherwood Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 13,371	It makes me wonder if any of the people who did manage to introduce those technologies were either inspired by AT&T's predictions or perhaps once worked at AT&T and took their knowledge with them when they left. The Forum Rules Radical Atheist Heathen Queer Let's agree to respect each others views, no matter how wrong yours may be. (Ashleigh Brilliant)