2001 Space Odyssey-failed prophesy?

[whitehall]

I watched a re-run of the 1968 film the other day and it was still entertaining but how did the the 34 year old Arthur C. Clarke and Kubrick prophesy hold up? Not too good. I think they had the Space Shuttle technology right but who would guess that it would be scrapped in 2010? They did the anti-gravity stuff pretty well but the magnetic shoes didn't quite work on the commercial shuttle and the fake gravity on the gigantic Space Station was never explained. The sad fact is that it is too expensive to ever consider a commercial Space Station much less business trips to the Moon.

 

[daveman]

I watched a re-run of the 1968 film the other day and it was still entertaining but how did the the 34 year old Arthur C. Clarke and Kubrick prophesy hold up? Not too good. I think they had the Space Shuttle technology right but who would guess that it would be scrapped in 2010? They did the anti-gravity stuff pretty well but the magnetic shoes didn't quite work on the commercial shuttle and the fake gravity on the gigantic Space Station was never explained. The sad fact is that it is too expensive to ever consider a commercial Space Station much less business trips to the Moon.

They never explained how the Pan-Am shuttle got to orbit, but I always had the impression it didn't have external tanks or boosters. Maybe nuclear-powered?

Also, the space station's gravity was provided by spin. No Star-Trek-type artificial gravity.

 

[American Horse]

In the field of prophesy, what's interesting to me is that if a prospective manned trip out to Saturn were projected, and even taking into account all we've accomplished since 1968 up to now, it would not be sooner than early in the 22nd century.

 

[Mr. H.]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-syW-0tkt4]We've come a long way..... or have we? - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Artevelde]

It's one of my favourite movies. But as a predictor of the future it has indeed failed somewhat. I think, however, that it was natural to be too optimitic about space travel in the 60's. Now it's too easy to be pessimistic about it. We'll have to see where the next breakthrough will come.

 

[whitehall]

The HAL talking and thinking computer was way out of line but I doubt if Clarke even foresaw how powerful and miniaturized standard computer technology would become.

 

[Old Rocks]

I started reading Science Fiction in the mid-'50s. The stories of the time had computers taking up whole city blocks, hundreds of people constantly running to change tubes. And the computers were controlling every aspect of everybodys lives. The internet and the present personel computers were not even a glimmer.

While watching the Eagle land, and the ensueing exploration, it was deju vu, had read all about it many years before. But perhaps the most important aspect of it I do not ever remember that it was mentioned. That being the whole world was watching it happen.

Science fiction is basically if this continues, what does it lead to? It fails when a technological inovation leapfrogs the technology, and the use is differant than predicted. In the case of computers, transistors, the internet, and the fact that almost everyone now ones one.

When things move very fast, and in unexpected directions, even the writers of science fiction get taken by surprise.

Imagine with the knowledge of 1912, predicting the state of the world and technology today. And now the rate of change is far faster, no chance at predicting the tech of 2112. Or the state of the world, for that matter. Not even politically. In 1912, most nations were monarchies. Communism, Fascism, and modern Democratic Socialism were still in the future as far as the running of governments were concerned.

 

[whitehall]

Computer science and communication technology is leapfrogging at a staggering rate but space exploration is as stagnant as the rusty old hulk they call a space station. The dreams of 2001 Odyssey are as dead as a door nail. All we can do is stare into space with bigger telescopes.

 

[Mr. H.]

 

[uscitizen]

Rotating sections to simulate gravity and chemical propulsion?
How quaint.

 

[konradv]

When I was a kid, I thought we'd all have flying cars by 2000.

 

[westwall]

I watched a re-run of the 1968 film the other day and it was still entertaining but how did the the 34 year old Arthur C. Clarke and Kubrick prophesy hold up? Not too good. I think they had the Space Shuttle technology right but who would guess that it would be scrapped in 2010? They did the anti-gravity stuff pretty well but the magnetic shoes didn't quite work on the commercial shuttle and the fake gravity on the gigantic Space Station was never explained. The sad fact is that it is too expensive to ever consider a commercial Space Station much less business trips to the Moon.

Actually you're wrong on most accounts. All of the technology they showcased either has worked or would work if given the chance. It is all pretty basic stuff using centrifugal force for the artificial gravity for instance. Very simple in concept.

The magnetic shoes would work if you were using iron for your space ship but they are using lightweight materials like aluminium and carbon fiber now to get more payload.

As soon as there is a permanent base on the Moon you can bet your ass there will be business trips to it. You just need to wake up and smell the roses. Man is destined to get off this rock. Unfortunately there are too many small minded people in positions of power who prevent it.

 

[whitehall]

I watched a re-run of the 1968 film the other day and it was still entertaining but how did the the 34 year old Arthur C. Clarke and Kubrick prophesy hold up? Not too good. I think they had the Space Shuttle technology right but who would guess that it would be scrapped in 2010? They did the anti-gravity stuff pretty well but the magnetic shoes didn't quite work on the commercial shuttle and the fake gravity on the gigantic Space Station was never explained. The sad fact is that it is too expensive to ever consider a commercial Space Station much less business trips to the Moon.

Actually you're wrong on most accounts. All of the technology they showcased either has worked or would work if given the chance. It is all pretty basic stuff using centrifugal force for the artificial gravity for instance. Very simple in concept.

The magnetic shoes would work if you were using iron for your space ship but they are using lightweight materials like aluminium and carbon fiber now to get more payload.

As soon as there is a permanent base on the Moon you can bet your ass there will be business trips to it. You just need to wake up and smell the roses. Man is destined to get off this rock. Unfortunately there are too many small minded people in positions of power who prevent it.

"Would work if given the chance". That's a loaded statement. What makes you think magnetic shoes would keep a human upright and stable in a weightless environment even if the ship was made of ferrous material?

 

[uscitizen]

I watched a re-run of the 1968 film the other day and it was still entertaining but how did the the 34 year old Arthur C. Clarke and Kubrick prophesy hold up? Not too good. I think they had the Space Shuttle technology right but who would guess that it would be scrapped in 2010? They did the anti-gravity stuff pretty well but the magnetic shoes didn't quite work on the commercial shuttle and the fake gravity on the gigantic Space Station was never explained. The sad fact is that it is too expensive to ever consider a commercial Space Station much less business trips to the Moon.

Actually you're wrong on most accounts. All of the technology they showcased either has worked or would work if given the chance. It is all pretty basic stuff using centrifugal force for the artificial gravity for instance. Very simple in concept.

The magnetic shoes would work if you were using iron for your space ship but they are using lightweight materials like aluminium and carbon fiber now to get more payload.

As soon as there is a permanent base on the Moon you can bet your ass there will be business trips to it. You just need to wake up and smell the roses. Man is destined to get off this rock. Unfortunately there are too many small minded people in positions of power who prevent it.

"Would work if given the chance". That's a loaded statement. What makes you think magnetic shoes would keep a human upright and stable in a weightless environment even if the ship was made of ferrous material?

The same concept is used now by astronauts in space. Using loops to hold the feet instead of magnets.

 

[Flopper]

I'm amazed at how often science fiction writers get it right. However, there are always exception, such as Orwell's 1984.

 

[Sallow]

I watched a re-run of the 1968 film the other day and it was still entertaining but how did the the 34 year old Arthur C. Clarke and Kubrick prophesy hold up? Not too good. I think they had the Space Shuttle technology right but who would guess that it would be scrapped in 2010? They did the anti-gravity stuff pretty well but the magnetic shoes didn't quite work on the commercial shuttle and the fake gravity on the gigantic Space Station was never explained. The sad fact is that it is too expensive to ever consider a commercial Space Station much less business trips to the Moon.

Yeah..but we had lots and lots of "cheap" wars from 1968 to the present.

Way to go boys!

 

[American Horse]

I'm amazed at how often science fiction writers get it right. However, there are always exception, such as Orwell's 1984.

In written form, I'd be interested in knowing one or two prominent examples?

I've been reading SF since 1955 and really can't think of any. Maybe I was reading the wrong authors, or my memory doesn't serve me well.

 

[whitehall]

Actually you're wrong on most accounts. All of the technology they showcased either has worked or would work if given the chance. It is all pretty basic stuff using centrifugal force for the artificial gravity for instance. Very simple in concept.

The magnetic shoes would work if you were using iron for your space ship but they are using lightweight materials like aluminium and carbon fiber now to get more payload.

As soon as there is a permanent base on the Moon you can bet your ass there will be business trips to it. You just need to wake up and smell the roses. Man is destined to get off this rock. Unfortunately there are too many small minded people in positions of power who prevent it.

"Would work if given the chance". That's a loaded statement. What makes you think magnetic shoes would keep a human upright and stable in a weightless environment even if the ship was made of ferrous material?

The same concept is used now by astronauts in space. Using loops to hold the feet instead of magnets.

You gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold them. It ain't the same concept except in the minds of adults who spent way too much time playing video games as kids.

 

[westwall]

I'm amazed at how often science fiction writers get it right. However, there are always exception, such as Orwell's 1984.

He's been pretty accurate too as regards the corruption of language andthe concept of thought police. Animal Farm is even better. He pretty acurately predicted the state of western countries fairly well.

 

[westwall]

"Would work if given the chance". That's a loaded statement. What makes you think magnetic shoes would keep a human upright and stable in a weightless environment even if the ship was made of ferrous material?

The same concept is used now by astronauts in space. Using loops to hold the feet instead of magnets.

You gotta know when to hold 'em and know when to fold them. It ain't the same concept except in the minds of adults who spent way too much time playing video games as kids.

Clearly you know nothing of the subject. In space there is no air working on your body. You remain upright if you wish. The problem is moving about. As you push against something it obviously pushes back and you float away from the object. That's why they use tethers to keep them attached to the space vehicles.

If the spacecraft were made of ferrous materials the magnetic shoes would work fine. You would stay upright or upside down or however you wish. The main thing is you would remain tethered to the spacecraft. Only it would be magnetic force that was doing it instead of ropes.

EVERYTHING that they postulated in the movie is possible. They made no outlandish claims about super high tech engines or any of that. They used technology that back then was pretty forward thinking but could now be built with off the shelf parts for the most part. Here's an interesting video for you on the state of AI at this time. Given some more time HAL is certainly possible.


LiveLeak.com - Robot sees itself for first time