Comments on: Where can I plug in?

Where can I plug in?

moonbird — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:08:23 -0800

A home computer in the year 2004
As envisioned in 1954, via Presurfer

By: clevershark

clevershark — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:13:19 -0800

hehe... it's always amusing to see what people used to think would be the future. Heck when I was a kid growing up in the 70s I thought there would be flying cars by now!

By: mcsweetie

mcsweetie — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:22:19 -0800

that doesn't look too dissimilar from my home computer now, except for the steering wheel.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:24:32 -0800

Yeah. what is going on with that steering wheel?

By: wobh

wobh — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:27:40 -0800

I like how the TV is on the wall, to one side, like an afterthought. The main display is the teletype and the wall of dials and meters. I wonder what they thought this was going to be used for? (and, like everyone else, WTF—a steering wheel?!?!)

By: rdone

rdone — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:28:50 -0800

The steering wheel was for the NASCAR sim, of course.

By: found missing

found missing — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:30:27 -0800

My home computer doesn't have a steering wheel, but my car has a computer.

By: digaman

digaman — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:41:17 -0800

I can recall a discussion we had at HotWired (if anybody remembers that) when a certain very high-ranking whoever said (this was in 1996 or so) that text on the Web was pretty much over or would be soon, with bandwidth improvements & Java-esque developments & whatnot all that dreary ASCII was soon to be replaced with immersive "experiences." I argued and said why on Earth would Net-users want to to just turn this wonderful new thing into more TV and besides text will never go away because it's the most low-bandwidth/high-communication medium we've got and would stay so. P.S., I'm still at Wired and that person no longer is. (Granted, he's now a millionaire and I'm not.)

By: matteo

matteo — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:41:20 -0800

what is going on with that steering wheel? isn't that an ur-joystick?

By: Guish

Guish — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:41:24 -0800

Photoshop.

By: JollyWanker

JollyWanker — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:51:25 -0800

I like the caption: "With teletype interface and the Fortran language, the computer will be easy to use..." Obviously Bill Gates and the braintrust of user interface designers at Microsoft read this article and took its advice to heart...

By: fenriq

fenriq — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:51:41 -0800

Is that the portable or desktop model they're showing? I like the steering wheel although, at first glance, I thought it looked like one of those bank vault opening wheels (yeah, yeah, I'm sure they have a regular name but its Sunday morning, sue me).

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:53:36 -0800

what is going on with that steering wheel? If this photo's real, I think this is an example of someone just making shit up, and stuck random bits where they looked "futuristic" like the leftover pieces of a LEGO set. I've always found it interesting that every prediction of future technology has been grossly overstated (flying cars, space colonization, cure for cancer, laser guns, etc.) with the sole exception of computers, of which they had always been underestimated. 1950's sci-fi shows always tell of giant robots and massive spaceships, but I guess a tricorder was the closet thing that ever came to a laptop computer. Hell, the only sci-fi writer I can think of who actually predicted a massive computer network of constantly-updating information accessible across the universe by personal computers was Douglas Adams, and he did it as a joke. It's an example of how natural changes in society affect predictions of how they affect ideals of the future. Anyone else still dealing with how much future stuff on Star Trek was pastel colored?

By: cedar

cedar — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:55:09 -0800

What is going on with that steering wheel? How better to navigate the shoals of Warez Isle for the hidden Photoshop booty?

By: the cuban

the cuban — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:56:09 -0800

Photoshop Seconded.

By: wobh

wobh — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 09:58:34 -0800

Boy do I feel silly.

By: George_Spiggott

George_Spiggott — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 10:09:05 -0800

The line printer terminal is a dead giveaway. Not only anachronistic (I don't think these were around in 1954), but it's 'shopped in too large. And the way the paper hangs down is a physical impossibility. That Admiral console TV hovering in the upper right is pretty sad, too.

By: zsazsa

zsazsa — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 10:09:27 -0800

I showed it to some friends of mine, and they think both the caption and photo are fake. One said "it kind of has an Onion our-dumb-century ring to it." Look at the teletype - it's too big compared to the man, and the paper feed in the front doesn't line up.

By: SteelyDuran

SteelyDuran — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 10:18:20 -0800

> The line printer terminal is a dead giveaway. Yep. I used on of those terminals for years. It's an LA36 DECWriter II, circa 1974. It's a solid piece of history, to be sure, just much later history.

By: Aleph Yin

Aleph Yin — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 10:22:35 -0800

Hell, the only sci-fi writer I can think of who actually predicted a massive computer network of constantly-updating information accessible across the universe by personal computers was Douglas Adams, and he did it as a joke. william gibson...

By: psmealey

psmealey — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 10:24:22 -0800

What is going on with that steering wheel? I think that's a steam release valve. This is obviously a coal-fired computer.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 10:29:50 -0800

My first access to the Internet was through a teletype. Oh, those were the days. alt.sex was actually low-traffic and on-topic, for one...

By: Singular

Singular — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 10:31:11 -0800

The teletype isn't even particularly well photoshopped - the piece of fanfold paper below the keyboard is presumably supposed to be hanging out of the back, yet it comes in front of the stand... I'd guess that most of the image is control hardware for some kind of physical plant - a power station or the like. It may well be part of a museum exhibit, and the TV screen is there to show a documentary on how it works.

By: quonsar

quonsar — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 10:40:34 -0800

By: cedar

cedar — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 10:51:03 -0800

Q, isn't that the machine the military used for memos? You gotta get that circulated, this could be another coup for the blogosphere! Finally, proof positive.

By: Mars Saxman

Mars Saxman — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 10:53:45 -0800

Clearly a Photoshop job, but what actually tipped me off was the curiously modern awkward phrasing in the caption: "have created this model to show how a 'home computer' could look like" and "the scientists readily admit that the computer will require not yet invented technology to actually work" just don't sound like things a '50s writer would say. It's still a really cute picture, though.

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 11:02:23 -0800

What tipped me was the reference to 2004. Any 50s futurist would have said 2000. I think my laptop needs a steering wheel now, though.

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 11:03:33 -0800

"Yeah. what is going on with that steering wheel?" Arrr, it's drivin' me nuts!

By: jaronson

jaronson — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 11:07:50 -0800

"...will be easy to use and only..." Only WHAT???

By: argybarg

argybarg — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 11:13:05 -0800

Also, if you look closely at the paper coming out of the teletype, the text on it has kerning and superscript, which weren't even invented until 1997.

By: Oriole Adams

Oriole Adams — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 11:23:16 -0800

Well, when I was in the sixth grade (circa 1971), I remember our teacher showing us a film of how life would be in the year 2000. Every home would have a computer, and the computer they showed was a massive floor-to-ceiling contraption with reels of tape spinning (no steering wheel, though). As we made Christmas wreaths of used IBM punch cards, I wondered to myself why would anyone want or need one of these computer things in their house?

By: rxrfrx

rxrfrx — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 11:37:30 -0800

"Yeah. what is going on with that steering wheel?" Arrr, it's drivin' me nuts! ahahaha exactly.

By: grrarrgh00

grrarrgh00 — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 11:41:20 -0800

Can I call for a Congressional investigation yet?

By: sharpener

sharpener — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 11:43:06 -0800

What is going on with that steering wheel? I think that's a steam release valve. This is obviously a coal-fired computer. My thoughts exactly, psmealey.

By: mmcg

mmcg — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 12:02:37 -0800

MetaFilter: what is going on with that steering wheel?

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 12:02:45 -0800

I was picturing Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein frantically spinning the steering wheel while lightning flashes and dials whirl - a google search seen from 50 years ago.

By: kfury

kfury — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 12:15:21 -0800

Arr. I'm in agrrrement that this be photoshop. Theat man be a wee bit too tiny for the setup, with knobs as big as his hands. And it be a wee bit impractical for the paper in ye olde teletype machine to be bendin-sideways 8 inches within the workings of tha machine. I call fer the scallywag who dun this ta walk tha MeFi plank. God hay mercy for ye.

By: jawbreaker

jawbreaker — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 12:17:56 -0800

I almost hate to do this....almost. It's actually the maneuvering room of a US Navy nuclear submarine, circa 1960's. The original is a photo from the Smithsonian, and this pic is a result (I'm pretty sure) of a Fark PS contest a couple weeks ago. The wheel is the steam throttle valve for the propulsion turbines. Bonus points awarded to psmealy and Singular for their guesses. (by the way, first comment ever...wish it was more substantial) (on preview, arrr!)

By: Mach3avelli

Mach3avelli — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 12:29:32 -0800

As with any hoax, the culprit always leaves a very, very subtle clue. It hit me pretty clearly because I finished reading it not too long ago, but look at the name of the Corporation for a big hint.

By: Krrrlson

Krrrlson — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 12:30:08 -0800

It is definitely a photoshop from a recent FARK contest, as jawbreaker says.

By: aaronetc

aaronetc — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 13:18:36 -0800

Am I the only one looking past the steering wheel to notice that Eisenhower and Truman had a love child?

By: Guy Smiley

Guy Smiley — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 13:33:17 -0800

I couldn't find the picture on RAND's website for some reason, but I did pick up a little light reading for later today...

By: twine42

twine42 — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 13:34:20 -0800

with knobs as big as his hands Aren't they always?

By: abcde

abcde — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 13:39:43 -0800

Photoshop, thirded. You can tell by the grammar and meandering tone of the caption, and the guy and the TV hanging on the wall are both clearly photshopped in.

By: abcde

abcde — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 13:43:57 -0800

Of course, everyone beat me way to it :P

By: meech

meech — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 13:52:24 -0800

Spoiler: Don't bother reading it Guy Smiley - the ending is a big disappointment - 469.

By: ruddhist

ruddhist — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 14:11:08 -0800

mr_crash_davis: brilliance, sir. pure brilliance.

By: Singular

Singular — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 14:23:41 -0800

In case anyone wants more evidence...

By: jawbreaker

jawbreaker — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 14:58:30 -0800

I spent a good part of the last 2 years sitting in front of the panel on the far right. It amazes me that the Navy declassified even the appearance of the panels, much less has a full exhibit in the Smithsonian. More on topic, it amazes me still that the technology hasn't changed that much from the 60's to today (to be fair, the new boats are supposed to have some really cool stuff). It's rather converse to the Photoshop parody that we are actually still using 60's technology in 2004.

By: Lord Chancellor

Lord Chancellor — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 15:05:30 -0800

Wait a moment. I know what that is. It's a Reactor Control Pannel, an Electrical Control Benchboard, and a Steam Plant Control Pannel (throttleman) for a submarine. I know because I've worked on one of those. That stearing wheel is the throttle control valves. Oh, Jawbreaker got this too. Wow, that was a blast from my near past.

By: Lord Chancellor

Lord Chancellor — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 15:25:32 -0800

Wait, Jawbreaker, you were (are?) a nuc electrician?

By: jawbreaker

jawbreaker — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 15:29:54 -0800

Yup, sure am (was?). I was a Staff Pickup in NY for the last 3 years, now in NYC going to school (commissioning program). I'm still technically an EM I guess....yourself?

By: funkbrain

funkbrain — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 15:33:32 -0800

Guish, don't you mean: "The image was enhanced using Adobe® Photoshop® software"? /unnecessarily pedantic

By: bingo

bingo — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 16:13:02 -0800

Mach3avelli : What's the subtle clue? The Rand corporation has been around since 1946.

By: CunningLinguist

CunningLinguist — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 16:40:16 -0800

Yeah, I didn't get that either.

By: adamrice

adamrice — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 17:22:28 -0800

Not photoshopped, and darned clever: the electriclerk.

By: raygirvan

raygirvan — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 17:26:47 -0800

Pertinent: for those who haven't seen it, the ElectriClerk, a Brazil-style retrofitted Mac SE.

By: O9scar

O9scar — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 17:46:40 -0800

The fark thread in question.

By: Lord Chancellor

Lord Chancellor — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 17:50:00 -0800

Well, Mr. Jawbreaker, I was a EM staff pickup in SC for two years, now in Annapolis going to the Naval Academy. I am not technically an EM anymore. . . Well, enough shoptalk, Mr. Jawbreaker, email me if you want further this. Anyway, I swear that was the oddest thing to see at metafilter.

By: iconomy

iconomy — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 18:05:17 -0800

What's the thing right behind the man's head? It looks like hair on a stick, encased in glass. Even in the fark thread I can't tell what it is. I think mach3avelli was making a reference to Atlas Shrugged, possibly not knowing that Rand is an actual corporation.

By: moonbird

moonbird — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 19:04:30 -0800

looks like the presurfer and i were duped. great work, mefites.

By: arto

arto — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 20:06:10 -0800

Oddly enough, though, I do recall a Popular Science article from the '60s talking about how In The Future, everybody will have a "home computer". Well, not so much an actual computer, as a teletype with a dialup connection to some distant mainframe, to run checkbook balancing and recipe storage programs written in BASIC. This was a while ago, though, I have no link to prove it. Hell, the only sci-fi writer I can think of who actually predicted a massive computer network of constantly-updating information accessible across the universe by personal computers was Douglas Adams, and he did it as a joke. william gibson... John Brunner?

By: troutfishing

troutfishing — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 20:48:02 -0800

I just cleaned out my mother-in-law's garage and bore home a "Speak & Spell" : "The remarkable talking learning aid with electronic voice and brain" - ""It pronounces the word, you key the spelling! IT announces when you're right and wrong!"...."Now with plug in word modules to expand as yuor child's vocabulary grows." Never used. Yuor freind fur liff !

By: alumshubby

alumshubby — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 05:19:00 -0800

I got a little suspicious when I looked at all those analog dials on the console of what is supposed to be a digital computer. I didn't even blink at the dot-matrix printer in front of a 1950s-looking bunch of hardware, though; the coffee hasn't hit my system yet. If they'd Photoshopped in a Teletype terminal, that would've been more believable. As late as 1979, I used a Teletype to write BASIC programs on a time-sharing computer. The connection ran over an acoustic-coupler modem (requiring you to physically plug in the telephone handset on a couple of cups) at about 300 baud.

By: crunchland

crunchland — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 05:27:34 -0800

The lighting on the teletype is all wrong. It looks like it's hovering in an extra dimensional space.

By: hoborg

hoborg — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 08:33:07 -0800

"created this model to illustrate how a 'home computer' would look like in the year 2004" They might not have had Fortran (under development in 1954 at IBM, but not finished until 1957), but I'm pretty sure they had decent grammar and editors back in 1954. :P

By: kindall

kindall — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 09:31:21 -0800

I just cleaned out my mother-in-law's garage and bore home a "Speak & Spell" Friend of mine had one of those. Some of its attempts at pronunciation were just terrible. "Spell.. carrotman!" When it wanted "caravan." "Spell... boobsher!" That was "butcher," which amused us to no end.

By: drezdn

drezdn — Mon, 20 Sep 2004 10:23:37 -0800

In case no one has mentioned it too you yet, Speak and Spells are ebay gold. Er.... I mean, I'll give you $5 for your speak and spell, you know to "take it off your hands."