Audio/Video, Computers, Editor's Picks
The Future According to 1967
Its always fun to look back on what we thought the future would be like. Creepily enough this short film by Philco-Ford from 1967 is pretty spot on. The gadgets may look like '60s stereo equipment, but somehow they all provide many of the tech conveniences we have come to know and love, including shopping at home via computer, e-mail (or 'electronic 'correspondence,' as it is called in the video), and online bill payment and records -- all glowingly presented in a 1960s-style suburban utopia setting.
As fun as it is to watch the dated visions of a computer run future, some of the sexist overtone make for uncomfortable viewing -- "What the wife selects on her console, will be payed for by the husband at his counterpart console."
Also, don't miss the segment -- starring the same idealized 1960s family unit -- about the kitchen of the future. According to 1960s futurists, all homes would have hand-and-face dryers in the washrooms to replace towels. They also predicted that all food would be frozen and automatically inventoried and moved to ovens and such by a computer. Guess they didn't consider today's backlash against processed foods and the move towards organic and sustainable ingredients.
We're wondering, though, why there was no place for the ridiculous LG HDTV refrigerator?
From Retro Thing
Related Links:
As fun as it is to watch the dated visions of a computer run future, some of the sexist overtone make for uncomfortable viewing -- "What the wife selects on her console, will be payed for by the husband at his counterpart console."
Also, don't miss the segment -- starring the same idealized 1960s family unit -- about the kitchen of the future. According to 1960s futurists, all homes would have hand-and-face dryers in the washrooms to replace towels. They also predicted that all food would be frozen and automatically inventoried and moved to ovens and such by a computer. Guess they didn't consider today's backlash against processed foods and the move towards organic and sustainable ingredients.
We're wondering, though, why there was no place for the ridiculous LG HDTV refrigerator?
From Retro Thing
Related Links:
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nicola Mushahwar said 2:22PM on 9-14-2007
The statement made by the narrator regarding the expenses being paid by the gentleman was not sexist. Life at that time consisted of a housewife and a working husband. It was rare for a woman to be working outside of the home and the men were paying for most, if not everything, of the things the couple had owned. If this video was made today, then yes, it would be viewed as sexist because women today have greater job opportunities. Why do you think daycare wasnt greatly known or established until the late seventies? Hmmmm?
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anne said 3:02PM on 9-14-2007
Actually, in 1967, it was NOT uncommon for women to be working outside of the home.
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anne said 3:05PM on 9-14-2007
something can still be sexist whether its the norm or not at the time
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JC said 3:05PM on 9-14-2007
Wasn't that husband in the video future game show host Wink Martindale ???
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Todd said 3:15PM on 9-14-2007
Thas way before Card Sharks.
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Tammy Ashley said 3:38PM on 9-14-2007
I believe that people in the computer industry even back then knew that personl home computers were on the way they just didn't know the exact year they were coming out yet. This was just a liitle film trying to educate people on what was coming.
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Mali Hinesley said 10:08PM on 9-24-2007
Sexism is when gender inequality occurs- no matter what era. Thank goddess those days are over!
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Frank said 4:11PM on 9-14-2007
it is NOT sexist, it was the norm at the time. feminists suck.
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keeshlon said 5:49PM on 9-15-2007
I remember seeing this in middle school! Near the end the family is walking along the beach, if I remember correctly...
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Lenorse Slavin said 4:35PM on 9-14-2007
The hell with watching a video that takes us back to 1967. I, want to go back when the government wasn't in on every damn move we make. When it wasn't a crime to smoke a joint, call a fag a fag, know what it meant to believe " In God we Trust"
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lenorse said 4:34PM on 9-14-2007
1967, wouldn't it be nice to go back and leave this computer lying to the perfectionists. Then we could meet a woman for real instead of having to hope we weren't lied to every time we turned around.
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floyd bennett said 4:48PM on 9-14-2007
....... will be payed for by the husband at his counterpart console."
OUCH!
payed???????
does "yahoo" have proofreaders?
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Dan said 5:12PM on 9-14-2007
Hindsight is 20-20, that's how we fix past errors, not dwelling on whether something 40 years ago was sexixt or not. Women of the day were starting to work outside the home though it was the privileged few that joined the ranks of the professions. There were not many female doctors, lawyers, engineers or business leaders. Today much has changed for the better. It is interesting to see how far we have come in forty years isn't it?
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Steven said 5:22PM on 9-14-2007
Slavin, you are an idiot. You don't even know what "In God we Trust" means. I bet you wear a WWJD band around your wrist and don't have a clue how to treat others with respect and dignity. Go smoke your joint as if you haven't areadly smoked enough to become brain dead.
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Julie said 6:07PM on 9-14-2007
Being sexist is a male trained state of thought. It was social family training in the 60's and could very well revert back. There is nothing wrong with women staying home. It's difficult for men to breast feed children until their able to eat solid foods. It should never make women mad that a man would want her home. Nice to come home from work have your wife smell delicious and f*** the tension away. :) I should know my husband is always H***** when he gets home. yum
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SandhillsRider said 6:21PM on 9-14-2007
Slavin, I graduated from high school in 1967 and believe me it was a lot worse punishment getting caught smoking a joint then than it is now. A friend of mine was sentenced to five years in the Fla. state prison system for possession of about four joints in mid 1967.
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Darrell said 7:59PM on 9-14-2007
the hot current songs was - Ruby Tuesday- the Stones- PLeasant Valley Sunday - the Monkees- Western Union- The Five Americans- Everlasting Love- Robert Knight- Email me for more fun songs of that wonderful "Summer of love" year!!
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Cindy said 8:03PM on 9-14-2007
What I found funny was the look on the husband's face when he was looking at the bill from the department store and the bank. Things never change. LOL
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Paul said 9:01PM on 9-14-2007
I prefer a feminist world where the woman pays!
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Ciscokid Wasafriendofmine said 9:08PM on 9-14-2007
"UNCOMFORTABLE" ? ? ? ? ? WHAT AzzHO WROTE THAT CR*P? ? !
As fun as it is to watch the dated visions of a computer run future, some of the sexist overtone make for uncomfortable viewing
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