Year 1900 cutaway. A watershed between the past and the future, the transition from one era to another. Transport, Energy, Work, Customs and entertainment. It would have changed everything. A generation of men with a great hunger for renewal would have made history in a few years, but it was still not enough: the gaze, dreamy and intrepid, went even further.
In 1900, the German chocolate company Hildebrands produced a whole series of postcards imagining the wonders of life in the 2000s.
The "renderings", we can say, were at least optimistic and a little naive. Friends of the 900th century imagined people dressed in Victorian fashion (evidently considered timeless) still in the 2000s. People who enjoyed lives of unlimited leisure and comfort, enabled by a century of technological progress.
Le planned innovations they were of all sorts. Some, I must say, quite accurate (live broadcasts of theater performances). Others were absurd (cities covered with weatherproof glass roofs). There were also some predictions with depressing implications if seen from the current perspective (summer holidays at the North Pole).
Here are some of these postcards that showed "in advance" the wonders of the 2000s to the curious readers of the 1900s.
Moving walkways
In the 2000s a moving walk system allows people to comfortably stroll around the city without the slightest effort.
Neighborhoods on rails
Same concept on a larger scale. Evidently in 1900 they imagined that the concept of "urban mobility" of the 2000s would be quite extensive
The beauty of the live
They did not know how, but in the 2000s it would certainly have been possible to follow a theatrical show even from a distance, thanks to an audiovisual transmission system.
Climate control
A rain that corroborates the crops? A beautiful sun that fortifies? A strategic fog? In the 2000s, controlling the climate will not be a problem.
By train everywhere
A hybrid rail will allow travel around the world, allowing special trains to go both on land and in the sea
Tourist submarines
The seabed will have no more secrets: underwater boats equipped with large windows will allow exciting guided tours.
Cities protected from the elements
Huge transparent roofs will prevent rain from soaking the honest and bold citizens of the 2000s
Personal airships
In the 2000s even flying will no longer be a problem. Everyone, if they want, will have their own personal hot air balloon: or an entire airship, if they can afford it! Maybe "branded" with the glorious Hildebrands brand
Tourism in the North Pole
Unaware of the consequences of a possible melting of the eternal ice, the friends of the 1900s envisaged trips and evocative trips to the North Pole
X-ray surveillance
Tremble, swindlers! You believe you can steal without being captured, but with an X-ray device you will also be observed through the walls. Yes, you got it right: in the 2000s they will do x-rays to thieves.
Fun on the water
An afternoon at the lake will have a completely different flavor in the 2000s: mini hot air balloons will allow anyone who wants to walk on the water too!
Gianluca Riccio, creative director of Melancia adv, copywriter and journalist. He is part of the Italian Institute for the Future, World Future Society and H+. Since 2006 he has directed Futuroprossimo.it, the Italian Futurology resource. He is a partner of Forwardto-Studies and skills for future scenarios. Follow him on LinkedIn
