Future predictions made in the 50's

 

The Omaha World Herald's first article on the first page tor the first day of the new year was excellent.

It was a story about future predictions made in the 50's by such periodicals as POPULAR SCIENCE and SCIENCE DIGEST. For those who remember the article, many of the predictions were wrong.

The article was a humbling experience for those in the field of futurism which at one time was called "futurology."

Within in the last decade or so, futurism has matured and has acknowledge it's shortcomings. Today, the World Future Society and related institutions now work with private corporations and government at all levels to deal with possible problems that various institutions and agencies may confront in the future. Nearly all of the information provided has a disclaimer at the beginning indicating that the field is new and that ultimately the actual and absolute future is beyond prediction.

There are other barometers have come to be accepted in the field and they are the following:

1.                   Absolute terminology is no longer accepted. No ordinary mortal can "predict" anything. Words such as "projection” and "probable futures are used.

2.                   Some aspects of realty remain about the same. There is an acknowledgement that even though there can be startling technological advances, everyday life and the geographic terrain inhabited by ordinary individuals can be quite resilient to change or appear to the observer not to change dramatically. In other words, folks get up and go to work, become parents, live out their lives and die. In a report published by the US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, entitled the DANA REPORT (Dana College In Blair, Nebraska where 1 was a professor) Dr. R. Gary Dean of Creighton University and myself made some forecasts about the future growth of Omaha. We indicated in 74' that one could easily recognize Omaha 20 years later. In fact there are portions of the city that almost appear ageless and timeless such as Happy Hollow, Dundee, and the Country Club area. We foolishly thought that most transmission would be sent by satellites in artificial moons rather than by cable, but we were more correct than others in describing a future as much less prosperous for the average citizen. Others in that March 1975 article described most  individuals working a 3 day week. We thought just the opposite.

3.                   Alternative futures are usually now described. In other words, the idea that there is one  trend line future is thought not to be very realistic. Alternative futures are generally described in terms of 3’s and is based on a trend line probable future, another future in which the political climate is quite conservative, and a third based on a very liberal appraisal.  Former Omahan (Benson High, 61’) John L. Peterson now has a best selling book called TOWARD THE YEAR 2015. It utilizes alternative futures. Peterson's expertise has been used by the US Army War College.