The Future Is Now

THE FUTURE IS NOW is an interesting short documentary on research being done that would determine what the future of 1955 would be like.

Bandied around are terms like "nuclear reactor", "nuclear electricity" for domestic purposes, "solar power", "solar battery", "solar energy", an "electronic brain computer" for automation that will only require a "token work force". Large outsized computers are shown as examples.

The subject of guided missiles comes up with an illustration of how one such missile can destroy a plane. Television for science and industry is another topic, illustrated with scenes of medical procedures using TV screens and a miniature mike while a surgeon performs an operation recorded in color. Magnetic video tape (color or B&W), miniature transistors and video phones are also mentioned.

Final comment concludes that while automation will be fine, it will always require the combination of man's brainpower to guide the machinery that performs the task.

Serves as an interesting reminder of how far we'd come in the age of technology by the 1950s. This would make an interesting companion piece to play on the same program as Friz Lang's famous METROPOLIS.