Twentieth Century Inventions: A Forecast

Description

Written in 1901, Twentieth Century Inventions is indeed what it proposes to be, a forecast of the upcoming technological developments that were to change life forever.

The author, George Sutherland, was a technical journalist who in this book makes proof not only of technical knowledge, but also of a colorful imagination. He describes inventions to come in the field of mining, power, transportation, household appliances, agriculture, electricity as well as the changes that he considers imminent in art and music. Some of the inventions he predicted are now integral parts of our everyday life, while others were never even considered for being put into practice.

Sutherland wrote his book in a time when telephones were luxury items that only the richest could have access to and radio technology was not able to transport high fidelity sound over larger distances. Even so, Sutherland foresees the discovery of a way to send messages electrically, he predicts the invention of new ways to store power and he also speaks about how science will revolutionize almost every field of life. He contemplates the philosophic aspects of technological development, too – he starts his book with a chapter entitled Inventive Progress and he wraps it all up with a chapter about Invention and Collectivism.

Sutherland’s book might be known to fans of H. G. Wells – he referenced the book in his Anticipations, written and published in the same year as Sutherland’s book. What makes Sutherland’s book really special – besides probably serving as inspiration for Wells himself – is that it provides a glimpse of how people in the 19th century viewed the next century, what they considered to be the most important challenges of the 1900’s and how they imagined social progress.

Technology was as important back in Sutherland’s age as it is today – who knows, maybe even his wilder potential inventions will become reality sometime in the future.
[amz_corss_sell asin=”1776660560″]