How good are we at predicting the future?

One-hundred years ago, what did people think today’s world would look like?

Between 1899 and 1910, Jean-Marc Côté and other artists made a series of images predicting what the world would look like in the year 2000. These images originally appeared in the form of paper cards which were stuffed in cigarette or cigar boxes or as postcards. In total, 87 images are known to have been produced. The examples below show how difficult it is to accurately predict the technologies that will shape our future.

Can we do a better job at predicting the future today? What will the world be like in 2100? Sifting through data and examining trends, it might be possible to make realistic projections about population, economics or climate change. But at the current rate of technological advancement, putting our finger on the future of technology is a near impossible task; unless you’re Bill Gates.

Author: Donald Armbrecht is a freelance writer and social media producer. 

Image: A man trys out 3D goggles at the Vodafone stand at the CeBit trade fair in Hanover. REUTERS/Morris Mac Matzen