Blog 4: Top 5 Predictions from Class

1. "Television won’t last because people will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night”
was said by Darryl Zanuck, an executive at 20th Century Fox in 1946.
Darryl Zanuck underestimated the power of small blue screen as he was already a profound figure in entertainment history as a producer of more than 100 films for the big silver screen. If he was alive today, he must have been stunned by the impact of modern TV in today's society.

2.  "A rocket will never be able to leave the Earth’s atmosphere."
was written by The New York Times in January 13, 1920. Yet, this was offered a retraction on July 17, 29169 after Apollo 11 was on its way to the moon. This shows how it was an impossible idea to leave the Earth's atmosphere during the 1920s, and how much we have achieved in today's society. We accomplished what was once thought to be ridiculous and impossible idea to carry it out. 

3. "There will never be a bigger plane built." 
was said by a Boeing engineering, after the first flight of the 247, a twin engine plane that holds ten people. I just cannot understand how they could limit their imagination... Human populations grows every year and how can they predict that no more than 10 people could be riding a plane. 

4. "There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home."  
was said by Ken Olson, a president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), in a talk given to a 1977 World Future Society. It is slightly ironic on how this quote is both wrong and right at the same time. Yes, computers are essential devices that people cannot live without and there are so many reasons why individuals should have a computer. Yet, people nowadays seem to find tablets and mobile phones more comfortable than computers and are actually moving away from computers to tablets/phones. 

5."We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out."
was said by Decca Recording Company as they declined to sign the Beatles in 1962. I personally find this very amusing and funny because The Beatles becomes the biggest band in the world, heavily influencing the rock era during the 1950s. They become an icon of sociocultural revolution and are the best-selling music artists in the United States, selling 178 million certified units.