A recent report in the American media delves into predictions made almost a century ago about what life in 2024 would be like. Based on a report from The Akron Beacon Journal, around a hundred years ago, visionaries made intriguing forecasts about the future, providing insights into the potential landscape of the year 2024.
In 1924, renowned actor Melkam Fast envisioned a peculiar future where milk would be administered with drops, akin to medicine. Another prediction, originating from Columbia University professor, anticipated a shift in societal norms, suggesting that women would dress like men within the next hundred years.
Director D.W. Griffith foresaw the transformative power of cinema, predicting that motion pictures would play a pivotal role in fostering global peace, marking the end of armed conflicts. This visionary outlook hinted at cinema’s potential to shape a more refined world, influencing the resolution of armed conflicts on a grand scale by the year 2024.
However, not all predictions were utopian. In 1924, leaders like Professor Leo H. Baekeland expressed concerns about the misuse of futuristic weaponry, highlighting the potential dangers of advancing technology. The looming threat of wars fought on scientific principles, where complete physical destruction would be possible, emphasized the need for global cooperation to avert catastrophic outcomes.
Moreover, Arthur Dean, a U.S. professor, feared that by 2024, horses might become extinct as tractors and automobiles increasingly replace them. As horsepower diminishes, so would the need for horses, leading to their disappearance from daily life.
The American Chemical Society’s President in 1924, Professor Leo Baekeland, warned about the possibility of nuclear weapons wiping out humanity as arms technology advanced. The grim prediction anticipated intense scientific battles in the coming years, posing a threat to the safety of women, children, the elderly, and the vulnerable.
In contrast, there were optimistic projections, such as the idea that by 2024, the average lifespan would extend to 100 years, with 75-year-olds considered relatively young. This sentiment was echoed by British politician Sir Kingsley Wood during a 1924 speech in London.
These century-old prophecies provide a fascinating glimpse into the collective imagination of the past regarding the present day. As we reflect on these predictions, it is evident that while some visions may seem fantastical, others resonate with the realities and challenges of the contemporary world. The report prompts contemplation on the unpredictable nature of progress and the ways in which society has navigated the course of time.
