20 predictions for 2020: Here's what people thought would happen by this year

[WVBaker]

Decades ago, academics, futurists and government agencies cast their predictions of what would happen by the year 2020.

Here's what happened, what didn't and what was just plain crazy.


1. Life expectancy will rise to over 100
Nope

2. Computers will be invisible
It's true

3. Books will be dead
Wrong

4. Your every move will be tracked
True, most say.

5. World's population will reach 8 billion
Close, but no cigar

6. China will be the world's largest economy
Close

7. We'll have self-driving cars
Kind of

8. It will be normal to retire at 70
No

9. Americans will vote electronically from home
Not yet

10. China will be on a path to democracy
Not really

11. We'll have 'personal companions'
Hey, Alexa

12. Cars will be able to go months without refueling
Not yet

13. Heart disease, depression will be world's top diseases
Close

14. Global surface temperature will increase
On track

15. Humans will step foot on Mars
Not quite

16. Boris Johnson would lead Brexit
Pretty close

17. Antigravity belts will revolutionize warfare
No

18. Nuclear will replace natural gas
Wrong

19. Americans will work 26 hours a week
Unlikely

20. Nationalism will wane
The opposite is true

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...ago-self-driving-cars-mars-voting/2594825001/

 

[dioxide45]

2. Computers will be invisible
It's true

From the article;

"Computers are now largely invisible. They are embedded everywhere — in walls, tables, chairs, desks, clothing jewelry and bodies. People routinely use three-dimensional displays built into their glasses or contact lenses. ... This display technology projects images directly into the human retina."

It's true......Google Glass comes pretty close.

Google glass is dead.

This all still sounds like the future to me.

 

[Talent312]

How about the end of the world (predicted to to happen on Saturday)?

Source: https://ascienceenthusiast.com/tota...e-will-occur-in-2019-for-real-this-time-guys/

 

[Brett]

How about the end of the world (predicted to to happen on Saturday)?

Source: https://ascienceenthusiast.com/tota...e-will-occur-in-2019-for-real-this-time-guys/

wow, the apocalypse is going to happen this Saturday ...
UVA lost today so I should prepare for the end times

 

[RDB]

today is after the end,,, I wondered if I'd live through it

 

[Passepartout]

How about the end of the world (predicted to to happen on Saturday)?

The world effectively ends for thousands every day- as it will for all of us.

 

[VacationForever]

How about the end of the world (predicted to to happen on Saturday)?

Source: https://ascienceenthusiast.com/tota...e-will-occur-in-2019-for-real-this-time-guys/

Gift from the crazy bastard from N. Korea?

 

[WVBaker]

The world effectively ends for thousands every day- as it will for all of us.

Millions of people die each each year,. Despite millions of dollars of research, death continues to be our nation's number one killer.