Comments on: Future Calling: Videophones in the World of The Jetsons http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/future-calling-videophones-in-the-world-of-the-jetsons/ A history of the future that never was Fri, 17 May 2013 21:40:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Sean http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/future-calling-videophones-in-the-world-of-the-jetsons/#comment-2268 Sean Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:06:49 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=7174#comment-2268 Most of the time, I'd just as soon the other person not be able to see me. My hair's mussed up, I'm not dressed, I haven't shaved, etc. Or if I'm dressed, groomed, out and about, most of the time I just need to know "HOW many minutes late are you going to be? OK, so should I return that library book first, or just wait for you? I could order you appetizer." You don't need video for that, and what am I supposed to do, hold the phone at arm's length? But every now and then, video would be useful. I'm glad that it's becoming more and more available, though I expect it'll be used less than _The Jetsons_ and other predictions would have us believe. Most of the time, I’d just as soon the other person not be able to see me. My hair’s mussed up, I’m not dressed, I haven’t shaved, etc. Or if I’m dressed, groomed, out and about, most of the time I just need to know “HOW many minutes late are you going to be? OK, so should I return that library book first, or just wait for you? I could order you appetizer.” You don’t need video for that, and what am I supposed to do, hold the phone at arm’s length?

But every now and then, video would be useful. I’m glad that it’s becoming more and more available, though I expect it’ll be used less than _The Jetsons_ and other predictions would have us believe.

]]> By: Edd Mark Starr http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/future-calling-videophones-in-the-world-of-the-jetsons/#comment-1732 Edd Mark Starr Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:59:05 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=7174#comment-1732 Ahhh, the never ending battle of Spacely versus Cogswell. Funny how the dynamics between these two didn't make much of an impact on me as a kid. But it sure is fun to watch now. Love the emphasis on the mechanical and not electronics. The Jetsons are that odd mix of the digital future but it's all analog. Hope everyone enjoys the laugh track on this episode. I think it adds a nice retro-feel to the viewing experience. I agree with Lily Alice, this is a wonderful blog series and I'm having a great time reading the comments. Keep up the good work everyone! Ahhh, the never ending battle of Spacely versus Cogswell. Funny how the dynamics between these two didn’t make much of an impact on me as a kid. But it sure is fun to watch now.

Love the emphasis on the mechanical and not electronics. The Jetsons are that odd mix of the digital future but it’s all analog. Hope everyone enjoys the laugh track on this episode. I think it adds a nice retro-feel to the viewing experience.

I agree with Lily Alice, this is a wonderful blog series and I’m having a great time reading the comments. Keep up the good work everyone!

]]> By: Lily Alice http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/future-calling-videophones-in-the-world-of-the-jetsons/#comment-1705 Lily Alice Fri, 01 Feb 2013 03:00:35 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=7174#comment-1705 I've just spent the past hour reading these entries. I think this is my favorite blog series ever. I'm looking forward to seeing what else you've written about. I’ve just spent the past hour reading these entries. I think this is my favorite blog series ever. I’m looking forward to seeing what else you’ve written about.

]]> By: Peter G McDermott http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/future-calling-videophones-in-the-world-of-the-jetsons/#comment-1692 Peter G McDermott Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:56:12 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=7174#comment-1692 I love the notion of the "retrofuture." As the smartphone merged with the PDA, we realized that we could layer different technologies within one device. Much in the fashion that your refrigerator has an ice maker, we are learning to consolidate devices. This can be considered creative destruction, because as the more we consolidate our technology, the more we exhaust our need for the devices of yesteryear. I think what we will see over time is that all devices capable of wireless communication and digital display will offer the ability to "video teleconference." From our smart watches, to our phones (already there), to our computers (already there), to our televisions (getting there) to even the LCD panel on our alarm system or refrigerator, more and more devices will be allowing us to communicate face-to-face. How exciting! The only problem comes when there are TOO many cameras... I love the notion of the “retrofuture.”

As the smartphone merged with the PDA, we realized that we could layer different technologies within one device. Much in the fashion that your refrigerator has an ice maker, we are learning to consolidate devices. This can be considered creative destruction, because as the more we consolidate our technology, the more we exhaust our need for the devices of yesteryear.

I think what we will see over time is that all devices capable of wireless communication and digital display will offer the ability to “video teleconference.” From our smart watches, to our phones (already there), to our computers (already there), to our televisions (getting there) to even the LCD panel on our alarm system or refrigerator, more and more devices will be allowing us to communicate face-to-face.

How exciting! The only problem comes when there are TOO many cameras…

]]> By: Raymond http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/future-calling-videophones-in-the-world-of-the-jetsons/#comment-1684 Raymond Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:50:59 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=7174#comment-1684 Chris, Regarding the AT&T videophone, there is a youtube video that has a brief look at it (among other tech gadgets of the time). To be honest the screen looks small and has a low framerate. I think this is a case of the concept being cooler than the implementation. "Coming soon: Portable Computers! (1994 Commercial)" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEkCI7Og9bk Chris, Regarding the AT&T videophone, there is a youtube video that has a brief look at it (among other tech gadgets of the time). To be honest the screen looks small and has a low framerate. I think this is a case of the concept being cooler than the implementation.

“Coming soon: Portable Computers! (1994 Commercial)” : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEkCI7Og9bk

]]> By: susan http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/future-calling-videophones-in-the-world-of-the-jetsons/#comment-1680 susan Tue, 29 Jan 2013 03:20:51 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=7174#comment-1680 ralph at the telephot--cover illustration for ralph 124c41+ by hugo gernsback, modern electrics mag 1911. the telephot also had computer translation for international calls. ralph at the telephot–cover illustration for ralph 124c41+
by hugo gernsback, modern electrics mag 1911.

the telephot also had computer translation for international
calls.

]]> By: DBenson http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/future-calling-videophones-in-the-world-of-the-jetsons/#comment-1679 DBenson Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:19:20 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=7174#comment-1679 Back in the day Mad Magazine did an article about fake backdrops for videophones: A hotel manager pulls down a glamourous resort scene to hide the fleabag lobby behind him; a guy at a ballpark pulls down a backdrop of a sickroom to convince the boss he's home sick; a playboy has a crowded party scene to assure a girl it's safe to come over; etc. Eventually Pee Wee Herman did something similar with his Playhouse videophone, always deploying some exotic backdrop just for the heck of it. On the Supermarionation show "Thunderbirds" videophones had an option of "Audio Only Selected" (type would appear on the screen). This meant the caller was a villain hiding his identity ("Dis is harmless repair person. Please to lower security gate."); I sort of wished they'd at least throw in a line that audio only was cheaper. Back in the day Mad Magazine did an article about fake backdrops for videophones: A hotel manager pulls down a glamourous resort scene to hide the fleabag lobby behind him; a guy at a ballpark pulls down a backdrop of a sickroom to convince the boss he’s home sick; a playboy has a crowded party scene to assure a girl it’s safe to come over; etc. Eventually Pee Wee Herman did something similar with his Playhouse videophone, always deploying some exotic backdrop just for the heck of it.

On the Supermarionation show “Thunderbirds” videophones had an option of “Audio Only Selected” (type would appear on the screen). This meant the caller was a villain hiding his identity (“Dis is harmless repair person. Please to lower security gate.”); I sort of wished they’d at least throw in a line that audio only was cheaper.

]]> By: Chris Sobieniak http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/01/future-calling-videophones-in-the-world-of-the-jetsons/#comment-1677 Chris Sobieniak Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:06:36 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/?p=7174#comment-1677 At least I got to see one of AT&T's efforts once at a phone shop 20 years ago I sorta wished was working at the time so I could try it out! http://www.vintagecomputing.com/wp-content/images/retroscan/att_videophone_2500_large.jpg Some years later when I was in college, it impressed me to pick up the phone of a bank ATM in the university's student union building and talk to a bank teller all the way down in Columbus, OH, that was something, of course nowadays it seems really pointless! At least I got to see one of AT&T’s efforts once at a phone shop 20 years ago I sorta wished was working at the time so I could try it out!
http://www.vintagecomputing.com/wp-content/images/retroscan/att_videophone_2500_large.jpg

Some years later when I was in college, it impressed me to pick up the phone of a bank ATM in the university’s student union building and talk to a bank teller all the way down in Columbus, OH, that was something, of course nowadays it seems really pointless!

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