thoughtmechanics.com— From popular mechanics saying only 5 computers would be needed to western union suggesting that radio is a doomed idea.
Apr 22, 2007View in Crawl 4
Some of those, like:“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” 1977“Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value.”are not so ridiculous, taken in context. I doubt many people in 1977 would like a several-ton beast of blinkenlights and punch-cards (or whatever was used by that point) in their home. The French military guy's quote is undated, but I suspect it was a while before WWI, at which time planes were indeed mostly impractical for use in war. Many of the others are very funny, though!
" * “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.”Western Union internal memo, 1876."Maybe telephones in 1876 had too many shortcomings?I remember in I think 1901, the head of the US patent office said, "Everything that can be invented has been invented. I believe this office must be shut down."
@TheContinental0Actually, crispy cookies were the work of the same backward right-wing capitalism at all cost thinking that brought on McCarthyism and the "red-scare" in the first place.Chewy cookies rock! And communists love them too!
Closed AccountApr 22, 2007
More than half of these are legend or are taken out of context. Lame.
stoopidguyApr 22, 2007
Some of those, like:“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” 1977“Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value.”are not so ridiculous, taken in context. I doubt many people in 1977 would like a several-ton beast of blinkenlights and punch-cards (or whatever was used by that point) in their home. The French military guy's quote is undated, but I suspect it was a while before WWI, at which time planes were indeed mostly impractical for use in war. Many of the others are very funny, though!
painted82Apr 22, 2007
Bush wasn't elected. There is ample amount of evidence of election in both elections.
bioskopeApr 22, 2007
My prediction : I will be getting laid sometime in the next 100 years/me holds breath waiting for it to happen anytime now
Closed AccountApr 22, 2007
" * “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.”Western Union internal memo, 1876."Maybe telephones in 1876 had too many shortcomings?I remember in I think 1901, the head of the US patent office said, "Everything that can be invented has been invented. I believe this office must be shut down."
swisscamelApr 22, 2007
Depends if you believe in integrity and accuracy in your funny list journalism or not
azaz09Apr 22, 2007
@TheContinental0Actually, crispy cookies were the work of the same backward right-wing capitalism at all cost thinking that brought on McCarthyism and the "red-scare" in the first place.Chewy cookies rock! And communists love them too!
seomannApr 23, 2007
Sometimes people are stupid.
t1tlehtoApr 23, 2007
Thomas J. Watson's "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers" is actually incorrect. Just check wikipedia. <a class="user" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Watson">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Watson</a>And there under the subheading Famous misquote. But anyways, nice article! I enjoyed it.