Vintage Future III: Far out, man.
From time to time we’ve written of the difficulties and risks associated with very early stage investing, sometimes with a tongue-in-cheek look back at the predictions of past generations of investors and futurists. A “IIIrd” installment like this may mark the beginning of a tradition – but in our line of work it’s good to guard against the hubris inherent in projecting conventional wisdom too far out into the future.
This reminder is courtesy of William Shatner (in a snappy brown suit), who tells us that the telephone is “evolving into the ideal instrument of the electronic age – more and more like a computer terminal… and other far out uses.” Although it’s dated to MicroWorld 1980, the audio track evokes a slightly earlier “look into the future” featuring a different screen icon.
In a terrific example of how hyperbole intended for dramatic effect can end up a wild underestimation, Mr. Shatner tells us that, “… since WWII, the amount of information generated by our society doubles every 7 years.”
