People in the 1900s made some wild predictions about the future—but they weren't all wrong
11 fantastical predictions too outlandish to be true. And 3 that totally came true.

French drawing series on scientific progress about the year 2000
Do you ever wonder what the future used to look like?
I mean back in the day, before we all walked around with glass bricks in our pockets that contained every piece of information that's ever been available and allowed us to connect with anyone anywhere in the world in real time. What did people from more than 100 years ago think our future might look like?
That was the question posed to French commercial artist Jean-Marc Côté in 1899. Côté and his team were commissioned to create a series of cards to commemorate the 1900 world's fair, "Exposition Universelle," in Paris, featuring images of how the world might look in the then-distant future of the year 2000. Sadly, the company that commissioned the project (which was likely either a toy or cigarette manufacturer) went out of business before the cards could actually be distributed, and the images remained out of print until author Isaac Asimov rediscovered and published them with accompanying commentary in 1986.
But now that we've lived through that fantastical future, how did these predictions turn out? Let's just say there was, um, a lot of creativity on display. Which is enough to make even the most flawed of these forecasts — of which there are many — even more fascinating to think about today.
Here are 11 delightfully inaccurate visions of the year 2000, according to artists from the late-19th century:
1. Prediction: Firefighters will fly around with batwings on.
This one didn't pan out ... unless maybe Côté was just trying to predict the creation of Batman?
Flying firefighters in artist rendering from the 1900 world's fair.
All images by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
2. Prediction: We'll all travel across the Atlantic in these sweet-lookin' blimp-boats.
Again, not spot on ... although to be fair, I'd prefer this to ever flying standby again.
It's a flying blimp boat.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
3. Prediction: We will domesticate whales and use them as transportation.
Nope. If only we'd spent half of the 20th century training whales instead of killing them.(Although there is that dolphin chillin' there, and dolphin-assisted childbirthis a thing that exists in the 21st century, for better or for worse.)
A drawing of a dolphin looking at a whale bus.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
4. Prediction: We will also domesticate giant mutant seahorses.
There's a slight chance all this weird aquatic stuff was their way of warning us about the impending threat of sea-level rise from climate change. Either that or they were warning us about the general existence of Aquaman.
Drawing of scuba divers riding giant seahorses.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
5. Prediction: We'll be hunting seagulls ... from underwater?
Not so correct. But maybe I'm wrong, and we've been overlooking the nutritional value of seagulls for the last century. (Also, why is that woman swimming in a dress?)
Divers attract seagulls from underwater in future prediction drawing.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
6. Prediction: Flying cars will be a thing.
While this image does resemble the traffic outside the Paris Opera just before showtime, our automobiles are unfortunately still stuck on the ground. It does go to show, however, that humans have been obsessed with the idea of flying cars for a long time.
A painting of flying cars.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
7. Prediction: Aerial wing-flapping hover cars will be our key mode of transportation.
Although perhaps it's only a matter of time until "Uber for aerial wing-flapping hover cars" becomes a thing.
Hopefully, by the time this happens, that orange aerial wing-flapping hover car on the right will learn how to fly without slicing her wings through the other aero-cabs on the stand.
Wing-flapping cars cruise around the city.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
8. Prediction: Automated bathrooms will make our lives much easier.
As clever as today's smart homes are, we still haven't quite figured out how to create a fully-automated bathroom like this. The few failed attempts that have been made at creating robot lipstick applicators were all much less elegant, and much less steampunk.
Woman gets dressed in automated bathroom.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
9. Prediction: Our hardworking barbers and salon specialists will be replaced by robots.
I'm OK with this one not panning out because I'm just not ready to trust an automated tree of spider arms to use sharp objects near my head.
Robots do the work of a barber.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
10. Prediction: Our education system will become way more high tech.
While this one is utterly incorrect on a literal level, the image itself works pretty well as a metaphor for our modern education system. Whether that's a good or a bad thing is entirely up to you. (Although we do have EEG technology today, which isn't so different from those helmets...)
Students learn with technology if futuristic rendering from the 1900 world's fair.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
11. Prediction: radium.
That's scary. It might help if you wanted to breed a race of ginormous seahorses ... but probably isn't safe to keep in the fireplace as your main source of heat.
People relax around a radium fueled fireplace.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
Not all of these future visions were as ridiculously off-the-mark as the ones above though.In fact, here are three more that were downright prescient.
1. Prediction: We'll communicate via video chatting.
They totally called the invention of FaceTime/Google Hangouts/every other video chatting service that I use on a daily basis.To be honest, I kinda wish I had a holographic phonograph setup like this. It's way cooler than just staring at my laptop screen all day. (Also I wish I had a sweet mustache like these dudes.)
People communicate through a predicted version of video chat.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
2. Prediction: We'll see the rise of a mobile society that's not locked into a single location.
Sure, on an overly-literal level, this is basically just a glorified mobile home — which is kind of ironic considering how mobile homes in America are more commonly associated with lower incomes than the wealth that this image depicts.
A drawing of a future prototype mobile home.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
But more importantly, images like this — and the one below, which accurately predicts the rise of electric trains that have helped to enable more public mass transportation — show that these French thinkers were looking forward to a more adaptable and international society. Telecommuting, remote offices, cross-continental teleconferencing, even the idea of transient living through AirBnB — that's where we are today, and it's exactly where we wanted to be at the turn of the 20th century. And that's pretty freaking cool!
(There's also probably an argument to be made that this electric train suggests a greener and less coal-dependent future, which is cool too.)
People board an artist drawing of a futuristic electric train.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
3. Prediction: The future will be full of automated industry.
Today, automation and industrialization can be touchy subjects. Are they responsible for job loss? Do they rely too much on questionable cost-cutting practices, such as artificial ingredients and other structural shortcuts?
Those are all important issues to address. But the future portrayed in these images reminds us of the inherent optimism of industry and progress — something that's all too easy for us to ignore today.
A picture of a possible future with industrialized farming.
Image by Jean-Marc Côté/Wikimedia Commons.
See how happy this guy is? He's not freaking out over (and alternately consuming) pesticides and chemicals for the sake of mass production. He's got a big ol' farm, and technology is helping him to make more stuff — and make it fast, so he can sell it and make money and support his family and all that good stuff we like to talk about when we talk about jobs.
Sure, maybe modern factory farming does deserve its less-than-stellar reputation. But at the same time, it's all too easy for us to forget the amazing headway in the creation of life. Now, we can even 3D print ovaries to induce fertility. Think about how amazing that would have seemed in 1899.
And on that note, maybe we should also celebrate the fact that we can 3D print a freaking house today. For all the very real problems that we face in the modern world, technology like that still makes a major difference in a lot of people's lives.
Also these brilliant French futurists clearly foretold of the rise of the almighty Roomba, which is just wonderful on so many levels.
As fun as it is to look and laugh at the imagined futures of the past, this is also a really cool way of evaluating where we are today — and where else we need to go.
It's kind of like writing out your own personal five-year plan ... envisioning the future still makes it easier for us to map out how to get there. Sure, it might not look exactly as you'd hoped — after all, you can't predict every random roadblock you might hit along the way. But it still helps to have some idea of where you're going.
The future is happening all around us, every single day — sometimes so much and so fast that we don't even notice.
Between improving factory farm conditions and domesticating those giant radioactive seahorses, there's obviously still a lot to be done.
Instead of letting ourselves become jaded with the growth we take for granted, maybe this is evidence that we should all try to look back at where we came from, evaluate and celebrate just how far we've come, and figure out a plan to keep moving forward.
This article originally appeared on 08.10.16
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.