In the previous article, Tomorrowland, we looked at the interpretation of the future as it was seen in the 1950’s and 60’s; Which was put simply, a technological utopia. A future free of disease, hunger and congestion. A future where mankind would put his collective intelligence together to create eden.

As we are all aware, this future never came to pass. Our 2011 is very real and missing the common space travel, the trams, flying cities; let alone the freedom from hunger, congestion or disease.

So, if we as a society were to step back and analyze the potential of our future, what would we find? We know that at some point the development of our technology will change.

As a monetary driven society that we have become it is reasonable to assume that if scientist found petroleum oil on the surface of the Moon, Mankind would again return to the Moon. If the people of China build a car that drives itself, soon we all will have car’s that drive themselves. Technology and advancement appear to be driven by the urge and desire of humanity; As well as the gain of resource or value. The United States did not wage war against the middle-east for the better part of a decade for truly the freedom of its people.

We are in the Communication Age. A period of human existence where we seldom get lost with computer aid; Cell phones, GPS and Internet Map websites have allowed for thought free transportation. Talking to people on the other side of the planet is made easy with programs like Skype. Humanity abandoned its technological engineering future, in favor of this Communication. A choice which is filled with advantages and disadvantages, ranging from a lack of outward development to creating an entirely new class of society dedicated to staying indoors and playing out virtual representations of  their fictional lives, via a combination between computer programs and the internet.

So what would the future look like in fifty years?  We’re becoming more “Green” everyday. Bio-fuels, Electric cars and even Hydrogen power are being developed to shape the energy race of our future.

Speed. Look around at your environment; responses are getting faster everyday. Computer load times, food cook times, travel from New York to London will be cut down to mere minutes if the aerospace industry shifts to Sub-Orbital passenger liners. A quick shot nearly vertical in the air and straight back down, in a graceful parabolic arch.

The truth is that we as a people have advanced intellectually from the idealist of the 1950’s. We’ve evolved beyond the hopes of a better future through devices and machines. Instead humanity now looks to technology as a simple tool, one that makes our jobs a little easier. The real tomorrowland will be nothing short of surprising. Hopefully a period in our history when society chooses not to idolize the impressions of so called celebrities, who are famous merely for the reason that they have money.

As we arrive at the end of another decade it feels rather nostalgic to look back over the last ten years and see the events that unfolded. In the 1950s and 60s society prided itself on its technological advances; we marveled in wonder at the future. Tomorrowland. This future promised a Lunar outpost, an Antarctic Weather forecasting center, Underseas exploration and Underseas vacationing, Desert irrigation and most of all the City of the Future. A time when we were all to be wired and connected.

Much of that fruit of the future has already come to bare; with only fourteen-years left before those predictions were supposed to have been based, during the 1964 Futurama II attraction in the New York Worlds Fair.

The most common argument is that “We dont have flying cars, yet.” Of course not. Lets be honest flying cars attracted our attention and pulled us in. Many people have never let that dream go, much like space tourism. But like space tourism, the evolution of our society has changed our demand for the dynamically new technology. True, many people in modern time have toyed with the idea of creating a “Flying Car” but the ultimate irony is that… we grew up.

Children of the 60s saw the future that was to be and tried to make it come true, a future filled with amazing gadgets that would solve any of that times problems; but it wasnt our future. Modernization of communication has revolutionized the way we eat, sleep and breathe, in a way no one could have ever imagined. While our parents and grandparents dreamed of meals in pill form and hotels on the Moon, we see bettering of life through technology. Not as a means to an end. Consider the Magic Highway USA from the 1958 Disneyland TV show.

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Speed, Safety and Comfort will be the key notes to tomorrows Highways. The increased speed of tomorrows automobile will demand that tomorrows Highway signs be larger and more simple to read. Better visibility will be featured in new Highway designs. As day turns to night, electric eyes automatically illuminate the way ahead. Radiant Heat will keep the Highway surfaces dry from Rain, Ice and Snow. It will be our magic carpet, for new hopes, new dreams and a better way of life for the future.

Its impossible to pass judgment on an entire generation. At no point did any past generation commit an offense in regards to society. It’s not like sexism and segregation were really of parents and grandparents fault. Our environment has changed. Perhaps that more than anything is the reason for the decrease in adaptability. If you never considered a video game console as a legitimate piece of technology, its hard to learn to use it. Much like the radio around the turn of the century and the television decades later.

The greatest bit of irony of course is that to IS the Tomorrowland, they were waiting for and dreaming of. To us its somewhere we desperately want to leave. An uneasy government, economy is pieces and America’s work force weakened, instead of being worried about what piece of advancement would bring more happiness into our lives, perhaps we should have shown a little concern to the society around us. I feel sorry for my nieces… for the children of OUR future. Perhaps they’ll find that our Tomorrowland is nothing what it should be.