In about 1899 or 1900, the German chocolate company Hildebrands published postcards that showed what life would be like a century hence in the year 2000. What is remarkable about them is that so many of these predictions were completely accurate--as though the artists really could see into the future.
For example, this postcard shows people traveling over the water on personal boatwheels and footboats while supported by helium-filled balloons. It's hard to think that there was a time when this wasn't normal.
The combination steamship/locomotive is now how many people in coastal regions make daily commutes to work and school.
Do you want to control the weather? Until just 50 years ago, it was impossible to set your personal weather preferences. If it was raining, you just had to carry an "umbrella"--or actually get wet!
Other predictions were less foresighted. The artists also imagined being able to electronically transmit theater performances to viewers far away or travel on airships to the North Pole. Still, the accuracy rate of these postcards is really impressive. You can view them all here.
-via Visual News