Masdar Smart City and Robotics - GineersNow Engineering Magazine Masdar: The Future of Sustainable City in Abu Dhab | Page 44

HOW THE
JETSONS
PREDICTED
THE FUTURE
One of the many fascinating cartoons that we’ve watched
as a kid must be The Jetsons, because of an element
contrary to other animations: the future. The makers of
this cartoon have imagined what the world will look like in
2062, through the lifestyle in its characters George Jetson,
his son Elroy, his daughter Judy, and his wife Jane. And oh,
not to forget the family’s space dog, Astro and their robot
maid, Rosie.
Photo by: Apartment Therapy
Robot Maids
Let’s start with Rosie the robot maid. In 2012, we already have
a Rosie version through Honda’s Asimo, who can walk, talk, and
interact with humans. Some other robots can now do housekeeping
like she does.
It’s not 2062 yet as how this Hanna Barbera 60’s cartoon
is staged, but there are some feats seen in many of their
episodes that are already happenin – a safe conclusion
that the writers of The Jetsons somehow predicted the
future.
Video Chat
Remember Jane getting to call George while he is in his Spacely
Sprockets through video call? Yes, that’s it, but that’s only two
of them – there’s a lot more in the cartoon that used video chat.
It’s prevalent now with the camera technology we have and the
Internet connection. Communication has become easy in the
modern times because of video calls.
44
JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics
Photo by:Smithsonian Mag
Flatscreens
The video calls of the Jetson couple were done on flatscreen
televisions, on top of having to watch the news. Right now,
the best tool for entertainment and information is through
those thin and wide TVs.
Photo by: Venture and the city