How Far We’ve Come: 10 Jetson Technologies now Reality

I used to watch the Jetsons as a kid. I was a huge cartoon/TV nerd. I think that’s why I no longer watch TV. I burned myself out of it, plus I grew tired of corporate conditioning you know?

Anyways…

The Jetsons started up in the 60?s – and to a lesser extent, the generation who were introduced to the space-age animated sitcom during its second run in the 80?s – there was a starry-eyed wonderment at what the future truly held. Taking place amid the 21st century, The  Jetsons boasted a bevy of technological marvels. So now that we’re well into the new millennium, how are things stacking up for us? Check it out….

1. Flying Cars – This is probably the most popular of all the tech innovations that the Jetsons cartoon featured. While we’re not there just yet, the E.U. did grant $6.2 million for flying car research.
   
2. Robot Vacuum Cleaner – Here’s one technology from the that I think we can say we’ve pretty much nailed. Thanks to iRobot’s Roomba, we are there. The next step is a personal C-3PO
   
3. Moving Walkways – Though not quite as ubiquitous as on the cartoon series, we’re enjoying  nice leisurely “strolls” on these conveyors here and there.
   
4. Tanning Beds – Who knew there would be a market for (literally) self-baking ovens? Cool beans.
5. Televiewer – This is another tech marvel from the circa 2062 Jetson Age that has not only arrived, but thrived. We’ve raised a generation at this point that has never known a time when we didn’t get our information from a computer screen.
   
6. Jetpacks – While they’re seldom seen outside of James Bond movies or sports stadiums, we’ve got the technology to jet around the skies, just like Elroy here.
   
7. Talking Alarm Clocks – You can argue whether this technology is in fact a welcome advancement, but it’s here nonetheless.
   
8. Video Chat – I’ll be honest. I thought we’d see flying cars before this innovation would ever come to pass. Shows how much I know. So I’m just as surprised as this guy.
   
9. Push-Button Desk Job – Yep, Old George had it pretty easy at work, considering he worked a 9-hour work week. The difference now is that technology, rather than giving us more leisure time, has raised the stakes for productivity in a 40-hour+ work week. Sadly, neither Hanna nor Barbera saw that unfortunate twist coming.
   
10. Automatic Meals – It may not be automatic in the strictest sense, but with the push of a button we can conjure up a meal from a frozen block of barely identifiable substances. That’s pretty cool … even edible at times.
    

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