How well did The Jetsons really predict our future?
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When I was about 8 to 10 years old, my favorite TV show by a great far was the Jetsons. Maybe it was an early sign of my passion for technology. And although I only got to see it in Brazil around 94, this American animated sitcom was first aired in the U.S. in 62 (with a second and third season aired only way later in 85 and 87). It is amazing how they got to predict so many things that are only starting to take place right now.
For those of you who don’t really remember — or weren’t even born when it was a hit –, the show was about a family living in the future, in a town called Orbit City, using flying cars and living and working in suspended buildings. They also used teleconferences and smartwatches, and were surrounded by all sorts of robots, like their house helper Rosie — a ‘typical’ maid –, and Didi, the voice assistant to family’s teenage girl Judy, who she referred to as her “virtual diary”.
Every time I hear about an upcoming voice assistant, or a company developing a new flying car model I get impressed by how producers Hanna-Barbera managed to go so far on their imagination. Also, it confirms a well-known phrase by Walt Disney that “if we can dream it, we can do it”, right?
But how well did the Jetsons really predict our future? Apart from the amazing wonders of tech, it shows an all-white family living in a world where there is absolutely no diversity. The opening of the sitcom shows wife Jane getting money from her husband George’s wallet — yes, paper money¸ that she has to ask for — because she takes care of the house while he goes to work presentially, with other men. The only upside in this future is that George manages to go home from work and disconnect (kudos!) to enjoy time with the whole family while they are actually talking to each other (here is hoping!).
Back in 62, producers imagined a future with no sharing economy, no digital money, no gender-equality or any diversity what-so-ever. In the Jetsons scenery, although people get rid of most daily house chores and travel differently, the means of consumption, the education system and the job market continue to respect the same models of hierarchy as the decade they were written in. Maybe it’s just easier to predict technology than society! Anyways, I’m really happy writers were WAY OFF on their guessing and that we have been redesigning our society models and values… a small step at a time.
