C'est fou comme le futur paraît prévisible une fois qu'il est passé. Voilà une liste de 15 phrases définitives, prononcées par des futurologues amateurs.

15 prédictions malheureuses

Un petit jeu tout simple : imaginer un court texte à partir de l'une de ces petites phrases. N'importe quoi. Une description, une anecdote, une scène qui appartiendrait à ce monde et pas au notre.

Petit florilège :

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”

          Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.

“That virus HIV is a pussycat.”

          Dr. Peter Duesberg, 
           molecular-biology professor at U.C. Berkeley, 1988,

"Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You're crazy."

          Associates of Edwin L. Drake 
           refusing his suggestion to drill for oil in 1859.

“A rocket will never be able to leave the Earth’s atmosphere.”

          New York Times, 1936.

“Rail travel at high speed is not possible because passengers, unable to breathe, would die of asphyxia.”

          Dr Dionysys Larder (1793-1859)

“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.”

         Lord Kelvin, 1895.

"There will never be a bigger plane built."

          A Boeing engineer, after the first flight of the 247,
         a twin engine plane that holds ten people.
"Ours has been the first expedition, and doubtless to be the last,

to visit this profitless locality."

          Lt. Joseph Ives, after visiting the Grand Canyon in 1861.