Here’s an awesome video montage illustrating the late great
Arthur C. Clarke’s uncanny space predictions. It goes to show how
much the world needs great sci-fi minds for critical scenario
construction so that we may build and live into our dreams.
Sci-fi pioneer and mega-mind Arthur C.
Clarke, author of 2001:
A Space Oddyssey and prophet of the space age, whose
extra-terrestrial tales affected the minds of millions and the
course of our history, passed away yesterday at the age of 90. He
was not saddened by the thought of his departure, unlike many of us
whose imaginations were greatly influenced by his work and
optimism, and left us with some final video reflections that he
recorded on his birthday in December.
Choice excerpts include:
“I’m very fortunate to have seen many of my dreams come true.
Growing up in the 1920’s and 30’s I never expected to see so much
happen.”
“I still can’t quite believe that we just marked the 50th
anniversary of the space age. We’ve accomplished a great amount in
that time, but the Golden Age of space is just beginning.”
“Space travel and space tourism will one day become almost as
commonplace as flying to exotic destinations on our own
planet.”
“Technology tools help us to gather and disseminate information.
But we also need qualities like tolerance and compassion to achieve
greater understanding between peoples and nations.” (cont.)
“Sometimes I feel like the late Dr Frankenstein,” once said
celebrated science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke. Although he was
not being entirely serious, Clarke’s powerful predictions did
release a sort of monster – one whose powerful memes penetrated
many aspects of society and will continue to spiral out of control
far into the future.
In the wake of his passing, Clarke’s predictions have been
highlighted for their genius and accuracy. The following video,
created for Ovation TV, is a great overview of some of his most
exalted predictions, which include inventions like the videophone,
email, space shuttles, laptop computers and cloning, and explains
how he is “responsible for revolutionizing modern communications.”
What follows this overview is commentary by renowned experts
informing the weight of Clarke’s predictions.
Alvin Toffler, acclaimed futurist and author of Future
Shock, said, “The future is not inevitable, it is made, to a
considerable degree by human beings, and chance plays a role.
Nevertheless, it is possible to see patterns that others haven’t
seen. And I think that is certainly something that Arthur Clarke
has done.”
Larry Smarr, Director of the National Centre for Super
Computing, remarked the rarity and utility of Clarke’s work by
saying, “We have incredible numbers of specialists, but how many
people do we have that are synthesizing this knowledge and
visioning the future?”
“Clark will emerge as one of the greatest visionaries of the
20th century,” added Jeff Greenwald of Wired Magazine – I think
it’s safe to say that even among the moderately informed, few would
disagree with this statement about Clarke’s legacy.
