you could not be more wrong welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 tech predictions that turned out to be
tech predictions that turned out to be
tech predictions that turned out to be false for this list we’re looking at
false for this list we’re looking at
false for this list we’re looking at prophecies guesses or projections that
prophecies guesses or projections that
prophecies guesses or projections that were made in the tech world that turned
were made in the tech world that turned
were made in the tech world that turned out to be painfully painfully false
out to be painfully painfully false
out to be painfully painfully false we’re also taking into account who
we’re also taking into account who
we’re also taking into account who supposedly made the prediction because
supposedly made the prediction because
supposedly made the prediction because if it’s someone who should have known
if it’s someone who should have known
if it’s someone who should have known better
better
better it makes the fail that much worse number
it makes the fail that much worse number
it makes the fail that much worse number 10
10
10 machine guns will make war impossible
machine guns will make war impossible
machine guns will make war impossible Hiram Maxim whether they’re pitching a
Hiram Maxim whether they’re pitching a
Hiram Maxim whether they’re pitching a new kitchen utensil or a weapon for the
new kitchen utensil or a weapon for the
new kitchen utensil or a weapon for the military inventors will always promote
military inventors will always promote
military inventors will always promote their newfangled gadgets as the be-all
their newfangled gadgets as the be-all
their newfangled gadgets as the be-all and end-all take Hiram Maxim for example
and end-all take Hiram Maxim for example
and end-all take Hiram Maxim for example after inventing the first automatic
after inventing the first automatic
after inventing the first automatic machine gun he was supposedly asked by
machine gun he was supposedly asked by
machine gun he was supposedly asked by British doctor and writer Havelock Ellis
British doctor and writer Havelock Ellis
British doctor and writer Havelock Ellis whether he thought his maxim gun would
whether he thought his maxim gun would
whether he thought his maxim gun would make war more terrible Maxim replied by
make war more terrible Maxim replied by
make war more terrible Maxim replied by saying machine guns would not only make
saying machine guns would not only make
saying machine guns would not only make war less terrible they would make it
war less terrible they would make it
war less terrible they would make it impossible
impossible
impossible he has unfortunately been proven false
he has unfortunately been proven false
he has unfortunately been proven false on multiple occasions and both eyes guns
on multiple occasions and both eyes guns
on multiple occasions and both eyes guns are helping to keep the skies clear of
are helping to keep the skies clear of
are helping to keep the skies clear of enemies all over the world
enemies all over the world
enemies all over the world number nine television won’t last it’s a
number nine television won’t last it’s a
number nine television won’t last it’s a flash in the pan Mary Somerville it’s
flash in the pan Mary Somerville it’s
flash in the pan Mary Somerville it’s natural for people to defend their
natural for people to defend their
natural for people to defend their stream of income and success and that is
stream of income and success and that is
stream of income and success and that is what BBC radio broadcaster Mary
what BBC radio broadcaster Mary
what BBC radio broadcaster Mary Somerville did in 1948 when she called
Somerville did in 1948 when she called
Somerville did in 1948 when she called the up-and-coming medium of television a
the up-and-coming medium of television a
the up-and-coming medium of television a flash in the pan claiming it had never
flash in the pan claiming it had never
flash in the pan claiming it had never last by the 1950s TV was the dominant
last by the 1950s TV was the dominant
last by the 1950s TV was the dominant form of telecommunication from the scene
form of telecommunication from the scene
form of telecommunication from the scene of action cameramen televised events
of action cameramen televised events
of action cameramen televised events which you may see in your own home if of
which you may see in your own home if of
which you may see in your own home if of course you have a television receiver it
course you have a television receiver it
course you have a television receiver it shaped public attitudes and has since
shaped public attitudes and has since
shaped public attitudes and has since become one of the biggest types of
become one of the biggest types of
become one of the biggest types of in-house entertainment it has added a
in-house entertainment it has added a
in-house entertainment it has added a new dimension to the entertainment arts
new dimension to the entertainment arts
new dimension to the entertainment arts and has intensified television as a
and has intensified television as a
and has intensified television as a social and educational force with an
social and educational force with an
social and educational force with an average of 44 million sold in North
average of 44 million sold in North
average of 44 million sold in North America each year as opposed to radio
America each year as opposed to radio
America each year as opposed to radio sales which were significantly less one
sales which were significantly less one
sales which were significantly less one day through television the entire world
day through television the entire world
day through television the entire world will stream into our living
will stream into our living
will stream into our living rooms with a velocity of light number
rooms with a velocity of light number
rooms with a velocity of light number eight the iPhone won’t get any
eight the iPhone won’t get any
eight the iPhone won’t get any significant market share Steve Ballmer
significant market share Steve Ballmer
significant market share Steve Ballmer who knows what motivated business mogul
who knows what motivated business mogul
who knows what motivated business mogul Alan Sugar to famously say the iPod
Alan Sugar to famously say the iPod
Alan Sugar to famously say the iPod would be dead finished gone kaput by
would be dead finished gone kaput by
would be dead finished gone kaput by Christmas 2005 needless to say he was
Christmas 2005 needless to say he was
Christmas 2005 needless to say he was wrong
wrong
wrong so you’d think others would learn from
so you’d think others would learn from
so you’d think others would learn from his mistake and not make such
his mistake and not make such
his mistake and not make such predictions when a piece of hardware
predictions when a piece of hardware
predictions when a piece of hardware like the iPhone went on sale in mid 2007
like the iPhone went on sale in mid 2007
like the iPhone went on sale in mid 2007 these are not three separate devices
these are not three separate devices
these are not three separate devices this is one device
and we are calling it iPhone however
and we are calling it iPhone however former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said
former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said
former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said there’s no chance that the iPhone is
there’s no chance that the iPhone is
there’s no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market
going to get any significant market
going to get any significant market share no chance 51 million units sold in
share no chance 51 million units sold in
share no chance 51 million units sold in q4 of 2013 sounds pretty significant to
q4 of 2013 sounds pretty significant to
q4 of 2013 sounds pretty significant to us it’s just the internet on your phone
number seven there will never be a
number seven there will never be a bigger plane built a Boeing engineer a
bigger plane built a Boeing engineer a
bigger plane built a Boeing engineer a hunk of metal that soars through the air
hunk of metal that soars through the air
hunk of metal that soars through the air and across coastlines surely only a
and across coastlines surely only a
and across coastlines surely only a small aircraft can pull that off at
small aircraft can pull that off at
small aircraft can pull that off at least that was the conclusion a Boeing
least that was the conclusion a Boeing
least that was the conclusion a Boeing engineer came to after the first flight
engineer came to after the first flight
engineer came to after the first flight of the Boeing model 247 in 1933 touted
of the Boeing model 247 in 1933 touted
of the Boeing model 247 in 1933 touted as the first truly modern airliner the
as the first truly modern airliner the
as the first truly modern airliner the 247 held just 10 people since then
247 held just 10 people since then
247 held just 10 people since then aviation has evolved massively thanks to
aviation has evolved massively thanks to
aviation has evolved massively thanks to the contributions of people like Howard
the contributions of people like Howard
the contributions of people like Howard Hughes born was the Boeing model 307
Hughes born was the Boeing model 307
Hughes born was the Boeing model 307 Stratoliner and it was that ability to
Stratoliner and it was that ability to
Stratoliner and it was that ability to pressurize the cabin that created a
pressurize the cabin that created a
pressurize the cabin that created a level of comfort that hadn’t yet been
level of comfort that hadn’t yet been
level of comfort that hadn’t yet been experienced on passenger airplanes
experienced on passenger airplanes
experienced on passenger airplanes currently the biggest passenger airliner
currently the biggest passenger airliner
currently the biggest passenger airliner is the Airbus a380 which can house over
is the Airbus a380 which can house over
is the Airbus a380 which can house over 850 people number six y2k will bring the
850 people number six y2k will bring the
850 people number six y2k will bring the end of the world
end of the world
end of the world various there are plenty of people who
various there are plenty of people who
various there are plenty of people who think computers will cause the fall of
think computers will cause the fall of
think computers will cause the fall of humanity but at the very least the idea
humanity but at the very least the idea
humanity but at the very least the idea of the millennium bug was put to rest
of the millennium bug was put to rest
of the millennium bug was put to rest the minute the clock struck twelve On
the minute the clock struck twelve On
the minute the clock struck twelve On January 1st 2000 as early as the mid 80s
January 1st 2000 as early as the mid 80s
January 1st 2000 as early as the mid 80s theorists and experts were suggesting
theorists and experts were suggesting
theorists and experts were suggesting that the year 2000 was judgement day at
that the year 2000 was judgement day at
that the year 2000 was judgement day at least where machines were concerned
least where machines were concerned
least where machines were concerned that’s when computers would go haywire
that’s when computers would go haywire
that’s when computers would go haywire because their systems couldn’t handle a
because their systems couldn’t handle a
because their systems couldn’t handle a switch from 99 to double zero a much
switch from 99 to double zero a much
switch from 99 to double zero a much hyped countdown to d-day followed until
hyped countdown to d-day followed until
hyped countdown to d-day followed until the ball dropped and nothing happened
the ball dropped and nothing happened
the ball dropped and nothing happened number 5 a rocket will never leave the
number 5 a rocket will never leave the
number 5 a rocket will never leave the Earth’s atmosphere the New York Times
Earth’s atmosphere the New York Times
Earth’s atmosphere the New York Times the idea of exploring the mysterious
the idea of exploring the mysterious
the idea of exploring the mysterious abyss that lay beyond planet Earth was
abyss that lay beyond planet Earth was
abyss that lay beyond planet Earth was still considered by many to be
still considered by many to be
still considered by many to be impossible even in the early 20th
impossible even in the early 20th
impossible even in the early 20th century the New York Times
century the New York Times
century the New York Times then a reputable source of news was one
then a reputable source of news was one
then a reputable source of news was one publication that said point blank in
publication that said point blank in
publication that said point blank in 1936 that a rocket will never leave the
1936 that a rocket will never leave the
1936 that a rocket will never leave the Earth’s atmosphere that was proven false
Earth’s atmosphere that was proven false
Earth’s atmosphere that was proven false just over two decades later when the
just over two decades later when the
just over two decades later when the Russians launched Sputnik until two days
Russians launched Sputnik until two days
Russians launched Sputnik until two days ago that sound had never been heard on
ago that sound had never been heard on
ago that sound had never been heard on this earth suddenly it has become as
this earth suddenly it has become as
this earth suddenly it has become as much a part of 20th century life as the
much a part of 20th century life as the
much a part of 20th century life as the wear of your vacuum cleaner and then of
wear of your vacuum cleaner and then of
wear of your vacuum cleaner and then of course the Americans put a man on the
course the Americans put a man on the
course the Americans put a man on the moon in 1969 blasting that theory to
moon in 1969 blasting that theory to
moon in 1969 blasting that theory to bits one of their plan on diet plate
bits one of their plan on diet plate
bits one of their plan on diet plate number four x-rays will prove to be a
number four x-rays will prove to be a
number four x-rays will prove to be a hoax William Thompson the Lord Kelvin
hoax William Thompson the Lord Kelvin
hoax William Thompson the Lord Kelvin many things in the tech world turn out
many things in the tech world turn out
many things in the tech world turn out to be hoaxes but x-rays like the ability
to be hoaxes but x-rays like the ability
to be hoaxes but x-rays like the ability to conduct heart and brain surgery
to conduct heart and brain surgery
to conduct heart and brain surgery weren’t one of them at their inception
weren’t one of them at their inception
weren’t one of them at their inception x-rays were said to be quite dangerous
x-rays were said to be quite dangerous
x-rays were said to be quite dangerous but when used correctly quite
but when used correctly quite
but when used correctly quite unbelievable when it came to medical
unbelievable when it came to medical
unbelievable when it came to medical advancements but mathematical physicist
advancements but mathematical physicist
advancements but mathematical physicist and engineer William Thompson wasn’t
and engineer William Thompson wasn’t
and engineer William Thompson wasn’t convinced and flat-out announced his
convinced and flat-out announced his
convinced and flat-out announced his belief that they were a hoax however
belief that they were a hoax however
belief that they were a hoax however shortly after x-ray inventor Vilhelm
shortly after x-ray inventor Vilhelm
shortly after x-ray inventor Vilhelm Rincon was able to convince the Lord
Rincon was able to convince the Lord
Rincon was able to convince the Lord Kelvin of their veracity and the rest is
Kelvin of their veracity and the rest is
Kelvin of their veracity and the rest is history I can cast an x-ray shadow of my
history I can cast an x-ray shadow of my
history I can cast an x-ray shadow of my hand which on the developed film looks
hand which on the developed film looks
hand which on the developed film looks like this number three the automobile is
like this number three the automobile is
like this number three the automobile is only a novelty a fad the president of
only a novelty a fad the president of
only a novelty a fad the president of the Michigan Savings Bank okay pilot
the Michigan Savings Bank okay pilot
the Michigan Savings Bank okay pilot Eddie Rickenbacker’s prediction of
Eddie Rickenbacker’s prediction of
Eddie Rickenbacker’s prediction of flying cars by 1944 was way off the mark
flying cars by 1944 was way off the mark
flying cars by 1944 was way off the mark but arguably a more realistic automotive
but arguably a more realistic automotive
but arguably a more realistic automotive prediction was made in 1883 by Ford
prediction was made in 1883 by Ford
prediction was made in 1883 by Ford stockholder Horace Rackham when he
stockholder Horace Rackham when he
stockholder Horace Rackham when he refused to believe the president of the
refused to believe the president of the
refused to believe the president of the Michigan Savings Bank when he said the
Michigan Savings Bank when he said the
Michigan Savings Bank when he said the horse is here to stay but the automobile
horse is here to stay but the automobile
horse is here to stay but the automobile is only a novelty a fad Rackham bought
is only a novelty a fad Rackham bought
is only a novelty a fad Rackham bought 50 shares in the fledgling company and
50 shares in the fledgling company and
50 shares in the fledgling company and ultimately became a millionaire when the
ultimately became a millionaire when the
ultimately became a millionaire when the Ford Motor Company became wildly
Ford Motor Company became wildly
Ford Motor Company became wildly successful talk about unsound financial
successful talk about unsound financial
successful talk about unsound financial advice number two 640 kilobytes ought to
advice number two 640 kilobytes ought to
advice number two 640 kilobytes ought to be enough PC memory for anybody
be enough PC memory for anybody
be enough PC memory for anybody bill gates tech guru Bill Gates has
bill gates tech guru Bill Gates has
bill gates tech guru Bill Gates has never been shy to voice his opinion but
never been shy to voice his opinion but
never been shy to voice his opinion but this quote takes the cake no one will
this quote takes the cake no one will
this quote takes the cake no one will need more than 637 kilobytes of memory
need more than 637 kilobytes of memory
need more than 637 kilobytes of memory for a personal computer 640 kilobytes
for a personal computer 640 kilobytes
for a personal computer 640 kilobytes ought to be enough for anybody he
ought to be enough for anybody he
ought to be enough for anybody he allegedly said which considering things
allegedly said which considering things
allegedly said which considering things have expanded from kilobytes to
have expanded from kilobytes to
have expanded from kilobytes to megabytes gigabytes and terabytes is a
megabytes gigabytes and terabytes is a
megabytes gigabytes and terabytes is a huge gap thing is Gates has repeatedly
huge gap thing is Gates has repeatedly
huge gap thing is Gates has repeatedly denied making the statement of course
denied making the statement of course
denied making the statement of course Digital Equipment Corporation co-founder
Digital Equipment Corporation co-founder
Digital Equipment Corporation co-founder Ken Olson said in 1977 that there is no
Ken Olson said in 1977 that there is no
Ken Olson said in 1977 that there is no reason for any individual to have a
reason for any individual to have a
reason for any individual to have a computer in his home so it could have
computer in his home so it could have
computer in his home so it could have been worse internally we said running
been worse internally we said running
been worse internally we said running Microsoft software but outside we always
Microsoft software but outside we always
Microsoft software but outside we always had a computer on every desk in every
had a computer on every desk in every
had a computer on every desk in every home before we reveal our number one
home before we reveal our number one
home before we reveal our number one prediction fail in the technology world
prediction fail in the technology world
prediction fail in the technology world here are a few honorable mentions
number one everything that can be
number one everything that can be invented has been invented
invented has been invented
invented has been invented Charles H dual imagine a world without
Charles H dual imagine a world without
Charles H dual imagine a world without TV cell phones computers and more that’s
TV cell phones computers and more that’s
TV cell phones computers and more that’s the world Charles H Jewell supposedly
the world Charles H Jewell supposedly
the world Charles H Jewell supposedly predicted in 1899 when he said
predicted in 1899 when he said
predicted in 1899 when he said everything that can be invented has been
everything that can be invented has been
everything that can be invented has been invented at the time he was the
invented at the time he was the
invented at the time he was the Commissioner of the US Patent Office so
Commissioner of the US Patent Office so
Commissioner of the US Patent Office so he’d know however like the Bill Gates
he’d know however like the Bill Gates
he’d know however like the Bill Gates quote this one has been declared a myth
quote this one has been declared a myth
quote this one has been declared a myth at least when it comes to who said it
at least when it comes to who said it
at least when it comes to who said it regardless of who spoke this infamous
regardless of who spoke this infamous
regardless of who spoke this infamous quote we hope it makes future skeptics
quote we hope it makes future skeptics
quote we hope it makes future skeptics think twice before making such a bold
think twice before making such a bold
think twice before making such a bold statement do you agree with our list
statement do you agree with our list
statement do you agree with our list which technological forecasts do you
which technological forecasts do you
which technological forecasts do you think we’re way off the mark for more
think we’re way off the mark for more
think we’re way off the mark for more head-scratching top 10s published every
head-scratching top 10s published every
head-scratching top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to
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day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
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