In 2009, Microsoft predicted what 2019 would look like — Here's how it stacks up today

In 2009, Microsoft released a promotional video predicting what daily technology consumers would be using in the next decade. With 2019 just around the corner, it's time to take a look at how the tech company's predictions stack up today.

The five-minute video was recently unearthed on online discussion board Reddit, according to Mashable. It transitions between various locations, showcasing how new technology may be used to make classrooms, airports and home offices more efficient.

Touch-screen devices played a large role in Microsoft's vision of 2019, where interactive whiteboards, tablets and smartphones all take the form of translucent screens the width of a credit card. In this vision, even print newspapers are clickable, boasting moving graphics that a reader can swipe through.

Despite the video's futuristic look, much of the technology is a reality today, though not at the scale predicted in the video — and not all of it has been developed by Microsoft.

In Microsoft's video, a man walking through the airport uses a foldable device smaller than his palm to navigate his location and pick up a phone call. Similarly, Samsung unveiled a foldable smartphone in a long-awaited announcement this past November, according to The Verge.

In another scene, a woman drinks out of a coffee mug that displays the drink's temperature and monitors her caffeine consumption. The product is reminiscent of Ember's smartphone-connected coffee cup, which The Wall Street Journal described as a "smart mug" in a 2018 article.

Perhaps the most out-of-reach aspect of the video is every piece of technology seems to be interoperable, with users able to drag and drop images between separate devices — for example, a user can share a graphic from a desktop and place it on a nearby tablet with only a gesture.

To take a look at Microsoft's video on YouTube, click here.

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Articles We Think You'll Like

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars