On March 12, 1967, Walter Cronkite gave his viewers a tour of a 21st century home, and it's a fascinating look at what captivated the imaginations of Americans in the late 60's. It's even more interesting to see what really has come to pass (videophones, newspapers delivered by satellite) to what still seems kind of bizarre (molded on-demand plastic plates?!). The plates were a major feature of the futuristic kitchen, which also has a 'no dirty dishes' policy. Why? Because the used plates are melted down again! Watch the video for more of Cronkite's 2001 vision, and see a transcript below:
This might be the kitchen in the home of the future. Preparation of a meal in the 21st century could be almost fully automatic. Frozen or irradiated foods are stored in that area over there.
Meals in this kitchen of the future are programmed. The menu is given to the automatic chef via typewriter or punched computer cards. The proper prepackaged ingredients are conveyed from the storage area and moved into this microwave oven where they are cooked in seconds. When the meal is done the food comes out here. When the meal is ready, instead of reaching for a stack of plates I just punch a button and the right amount of cups and saucers are molded on the spot.
When I've finished eating, there will be no dishes to wash. The used plates will be melted down again, the leftovers destroyed in the process and the melted plastic will be ready to be molded into clean plates when I need them next.
Isn't it interesting to see what people viewed as progress in the kitchen? The ultimate kitchen of the 1960's was an automatic one, with quick, space age foods that could be produced almost instantaneously. What would they think if we told them that 45 years later we're still pouring, stirring, frying, and baking with our hands, still making things from scratch, still waiting minutes and hours for a meal to be done. And that, hey, we like it that way!
Read More: 3D-TV, Automated Cooking and Robot Housemaids: Walter Cronkite Tours the Home of 2001 | Smithsonian
Related: Kitchens of the Future: Tech and Trends at CES
(Video: Via Smithsonian)
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It was a magical time for space age concepts, particularly after the moon landing because there was suddenly more science behind them. People thought with imagination and the things they predicted or thought of might have been off the mark, but they show a lot of ingenuity.
Funny! My personal favorite is the instant chicken dinner in the Fifth Element. We've got 2,000 years to make that a reality. Much more realistic ;)
Never have to wash a plate again? Fine by me.
I love this, Cambria!
Alas, I have no sound on my work PC -- but if I'm not mistaken, I believe this was an exhibit at Expo 67 in Montreal. Scary to say, but I remember watching this on TV (I was 10 at the time). Alas, I did not get to the Expo until 1969, when a lot of the exhibits had changed.
Yes, the 60's were a great and optimistic time.
Ok, when you say "on-demand molded plastic plates," it seems insane, but I would LOVE the no-dish-cleaning version of it actually described in the clip. Love it.
Tati's Mon Oncle, anyone?
On-demand molded plastic plates are not so different from 3-D printing.
Not sure that leftovers would be incinerated in the melting though, as plastic can burn. Mmmm... plastic plates imbued with crispy putrefying leftovers!
Yeah, actually, if you have several hundred bucks to spend on a 3-D printer (a bargain compared to some kitchen appliances), you can have molded dishware on demand. And assuming you could get the plastic clean enough afterward to go back through the printer, you could make your kids some Legos to play with after dinner. Sounds good to me!
For some reason this reminds me of Star Trek....