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A. As a smart boy, Asimov taught himself to read at the age of five. B. Space exploration really can make our life more convenient and comfortable. C. Back in 1983, he was asked to predict what the world would look like in 2019. D. On the role that computing would play in the future, he was amazingly accurate. E. Asimov has developed a great interest in computer programming since childhood. F. As an author, his books would feature the theme of social change caused by technology. G. The International Space Station proves his prediction that we would not simply visit space but seek to stay there. |
The man who could see the future
The ability to predict the future is a rare talent. American author Isaac Asimov (1920-1992), one of the great science fiction writers of his age, had such a talent. Now that we're here, let's see what he got right.
Asimov thought computers would cause a revolution comparable to the industrial revolution of the 19th century. Specifically, he said that "mobile computerized objects" would be an important part of everyday life. Here, he clearly predicted our world of smartphones, tables and other devices. He also had a great deal to say about space exploration.
How did Asimov develop his special sense of future developments? He read the newspapers and magazines sold in his parents' candy store. His scientific interest gained sharper focus at Columbia University in New York. Asimov went to study chemistry, but became bored with pure laboratory science. Instead, he thought hard about the social implications (作用) of science. He wanted to communicate his ideas to the public.
Asimov had his finger on the pulse (脉搏) of both scientific and social change. He had a clear vision of what was coming around the corner for humanity in his works like the Galactic Empire series (《银河帝国系列》). "His predictions are absolutely fascinating," Calum Chase, an English writer, told BBC News. "He was a genius."
