Was The iPad Predicted In 1994? (Video)

An interesting video was recently published on YouTube by Paleo Future, which shows a device that looks very much like an iPad. However, the video wasn't made in 2011 or even 2010. Rather, it was produced in 1994. Created by Matt Novak, Paleo Future highlights “past visions of the future.” In this case, the site uncovered a Knight-Ridder video produced 17 years ago about tablet computing. Take a look:

As you can see, the video shows a device very similar to today’s iPad. Interestingly, while some of the concepts predicted in the video are very much in use today (interactive graphics), some missed the mark completely. For example, Roger Fidler, then Knight-Ridder’s Director of New Media stated:

Many of the technologists...assume that information is just a commodity and people really don't care where that information comes from as long as it matches their set of personal interests. I disagree with that view. People recognize the newspapers they subscribe to...and there is a loyalty attached to those.

Of course, in reality, people are losing interest in newspapers as New Media has taken off. This is an interesting discovery and we hope you enjoy it. Since 2004, Fidler has been the Program Director for Digital Publishing at the Reynolds Journalism Institute. Knight-Ridder, once the home of 32 daily newspapers, closed shop in 2006 after being purchased by The McClatchy Company. What do you think? Leave your comments below.

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