How to Analyze Predictions from 1995 to 2025 on frynews

From 1995 to 2025: Predictions made 30 years ago that turned out to be correct

This fictional couple, with a man wearing a VR headset, was featured in an episode of Tomorrow's World in 1995.

Graham Fraser

Position, Technology Reporter

January 2, 2025

It was 1995 when the BBC's 'Tomorrow's World' program, a program based on the future world, decided to predict what the world would be like 30 years later in 2025.

Although the show is no longer broadcast, in 1995, one of the most famous scientists of the time, Professor Stephen Hawking, predicted that 'by 2025 we can expect major changes.'

The program team agrees with his prediction, as many innovations have been made during this time, from hologram surgery to world-shaking innovations.

With the help of some experts and in the light of the innovations that have taken place over the past three decades, we try to see how many of the predictions made in the program called ‘Tomorrow’s World’ have come true.

2005 ‘Cyberspace Riots’

The program predicted that financial markets would be hit by ‘viral terrorism’.

The World Wide Web became a reality in 1995, and this development was predicted in ‘Tomorrow’s World’ to bring trouble in the future.

It predicted that ‘business barons’ and banks would take control of the internet by the year 2000, creating a ‘supernet’ that would be inaccessible to everyone.

This would lead to hacking, viruses, and even riots.

The result: the internet not only remains, but is largely open, and there has been no rioting, but there is no doubt that the actions of hackers have caused many people to suffer.

Cybersecurity is a priority for governments and companies, and those who are suspicious of banks have turned to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

Planetary mining and space debris

The program speculated that ‘space mining’ would become a lucrative industry, with companies mining near-Earth planets for precious metals.

The show suggested that space debris would become a major problem that would be unsafe for astronauts. The solution was that a giant foam gel could slow down the debris.

The result: Although there is no super foam gel, the space debris problem is serious. Although there is no space mining industry yet, the situation could change. Astronomer Tom Chase-Wright is optimistic about mining beyond our planet.

He said, ‘The potential wealth is innumerable, which cannot be covered, but the technology is fully within our grasp.’

Robot surgery

In the Tomorrow's World program, it was said that patients would be operated on using robots, and a surgeon would be performing it from a distance.

Tomorrow's World predicted that by 2004, a law would be passed based on the success rate of surgeons working in all hospitals in the UK. 

Top surgeons would become extremely popular and well-paid and would not even need to visit patients.

Instead, holograms of the patient would be sent to them and the surgeon would operate using 'special gloves'. While the patient would have a robot that would move exactly like the surgeon.

The result: Although the prediction did not come true word for word, robots are helping with surgeries.

Smart speaker with floating head

Something like Alexa, Google

The show featured a man in a future VR headset with his wife and a young daughter, living in modern-day London.

At one point, a woman's floating head emerges from a smart speaker and tells the man that it's been a year since he last vacationed at Indo Disney. She encourages him to take another vacation on the Bangalore Shuttle, which will take just 40 minutes.

Conclusion: Superfast travel doesn't seem as soon as it once did, but holograms, smart speakers, and VR headsets are becoming more popular than ever.

Banking with a microchip

What do you think about withdrawing cash from a bank using a chip in your arm?

At one point in the program, we were presented with a vision of the future of banking.

It shows a woman going to a bank, complaining that there are no people there, and then withdrawing 100 euros, for which the bank gives her the money after scanning the chip in her arm.

Conclusion: Banking has indeed become more and more automated and although payments are not made using microchips inside the human body, other technologies such as fingerprint and facial scanning are being used.

Host's memories

Monty Don's face is familiar to those who watch gardening programs.

Another host on the prediction show was Vivian Perry, who presented the medical segment.

She fondly recalls filming it and says that there were limited visual effects options at the time.

“I had to stay absolutely still,” she says. “I had a little camera in my glasses. They were glued to my face with a black adhesive.”

“It was a very hot day and I couldn’t move. A make-up artist brought a long stick with a needle on the end so he could remove it.”

Vivian has been involved with Genomics England since 2013 and says some of the predictions made on the 1995 programme about genomics have come true as she herself is working on a research study to help diagnose and treat genetic conditions.

Monty was talking about the return of the brown bear on the programme.

Another host on the prediction show was Vivian Perry, who presented the medical segment.

She fondly recalls filming it and says that there were limited visual effects options at the time.

“I had to stay absolutely still,” she says. “I had a little camera in my glasses. They were glued to my face with a black adhesive.”

“It was a very hot day and I couldn’t move. A make-up artist brought a long stick with a needle on the end so he could remove it.”

Vivian has been involved with Genomics England since 2013 and says some of the predictions made on the 1995 programme about genomics have come true as she herself is working on a research study to help diagnose and treat genetic conditions.

Presenter Vivian Perry in the 1995 program

So what will the world be like 30 years from now in 2055?

Futurist Tracey Follows believes that many of the things said in the 1995 program have been proven correct. But two of the biggest ideas of the past 30 years - big technology companies and the spread of social media - have been missed.

By 2055, he believes that many people will be 'mentally connected' through human minds and technology servers, helping to share ideas.

'Brainstorming will really be brainstorming where you can share your ideas just by thinking.'

Tom Chase Wright believes that the two most exciting things in the next 30 years could be in the fields of materials science and bioengineering.

In the field of materials, devices will be created that are stronger, lighter and thinner and have the potential to change the world.

While bioengineering, with strict regulations, has the power to transform medicine and tackle some of the biggest challenges facing humanity, including decarbonisation, clean water and food.

So what do you think the world will look like in 30 years?

Whatever your answers, it would be wise to listen to what Professor Hawking said in Tomorrow's World three decades ago.

'Some of these changes are very welcome and some are worrying. One thing we can be sure of is that they will be very different, and probably not the way we expect.'

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History #Science #Technology #Invention