The Long History of the Future: Why Tomorrow's Technology Still Isn't Here

We love to imagine the future. But why are groundbreaking future technologies always just around the corner, and never a reality?For decades we've delighted in dreaming about a sci-fi utopia, from flying cars and bionic humans to hyperloops and smart cities. And why not? Building a better world - be it a free-flying commute or an automated urban lifestyle - is a worthy dream.Given the pace of technological change, nothing seems impossible anymore.But why are these innovations always out of reach?Delving into the remarkable history of technology, The Long History of the Future introduces us to the clever scientists, genius engineers and eccentric innovators who first brought these ideas to life and have struggled to make them work since.These stories reveal a more realistic picture of how these technologies may evolve - and how we'll eventually get to use them. You may never be able to buy a fully driverless car, but automated braking and steering could slash collision rates.Smart citie