Thomas Morris
@tngmorris.bsky.social
Writer of historical non-fiction; science, music and cricket enthusiast.
Still, it's an extraordinarily accurate picture of the world we live in today - Archibald Low had an amazing feel for how the military technology of the 1940s would translate into consumer electronics decades later.
July 8, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Still, it's an extraordinarily accurate picture of the world we live in today - Archibald Low had an amazing feel for how the military technology of the 1940s would translate into consumer electronics decades later.
He didn't get *everything* right. Painting a room with DDT has generally been frowned upon since the discovery of its environmental impact.
July 8, 2025 at 9:51 AM
He didn't get *everything* right. Painting a room with DDT has generally been frowned upon since the discovery of its environmental impact.
Here he describes an electrostatic air purifier (widely available today) and a smart speaker. I asked mine to read the news to me this morning, though, backward creature that I am, I shaved manually.
July 8, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Here he describes an electrostatic air purifier (widely available today) and a smart speaker. I asked mine to read the news to me this morning, though, backward creature that I am, I shaved manually.
The Teasmade and the mobile phone - which, Low suggests, had already been 'in operation for twelve months'. In fact the first consumer networks were not launched in the UK for another 40 years.
July 8, 2025 at 9:51 AM
The Teasmade and the mobile phone - which, Low suggests, had already been 'in operation for twelve months'. In fact the first consumer networks were not launched in the UK for another 40 years.
Next we have voicemail (with remote access) and Bluetooth headphones.
July 8, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Next we have voicemail (with remote access) and Bluetooth headphones.
He kicks off by correctly predicting the microwave oven, the video baby monitor and the Ring doorbell.
July 8, 2025 at 9:51 AM
He kicks off by correctly predicting the microwave oven, the video baby monitor and the Ring doorbell.
The man who predicted the future: a thread
80 years ago a remarkable inventor called Archibald Low wrote a newspaper article outlining his vision of the future. It was based on his own experience developing radio technologies in wartime. His predictions are... extraordinary.
80 years ago a remarkable inventor called Archibald Low wrote a newspaper article outlining his vision of the future. It was based on his own experience developing radio technologies in wartime. His predictions are... extraordinary.
July 8, 2025 at 9:51 AM
The man who predicted the future: a thread
80 years ago a remarkable inventor called Archibald Low wrote a newspaper article outlining his vision of the future. It was based on his own experience developing radio technologies in wartime. His predictions are... extraordinary.
80 years ago a remarkable inventor called Archibald Low wrote a newspaper article outlining his vision of the future. It was based on his own experience developing radio technologies in wartime. His predictions are... extraordinary.
From 1805. This chap sounds quite the catch.
July 1, 2025 at 8:53 AM
From 1805. This chap sounds quite the catch.
Really disappointed by the behaviour of the new neighbours. 4 am is too early for noisy al fresco dining, guys.
June 20, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Really disappointed by the behaviour of the new neighbours. 4 am is too early for noisy al fresco dining, guys.
I was and am a great fan of Frederick Forsyth (RIP).
But also: this isn't fair.
But also: this isn't fair.
June 12, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I was and am a great fan of Frederick Forsyth (RIP).
But also: this isn't fair.
But also: this isn't fair.
I have found the rarest and most priceless artefact in the catalogue of the National Trust.
May 17, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I have found the rarest and most priceless artefact in the catalogue of the National Trust.
Amazon has taken an unauthorised two-trillionths of a penny from my credit card. Who do I sue?
May 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Amazon has taken an unauthorised two-trillionths of a penny from my credit card. Who do I sue?
It's just occurred to me that if David Hockney were painting his parents in 2025, his dad would be fiddling with his phone.
May 12, 2025 at 2:42 PM
It's just occurred to me that if David Hockney were painting his parents in 2025, his dad would be fiddling with his phone.
What on earth happened on board the London?
April 10, 2025 at 10:25 AM
What on earth happened on board the London?
My mother has made a delicious batch of jam from some plums she found in her freezer. I picked them myself in my garden in Shepherds Bush - in 2009, when Gordon Brown was prime minister and Obama was US President.
April 9, 2025 at 7:29 AM
My mother has made a delicious batch of jam from some plums she found in her freezer. I picked them myself in my garden in Shepherds Bush - in 2009, when Gordon Brown was prime minister and Obama was US President.
A useful, new to me, word: pejoration.
Pejoration is the reason that euphemisms tend to become more offensive with time, eventually becoming taboo and being replaced with new euphemisms. And so on ad infinitum.
Pejoration is the reason that euphemisms tend to become more offensive with time, eventually becoming taboo and being replaced with new euphemisms. And so on ad infinitum.
March 20, 2025 at 11:10 AM
A useful, new to me, word: pejoration.
Pejoration is the reason that euphemisms tend to become more offensive with time, eventually becoming taboo and being replaced with new euphemisms. And so on ad infinitum.
Pejoration is the reason that euphemisms tend to become more offensive with time, eventually becoming taboo and being replaced with new euphemisms. And so on ad infinitum.
Found a pleasant spot to do a bit of writing
March 15, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Found a pleasant spot to do a bit of writing
Better up my porter intake.
March 14, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Better up my porter intake.
Doesn't feel much like it at the moment, Francis.
March 6, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Doesn't feel much like it at the moment, Francis.
Also available: one disgraced hamster.
January 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Also available: one disgraced hamster.
And because some may doubt that Venus really was visible in the last photo...
January 3, 2025 at 4:46 PM
And because some may doubt that Venus really was visible in the last photo...
Stunning conjunction of the Moon and Venus visible from the west of England right now.
January 3, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Stunning conjunction of the Moon and Venus visible from the west of England right now.
Before modern police forces existed, those helping to apprehend criminals might be rewarded with a 'Tyburn Ticket' - which exempted them from local taxes, and from service as a constable or juror.
The strange bit I've only just learned: Tyburn Tickets could be sold! The going rate in 1816 was £20.
The strange bit I've only just learned: Tyburn Tickets could be sold! The going rate in 1816 was £20.
December 19, 2024 at 1:46 PM
Before modern police forces existed, those helping to apprehend criminals might be rewarded with a 'Tyburn Ticket' - which exempted them from local taxes, and from service as a constable or juror.
The strange bit I've only just learned: Tyburn Tickets could be sold! The going rate in 1816 was £20.
The strange bit I've only just learned: Tyburn Tickets could be sold! The going rate in 1816 was £20.
Rather stylish to announce in the morning papers that you've just got back from the Wilderness.
(Wilderness Park was the name of the Earl's estate near Sevenoaks)
(Wilderness Park was the name of the Earl's estate near Sevenoaks)
November 28, 2024 at 3:32 PM
Rather stylish to announce in the morning papers that you've just got back from the Wilderness.
(Wilderness Park was the name of the Earl's estate near Sevenoaks)
(Wilderness Park was the name of the Earl's estate near Sevenoaks)
Why had I never heard of this wonderful writer? Warm, funny, entertaining slices of 20th century Irish life. One of the greats
November 15, 2024 at 4:34 PM
Why had I never heard of this wonderful writer? Warm, funny, entertaining slices of 20th century Irish life. One of the greats