Predictions

"Every attempt to employ mathematical methods in the study of chemical questions muts be considered profoundly irrational and contrary to the spirit of chemistry. If mathematical analysis should ever hold a prominent place in chemistry - an abberation which is happily almost impossible - it would occasion a rapid and widespread degeneration of that science"
August Comte in Philosophic Positive (1830).
"The telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us."
Western Union internal memo, 1876.
"Heavier than air flying machines are impossible."
Lord Kelvin, president, Royal Society, 1895.
"Professor Goddard does not know the relation between action and reaction and the needs to have something better than vacuum against which to react. He seems to lack the basic knowledge ladled out daily in high schools."
New York Times editorial about Robert Goddard's revolutionary rocket work, 1921.
"Everything that can be invented, has been invented."
Charles H. Duel, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899
"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?"
David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urging for investment in the radio in 1920s.
"Computers in the future may weight no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949.
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
"I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year."
Editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957.
Commenting on the microchip: "But what is it good for?"
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968.
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977.
"640kB ought to be for anybody."
Bill Gates, 1981