I love WIRED magazine. It has excellent features; interesting contributors; an unpatronising writing style; awesome graphic design; unannoying ads; even the paper it’s printed on is good quality. WIRED is, to many, an opinion leading and culturally significant title both on and offline.
It’s future facing attitude really suits my own, so I’ve been reading it regularly for years. Now the UK title is in print, I buy both that and the US version. Ubergeek, aren’t I?
One of my favourite features was always the back page, the ‘Found’ section, which featured potential realities of our future daily lives.
Sadly no longer supported by the magazine, ‘Found’ lives on as an online Photoshop contest, where readers can submit their own images on subjects such as chewing gum and rehab.
I wanted to find the original images though, and I’ve managed to source the earliest online record (Jan ‘04) up to the last published image (Jul ‘08).
So here they are, in reverse chronological order. They are packed with all sorts of detail and easter eggs, so click on them to see the full images:
The Final Found
From WIRED July 2008, predicted for 2018:
Wine Spectrometer
From WIRED June 2008, predicted for circa 2020:
Smithsonian
From WIRED May 2008, predicted for 2096:
Risk
From WIRED April 2008, predicted for 2027:
Home Shopping
From WIRED March 2008, predicted for circa 2016:
Tattoo
From WIRED February 2008, predicted for the near future:
Windshield
From WIRED January 2008, predicted for 2013:
Responsibeer
From WIRED December 2007, predicted for 2012:
Waste Management
From WIRED November 2007, predicted for circa 2025:
Halloween
From WIRED October 2007, predicted for 2015:
Birthday
From WIRED September 2007, predicted for 2079:
Fruit Stand
From WIRED August 2007, predicted for circa 2020:
Comic Book
From WIRED July 2007, predicted for 2021:
Fido Fusion
From WIRED June 2007, predicted for 2016:
Reunion
From WIRED May 2007, predicted for 2052:
Bug Spray
From WIRED April 2007, predicted for circa 2050:
Medicine Cabinet
From WIRED March 2007, predicted for 2013:
Speeding Ticket
From WIRED February 2007, predicted for 2054:
Crayons
From WIRED January 2007, predicted for 2013:
Christmas Shopping
From WIRED December 2006, predicted for 2017:
Organ Farming
From WIRED November 2006, predicted for 2015:
Bluetooth
From WIRED October 2006, predicted for 2019:
Report Card
From WIRED September 2006, predicted for 2018:
Diet Cola
From WIRED August 2006, predicted for 2019:
Contact Lens
From WIRED July 2006, predicted for 2020:
Bookstore
From WIRED June 2006, predicted for 2021:
Operation
From WIRED May 2006, predicted for 2027:
Tax Day
From WIRED April 2006, predicted for 2021:
MTA Route Map
From WIRED March 2006, predicted for 2067:
Love Tester
From WIRED February 2006, predicted for 2015:
Mood Ring
From WIRED January 2006, predicted for 2009:
Christmas Morning
From WIRED December 2005, predicted for 2016:
Diaper
From WIRED November 2005, predicted for 2024:
Sharper Image
From WIRED October 2005, predicted for 2012:
Space Elevator
From WIRED September 2005, predicted for 2032:
Crossword
From WIRED August 2005, predicted for 2019:
Nightstand
From WIRED July 2005, predicted for 2017:
Antivirus
From WIRED June 2005, predicted for 2022:
Bumper Sticker
From WIRED May 2005, predicted for 2012:
Horoscope
From WIRED April 2005, predicted for 2056:
Insurance Form
From WIRED March 2005, predicted for 2069:
Taste Tester
From WIRED February 2005, predicted for 2009:
House Call
From WIRED January 2005, predicted for the near future:
Barf Bag
From WIRED December 2004, predicted for 2047:
Election Day
From WIRED November 2004, predicted for 2012:
Bathroom Vendor
Scanned from WIRED October 2004:
Lost File
Scanned from WIRED September 2004:
Box Set
Scanned from WIRED August 2004:
Power Gym
Scanned from WIRED July 2004:
20 Big Ones
Scanned from WIRED June 2004:
Postcards
Scanned from WIRED May 2004:
Nanobot Inhaler
Scanned from WIRED April 2004:
Bulletproof Fashion
Scanned from WIRED March 2004:
Chococeuticals
Scanned from WIRED February 2004:
Mood Machine
Scanned from WIRED January 2004:
Thanks to Rhaomi for the brilliant Metafilter article Artifacts from the Future, and to Stuart Candy for his scans that complete the collection, found here on his site.
Any I’ve missed? Let me know!