Victorian Society The Future Imagined By the Past by Geerte De Jong

Geerte De Jong takes an interesting looking at Victorian Society in her study The Future Imagined By the Past published in The Gatehouse for February, 2012.

It is a look at Victorian views on invention, particularly as it related to travel.  Railways were already a major pillar of their lives.  The 1890's saw the advent of subways, and personal transportation - such as the bicycle and the automobile.  And, the overwhelming focus was on the Airship.  Faster transportation was what everyone envisioned, bringing the world closer together.

And, in communication - she labels the telegraph as "the Victorian internet."  It, and the rapid development of the telephone, allowed people to communicate around the world.

When all is said and done, we are left with the feeling that we are very much like the Victorians - living in a rapidly changing world.  We've already walked on the Moon - Been there done that.  Email is falling into disfavor as we chat back and forth on Facebook.  And, more people are choosing to go without land line phones, choosing instead - cell phones, on which more people text than talk.

The adventure is only beginning.

Want to read more about the Victorians?  Visit Geerte De Jong's blog The Victorian Era.