[beat]

The problem is a lot of these world-changing technologies seem inevitable only in hindsight. Read decades of science fiction before the '90s, and nobody predicted the idea of everyone carrying a personal phone with them at all times. Much less connecting it to a global data network.

These things always look inevitable in hindsight. But it takes some real cleverness to get them in foresight.

[redial]

When wireless is perfectly applied the whole earth will be converted into a huge brain, which in fact it is, all things being particles of a real and rhythmic whole. We shall be able to communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance. Not only this, but through television and telephony we shall see and hear one another as perfectly as though we were face to face, despite intervening distances of thousands of miles; and the instruments through which we shall be able to do his will be amazingly simple compared with our present telephone. A man will be able to carry one in his vest pocket.

- Nikola Tesla, 1926.

https://kottke.org/18/04/nikola-tesla-predicted-the-smartpho...

[zerostar07]

to be fair that was not science fiction

[icebraining]

Not only were personal wireless communications predicted, but also that we'd be absorbed by them in social situations!

https://punch.photoshelter.com/image/I00006GHuH4c0Ojo

[ilkan]

Dick Tracy in the 40's Edit: Star Trek communicators, 1960's

[beat]

Star Trek communicators seem a lot more like walkie-talkies than phones.

edit: Note that only active duty Starfleet personnel seem to carry communicators. Civilians do not.