Humax LCD TV concept: The Jetsons called, they want their stuff back

When you're not heading to work in your space car or programming your robot maid to make dinner for the family, you'll probably want to catch American Idol 3017 on this Humax LCD TV concept. Designed by London's Tej Chauhan, the future-retro model manages to look old while seeming completely fresh, recalling the "World of Tomorrow" depicted in Cold War-era renderings of the "future." There's no word on whether this is going to get turned into an honest-to-goodness consumer product (please?), but you can check it out if you live in Italy at the Zona Tortona design show, running April 16th to the 21st.

[Via Tech Digest]

[Jagannath A @ Mar 28th 2008 9:36AM]

sorry people from the future cant call us ;)

you can receive calls only from Past :p

[Jagannath A @ Mar 28th 2008 1:40PM]

wow I just made this comment for fun but wannabe physicist's are bending their minds below

I'm not responsible for your brain if it explodes while reading them

you have been warned...

[MrFairladyz @ Mar 28th 2008 4:35PM]

Are you freakin kidding me?? That thing looks fat and round!! The future is something slick and stylish, NOT a bubble!!!

[sayid @ Mar 28th 2008 9:44AM]

Are you sure its a tv?

[Scott Culp @ Mar 28th 2008 9:49AM]

Really?

Is this scientifically a possiblity with our understanding of physics? Logically it would seem that the other way would make more sense since the past is fixed/documented, and the future is unknown. How would they know how to dial in to something that hasn't unfolded yet and would seemingly have endless outcomes?

Assuming I could actually understand the answer, this is the kind of stuff you'd like to ask someone who really knows what's possible. (with our current understanding)

[phil @ Mar 28th 2008 11:19AM]

Yeah, but if we call the Past... aren't we the Past's Future that is calling? So who's to say that if the Future is calling, it's not so much getting a call from the Future as it is the Future is calling the Past?

Time travel paradox and causality is a mind-bender for sure.

[Ahmed Alzayani @ Mar 28th 2008 1:04PM]

unknown to you ... but i am sure time isn't linear .... and the future already happened.

[Nate @ Mar 28th 2008 9:50AM]

If by "future-retro" you mean fat-ugly.

[frankXchange @ Mar 28th 2008 9:57AM]

Rots of Ruck. Love, Astro

[frankXchange @ Mar 28th 2008 9:57AM]

All I need now is my fantasy Space 1999 glowing plastic wall panels.

[mrnick1234567 @ Mar 28th 2008 10:02AM]

Anyone else notice the reflection in the screen is HAL?

[Hax Or @ Mar 28th 2008 10:03AM]

Good eye!

[geekout2 @ Mar 28th 2008 12:02PM]

Voted up for attention to detail

[frankXchange @ Mar 28th 2008 10:02AM]

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: The Iterociter (This Island Earth). It won't be complete without a wall-mounted-style DVD player incorporated into its neck. It should also recognise hand gestures or verbal commands.

[frankXchange @ Mar 28th 2008 10:09AM]

Speak and ye shall receive - I just noticed the Touchless B&O remote control prototype, also posted on this page. You really couldn't have one without the other.

[james @ Mar 28th 2008 10:28AM]

Make it widescreen, and bigger... I'll take one.

[ben @ Mar 28th 2008 10:28AM]

the jetsons can call all they want...that baby's MINE! seriously, that thing's off the hook

[Mike @ Mar 28th 2008 10:31AM]

and here i thought that the future would be nothing like how it was depicted in The Jetsons

[EricR @ Mar 28th 2008 11:19AM]

Kinda looks like it takes ATARI cartridges...

[spacegravity4me @ Mar 28th 2008 11:35AM]

I'd rock it

[NHAnimator @ Mar 28th 2008 1:08PM]

As a side note, if there IS an American Idol 3017 (which I highly believe there will be), expect Paula to look exactly as she does now and expect her plastic surgeon to a very happy (read: wealthy) man.

[sinai @ Mar 28th 2008 1:24PM]

seinfeld called, he wants you to stop using that joke.

[Reader @ Mar 28th 2008 4:27PM]

Irony.

[Captain Crunkled @ Mar 28th 2008 2:13PM]

Love the HAL reflection in the TV.. brilliant.

[Mark @ Mar 28th 2008 3:58PM]

I think we are all losing focus on the fact that that thing is an ugly piece of crap. Engadget, you let me down by not making more fun of it.

[Jake @ Mar 28th 2008 11:12PM]

Oh, how hideous.

[skulldriveshaft @ Mar 29th 2008 12:09AM]

It looks like it says RADIO.

Is this like those old school 'portable' tv's with a am/fm cassette built in?